Unionville Umpire Relishes Treasured Assignment

BRISTOL – A national television audience peered over the shoulder of Unionville umpire Brian Logan as rain pelted Leon J. Breen Field at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Leadership and Training Little League Center Sunday afternoon.

Logan is one of 13 volunteer umpires chosen from 12 states and over 2,000 leagues that annually vie for a chance to live the dream of playing in the renowned Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pa.

The Eastern Regionals, now in their 25th year at Mix Street complex, are the final hurdle for the teams composed of 11- and 12-year-old players. The two tournaments played at the site – the New England and the Mid-Atlantic – attract thousands to the area as well as large numbers of local baseball fans.

Logan called balls and strikes at Sunday’s Mid-Atlantic final between Paramus (N.J.) and Keystone Little League of Clinton County, Pa. Selection to the umpiring crew is a high honor, bestowed upon those who have given years of their lives to their craft. Logan is the lone representative from Connecticut.

“I’ve been umpiring most of my life. I started umpiring Little League Baseball the year after I got out of Little League Baseball,” said Logan, a retired Simsbury policeman. “It’s always been a passion of mine.”

Logan is well known locally for his work. He also umpires high school and American Legion games, but derives the most pleasure working with the youngsters.

“There’s something about Little League Baseball and the joy these kids get out of the game,” he said. “The purity of baseball is seen every day when you come out here to the games. I really love it.”

Logan is a fixture around town throughout the season.

“The higher the level of baseball, the more interesting it is for umpires. I enjoy doing the local leagues and doing the younger kids but every Little League umpire who aspires going to Williamsport likes to climb that ladder and get better and better assignments,” Logan said.

“This being right here in my backyard is something I’ve been watching for years as a Farmington resident and I always wanted to umpire here. It’s a tremendous honor to be selected to come here. This is the largest Little League region in the world so there are thousands of applicants.”

Little League publicly states that the volunteer umpire “is a vital component to the success of the Little League Baseball program. Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteer umpires take to the field, giving their time, experience and wisdom. Their abilities, demeanor and on-field mechanics are evaluated at virtually all levels of Little League tournament play … . Appointment to the World Series is recognition that an umpire has reached the highest level of proficiency and is now considered among the best in the world.”

The umpires command the utmost respect during the Eastern Regionals under the auspices of longtime Eastern Regional umpire-in-chief Frank Policano of the Newburgh (N.Y.) Little League. They adhere to a strict pre- and post-game regimen. Spectators, in turn, generally return that respect. Arguments over decisions are rare.

Logan grew up in Auburn, Mass., where he umpired his first game at age 13. He moved to Farmington about 20 years ago where his children played Little League ball. He soon became umpire-in-chief for the Farmington Youth Baseball League.

“I always umpired in District 5, which is a very competitive league, and kept moving up,” he said. “I started doing some district games, then got some sectional games and state championship games. … I live 4.7 miles from here and in New England this is the pinnacle of Little League Baseball. The only thing left on the bucket list is it would be a tremendous honor to do a Little League World Series.”

Logan’s work ethic and ability first caught the attention of longtime District 5 umpires and umpire administrators Gary Rivkin and John Flis.

“They watched me work district games and it’s performance-based,” Logan said. “If guys think you’re doing a good job, you’re going to get a shot at something else. You just stay with it and wait your turn because there are a lot of great umpires.”

Logan attended Eastern Regional umpire school at the Giamatti Center run by Policano and the region’s decorated dentist/umpire Mike Lantiere, a member of both the Southington and Plainville sports halls of fame.

“I really learned a lot about the rules of baseball. I was umpiring as a kid, played baseball and still play a little baseball,” said Logan, who plays vintage baseball, a re-creation of the game, 1880s style that has surged in popularity.

“To know the rules intricately is something else. Baseball is a slowly played game and a very complicated game.”

Logan’s passion for the game is unrestrained. His blue eyes light up and his hands gesture as he discusses a lifetime of dedication to the National Pastime.

“I love this game. I started playing this game as soon as I could walk,” he said. “I’m 52 years old and I haven’t given up playing yet.”

He coached his son Brian, a junior at Farmington High School who is now vying for the starting quarterback position for coach Chris Machol’s football team.

The Mid-Atlantic championship was Logan’s 16th game of the tournament. Little League uses a six-man crew, one at each base and one along both foul lines, and he has worked the games from every perspective.

He received the home plate assignment for the very first game, the first of three home plate assignments during the tournament.

“I was a little nervous walking over from the umpire barracks, just to walk on this field,” he said. “I’ve been in and around this field for about 20 years but stepping behind the plate at the first game of the Eastern Regionals was a very humbling experience for me.

“It really gets you on top of your game because this is the pinnacle of Little League Baseball.”

In spite of the recognition that sanctions him as one of the very best, Logan continues to work local games at Farmington’s Little League complex, even though his children have long since graduated from the program.

“I still go down and do games because I enjoy it,” he said. “Plus, it’s a way to give back to the community. … There are a lot of great guys in District 5 and I’m proud to be a member of it. I’ll continue to do whatever I can to help out.”