2022 Umpire: Tim Sewing

Tim Sewing, Joilet, IL

My first experience with umpiring took place in 1982 at Crowther Field in Romeoville, IL. I was playing in the 6:30 game and the umpire had an emergency and didn’t show for the game. So, Dick Bartel, who at the time was running the field, umpired our game. After the game, he asked me if I would stay and umpire the last three games. When I was done, Dick and Teena Mackey (fellow 2022 Hall of Fame Inductee) asked me if I wanted to do some umpiring for the Joliet Park District. I accepted their offer and worked the rest of the season.

I continued playing regularly so I stopped umpiring for awhile. Teams I played with for over 25 years were Jim’s Peppers, Joann’s HickoryHut, The End Zone, and Darcy’s Motors.

I began umpiring fulltime in 1994, doing league nights at Inwood Sports Complex for the Joliet Park District. By 1996 I was umpiring State Tournaments, NITs and Divisional Championship Tournaments in both Rockford and Joliet.

In 2005, we got an umpire group together consisting of Tommy Seddon, Mike Mackey, Jeff Myles, Adrain Foster, Steve Raasch (Stan Craven replaced Steve later), and went to Kissimmee, FL to umpire the USSSA World Series events. The days and nights were long as we worked all classes of both Men’s and Women’s games and sometimes, working both in the same day. Don’t worry, we worked long hours, but we always found the time to have fun. (“Just gotta have fun” as Tommy would say).

I’ve always tried to be respectful to the players while performing and looking professional. The mentoring I received from Jerry Henry (2003 Hall of Famer) and Tim Johnson; Joliet Area Umpire assignor helped me become a better umpire.

I would like to thank my wife, Patty, my son Jeffery and my daughters, Emily and Karolyn. Without their support, I would never have received this humbling honor.