Marty Springstead
Umpire Supervisor/MLBUC Instructor
Marty Springstead joined Major League Baseball as Umpire Supervisor in 2000 after serving the previous 15 years as the Executive Director of Umpires for the American League.
Springstead began his professional umpiring career in 1960 in the Class "C" Northern League. He also worked U.S. Army Baseball games in Fort Hood, TX (1961-62) and in the Southern League (1963-65) before becoming a member of the American League staff in 1966. During his 20-year Major League career, Springstead umpired in three All-Star Games (1969, 1975, 1982) and three World Series (1973, 1978, 1983). A crew chief for 11 years, Springstead also officiated five American League Championship Series (1970, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1984). He also had the distinction of working behind the plate for two no-hitters before he retired following the 1985 season.
A distinguished guest speaker, Springstead has taught and lectured throughout the world. He has held clinics in Japan, where he instructed the Japanese Professional Umpires of the Pacific League, and has also taught in various Canadian provinces and for the United States Air Force in Spain, Holland and Germany.
Springstead, who was just the fourth person ever to hold the position of Executive Director of Umpires for the American League, attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ, majoring in advertising. He now resides in Sarasota, FL.
MLBUC