Read this article in the newspaper today.
By CATHY DYSON
Walter Osburg spent a lifetime behind the plate, working in baseball games from Colonial Beach to Cooperstown.
When he wasn’t calling strikes and balls—or working with legends such as Mickey Mantle—Osburg taught others how to officiate the game he loved. He stressed the same skills he used during 51 years as an umpire: call a clean game, don’t show favoritism, and treat people the way you’d like to be treated.
“He’s like the master of all baseball knowledge when it comes to umpiring and rules,” said Ray Piaskowski, a director with the Stafford Baseball League. “He’s always been there for us, and he’s one of the best.”
As recently as three years ago—when Osburg was a spry 79-year-old—he worked as many as 10 games a weekend in all kinds of weather. Over the decades, he has dealt with diabetes and blood clots, prostate cancer and a knee replacement, yet still strapped on the equipment at game time.
His most recent bout with cancer has benched him. It has spread to his bones, and those who’ve worked with Osburg plan to gather around a different kind of plate to help him.
They’ll eat pancakes, eggs and bacon at IHOP, Osburg’s favorite restaurant since his busy days of umpiring.
From noon to 8 p.m. March 7, the Central Park (Fredericksburg, VA) IHOP will donate 20 percent of its sales to Osburg’s medical fund.
He has Medicare, but it doesn’t cover the full cost of chemotherapy.
“And chemo ain’t cheap, if you know what I mean,” said Osburg, who has to pay about $500 out of pocket for each chemo session.
HE’S A STORYTELLER
Osburg, 82, has been told the chemo might give him another two or three years. He has lost what he called his beautiful head of hair, but his voice, which he projected so anyone on the field could heard his call, is strong.
So are his memories.
His favorite room at his home, near Brock Road Elementary School, is filled with photos of legendary players, signed baseballs and plaques of recognition from leagues throughout the Fredericksburg region.
Osburg grew up in St. Louis and became a scout for the Cardinals when he lived in Texas.
“He knew Stan Musial and all those fellas,” said Jim Newell, a fellow umpire and Mountain View High School teacher. “If he gets to telling stories, you want to listen because they’re worth hearing.”
In Texas, Osburg taught umpiring at a Boys and Girls Club, and in California worked with a parks and recreation department. He moved to Virginia 25 years ago, after he met and fell in love with his wife, Dorothy.
No matter what his day job, Osburg called ball games on nights and weekends from March to November. He worked softball and baseball games in the regular season as well as the state playoffs.
He was happy calling games for children’s leagues, high school players and semipro teams.
Once, in Texas, there was so much snow that Osburg barely could see the field.
At another game, a championship between high schools from the Hampton Roads area and Colonial Beach, it rained so hard the mud was up to his knees.
“A kid did a slide over second base,” Osburg said, “and it was like he was on a sled.”
‘JUST LOVES THE GAME’
Then there were days of 90-degree heat, when Osburg passed out from the humidity. He always got back up when heat and foul balls, stray pitches and medical problems threatened to take him out of the game.
Osburg got his first diagnosis of cancer 17 years ago.
“He’s been hit by a lot of pitches, but he was always pretty rugged,” said Larry Pritchett, who ran the Spotsylvania County Babe Ruth League for about 25 years. “He just loves the game and respects the players, regardless of age.”
Newell, who has worked with Osburg to schedule umpires for middle school games, said Osburg had an excellent reputation among players and parents. The biggest reason was his consistency, Newell said.
“If he starts the game calling the strike zone at the knees, at the seventh inning it’s still at the knees,” Newell said.
Osburg purposely projected his voice so everyone could hear his call. His eyesight has always been keen, his fellow umpires said, and he didn’t have “rabbit ears.” That means he didn’t hear “every little stupid comment” that coaches made and look for reasons to eject them from games, Newell said.
Baseball fans are famous for quoting statistics, and Osburg likes to toss out one that speaks to his command of the sport. In thousands of games, Osburg said, he threw out only eight people for bad behavior.
“That’s not bad for all the games I did,” the umpire said. “I got along with everybody.”
Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
cdyson@freelancestar.com
E KNOWS EVERYBODY’
Walter Osburg worked at IHOP for a while and has been a regular customer. Workers there have noticed how people of all ages are drawn to him.
“Little kids, old people, middle-age people, he knows everybody,” said Dawn Tuggle, manager of the Central Park IHOP.
That’s why she and others with IHOP sent out 2,000 emails and more than 500 invitations to players, coaches and other officials with the various leagues Osburg worked with over the years.
The Central Park IHOP (Fredericksburg, VA) plans a fundraiser on March 7, from noon to 8 p.m.
“I’m having everybody work [that day],” Tuggle said. “I think it’s going to be an overwhelming amount of people.”
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