Bob Nelson (umpire)

Robert H. Nelson

• Born 1950
• Died June 1, 2002 in Drexel Hill, PA USA

Biographical Information

Bob Nelson was an umpire in the Western Carolinas League in 1972 and 1973. In 1974, he moved up to the Texas League and was in the Eastern League in 1975.

In 1979, he was hired by the National League as a replacement umpire when the regular umpires went on strike at the beginning of the season. As one of the replacement umpires with the most professional experience - and recent one at that - he was used extensively during the month the conflict lasted. He worked 27 games, including 23 at the two most critical spots on the field, i.e. home plate and first base, and traveled to various of the league cities. He came back in 1991 to work one game when the umpires were not available on opening day after another labor conflict had been resolved just as spring training ended, and yet another time for five games during the 1995 umpires' strike.

Related Sites

• Bob Nelson on Retrosheet.org
• Sporting News umpire card