Paul Nauert

Paul Edward Nauert

• Height 6' 1", Weight 200 lb.
• School Jefferson Community College

• Born July 7, 1963 in Louisville, KY USA

Biographical Information

Paul Nauert became an umpire in the 1988 Appalachian League. He moved up the ladder with stops in the Midwest League (1989-1990), Southern League (1991-1992) and International League (1993-1998). In 1995, he umpired his first National League games and continued to fill in over the next few seasons until in 1999, he became a major league umpire but was part of the mass resignation of umpires later that season. As a result he was out of work until reintegrated into the ranks in 2002, now to the consolidated major league umpire roster. Because of his relative lack of experience when he resigned, he was not offered back pay and benefits when allowed to return to the active ranks.

He worked the 2009 All-Star Game, his first All-Star Game. He worked the first MLB games played in China as well as the 2008 season opener. He has taught at the Wendelstedt Umpire School, of which he is an alumnus.

In the 2013 NLDS, he made a bad call in Game 3, saying Jon Jay of the St. Louis Cardinals was safe at third base when replays showed that Pedro Alvarez had tagged him out; that break allowed the Cards score two runs to tie the Pittsburgh Pirates at that point of the game, but they eventually lost, 5-3, making the play somewhat less controversial.

He worked his last games during the 2020 season, but did not officially retire until after the 2022 season. He worked 2,450 regular season games over 24 seasons.

Source: 2009 MLB Umpire Guide

Related Sites

• Paul Nauert at Retrosheet.org