Scott Potter

Scott A. Potter

• Height 5' 10", Weight 172 lb.

• Born December 28, 1962 in Indianapolis, IN USA

Biographical Information

Scott Potter umpired a few games in the National League every year between 1991 and 1997 as a call-up from AAA, but was never added to the league's permanent umpiring staff. He worked a total of 89 games over that seven-year span. He had begun his umpiring career in the Appalachian League in 1983 and moved up to the Midwest League the following year.

His most famous moment probably came when he was umpiring in the AA Eastern League on August 31, 1987, as he was the home plate umpire when C Dave Bresnahan sneaked a potato on to the field and deliberately threw it wide of third base, prompting baserunner Rick Lundblade to come home, where he was tagged by Bresnahan who had kept the real baseball. Potter ruled the runner safe, but contrary to a number of stories about the incident, did not eject or fine Bresnahan for his practical joke, which would become part of baseball's all-time lore. It was Williamsport Bills manager Orlando Gomez who was outraged and removed his catcher from the game, then insisted with the Cleveland Indians front office that he should be released - which he was, but just as much because he was hitting .150 than because his manager threw a fit.

Related Sites

• Scott Potter on Retrosheet.org
• Sporting News umpire card