Al Bello Photographer

PICTURE STORIES: UMPIRE ACADEMY

Jim Evans was a Major League Baseball Umpire for 28 years which included umpiring four World Series. Many of his students have gone on to work on all levels of baseball including the Major Leagues. I spent a few days with Jim and his students in Kissimmee, Florida and had a great experience. I left the school with a new appreciation of Umpires and what they go through in their profession. 

  • Student Umpires perform a signal drill during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • Jim Evans speaks to his students during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida. Jim Evans was a Major League Umpire for 28 years that included umpiring four World Series. Many of his students have gone on to work on all levels of baseball including the Major Leagues.
  • A student Umpire cleans home plate before participationg in a simulated baseball game during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • Student Umpires perform a signal drill during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • Umpire masks line a bench at the indoor batting cages during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • A student makes a call in a simulated baseball game during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • Student Umpires practice standing for The National Anthem during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • Jim Evans speaks to his students in the classroom during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • A Student studies the rules of Umpiring in a classroom session during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • A student umpire calls balls, and strikes in a simulated game while under the watch of an instructor who is playing the role of a team manager at the indoor batting cages during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • A student umpire wipes off home plate before calling balls and strikes in a simulated game while under the watch of an instructor who is playing the role of a team manager at the indoor batting cages during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • A student umpire works on his hand motion in the mirror before calling balls and strikes in a simulated game while under the watch of an instructor who is playing the role of a team manager at the indoor batting cages during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • A student umpire argues with an instructor who is playing the role of a team manager from a simulated baseball game of balls and strikes in the indoor batting cages during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • Jim Evans argues a call while playing the roll of team Manager during a simulated game during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida. Jim Evans was a Major League Umpire for 28 years that included umpiring four World Series. Many of his students have gone on to work on all levels of baseball including the Major Leagues.
  • A student umpire argues with an instructor who is playing the role of a team manager in a simulated baseball game during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • A student umpire ejects an instructor who is playing the role of a team manager from a simulated baseball game during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • Students looks on during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • A student makes a call in a simulated baseball game during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • Student Umpires perform a signal drill during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • A student looks on during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 28, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • A student makes a call in a simulated baseball game during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • Jim Evans speaks to his students during the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring on January 27, 2011 at the Houston Astros Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
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