Dave Miller estimates he’s umpired 1,100 Little League games all over the West Coast in the past 18 years.
His dedication to the players, and to making fair judgment calls, is paying off this summer with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to this year’s Little League World Series.
Miller is one of only 16 umpires worldwide who will be calling the plays at 37 World Series games in Williamsport, Penn., starting Wednesday, Aug. 16. He expects he will umpire 12 to 15 of the games while his colleagues from different areas of the United States, Canada, Lithuania, Puerto Rico and Japan will be umpires for the rest of the games.
Being selected from among several thousand applicants is a dream come true for Miller. He was notified of his selection in a letter of congratulations from Williamsport-based Little League International in January.
“It’s never been the reason that I’ve umpired Little League but it’s been a goal of mine,” said Miller, a Poway resident of 22 years. “It’s definitely been a goal of mine to get there and I’m glad I was recognized. It’s the pinnacle. It’s the highest honor and it’s the biggest amateur baseball event in the world.”
Miller, 51, said his extensive training and experience as a volunteer umpire with the Poway American Little League since 2002 will help him shine on the baseball diamond.
He is an umpire in chief who assists 23 umpires in the California District 31 Little League comprised of 13 leagues in Poway, Escondido, 4S Ranch, Del Mar and Enicinitas.
“I think I’m prepared and confident in my abilities,” said Miller, a vice president of sales for Fidelity Investments. “When I take the field for the first time and see 30,000 fans, I’m going to have butterflies, but that just lets me know I’m alive.”
Roberta Moore, the CA31 Little League District , said it’s a big honor to be selected for the World Series from an elite group of umpires. When she heard the news she said it felt like getting notice of a student receiving a college acceptance letter.
“When Dave was chosen for the Little League World Series we were all elated,” said Moore, a Poway resident of 30 years. “In my mind he’s one of the best umpires in San Diego County. Just the way he carries himself, he’s an extraordinary guy. You meet him and you like him.”
The players, who are mostly 10- to 13-year-olds, are “beyond proud” of Miller, said Moore. Even in ordinary games they look up to him, she said.
Moore is among a small group of ers who are accompanying Miller on his trip to Williamsport to cheer him on. Others include his wife, Tina, staff from District 31, family from Maryland, and umpire friends along the West Coast.
Viewers from around the world will be watching the games on ESPN. The final three games — the U.S. Championship and the International Championship on Saturday, Aug. 26 and the World Championship on Sunday, Aug. 27 — will air on ABC.
Volunteer umpire Gary Graupmann said Miller’s appointment is a well-deserved recognition of the amount of work he has put in for District 31. Miller’s volunteering extends to instructing umpires at the West Coast Little League headquarters in San Bernardino and he has been coaching umpires several times a year at umpire clinics for the past decade.
“Many, many umpires base their volunteer career on finally getting selected to work at the Little League World Series,” Graupmann, of San Marcos, said at Miller’s Aug. 9 send-off party with umpires and well-wishers at The Hop Stop in Poway. “Dave has made it simply another step in serving the youth. He will continue to contribute for years to come.”
Miller got his start as an umpire and coach when his own children, Justin, who is now 24, and Taylor, 29, were involved in Little League when they were kids.
“I love the innocence of the kids,” Miller said. “They’re out having a good time. There’s no high pressure to win like in high school and college. They’re just out having a good time with their friends.”
He also loves to have action in the games, he said.
Miller credits the of wife, Tina, along with the mentoring help of Little League Umpire Mark Bernstein, who he says molded him into the umpire he is today.
Robert Hunt, a District 31 umpire, said Miller’s assignment is well-deserved, not only for umpiring up to 60 games per season, but also for building a friendly culture of rapport among the umpires, coaches, managers and players.
District 31 umpire Joel Ewan described it as a “fantastic honor.”
“This is the holy grail for volunteering at the Little League World Series,” Ewan said. “Williamsport has a long history of being the thing you strive to get to. Dave really embodies the volunteer spirit. He spends a lot of time in managing the district, honing his craft and umpiring a ton of games.”
