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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Healthy John Hirschbeck Works First Spring Training Game

Veteran MLB umpire John Hirschbeck is back in baseball, having worked his first 2013 Spring Training game.

Hirschbeck has returned to the field.
The contest, a fairly benign 3-hour and 34-minute 16-6 Red Sox win versus Pittsburgh in Florida's Grapefruit League, featured a four-man, all-big league crew with fellow crew chief Tom Hallion behind home plate, Chad Fairchild at third base, Wally Bell at second and Hirscheck at first.

Game-time weather was picture perfect, 71 degrees and sunny with 11 mph winds blowing from left to right field. Reported attendance was 5,212.

Hirschbeck was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2009, undergoing surgery shortly thereafter. Prior to the 2012 season, Hirschbeck was placed on umpiring's Disabled List, presumably due to the illness.

Several months into the 2012 season, Hirschbeck informed friends he had been deemed cancer-free. At the time, Hirschbeck also planned a return to MLB service with a timeline set for some point during the 2013 season.
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3 comments:

  1. JimFebruary 28, 2013 at 3:54 PM

    This is FANTASTIC news. It's one thing to plan a return, but when it becomes reality, that's the time to truly celebrate. So happy this has worked out the way it has for John.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chris GreenFebruary 28, 2013 at 5:26 PM

    I remember reading in Bruce Weber's book that Hallion was saying around 04'--before he got reinstated--that he didn't respect Hirschbeck because of the whole 1999 business. Maybe getting his job back lessened Hallion's animosity. In any case I hope Hallion was polite. Good that Hirschbeck was there with his buddy Wally Bell.

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  3. Terry BassenteFebruary 28, 2013 at 9:31 PM

    John has been dealt some pretty tough blows during his career. For him to be back on the field must feel amazing. Kudos to John and best of luck for a healthy 2013 and beyond!

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