Nashville Sounds Unveil Chuck Meriwether Umpire Room

Nashville's Chuck Meriwether has an umpire room, the Sounds honoring the retired MLB umpire in a pre-game ceremony Friday night naming the officials' room at First Tennessee Park where the Triple-A/PCL squad and Oakland A's affiliate plays its games.

Chuck Meriwether honored in NSH. Photo: Sounds/MiLB.

Chuck Meriwether is originally from Nashville, graduating from the local Father Ryan Academy high school before attending Athens State College in nearby Alabama, where he played first base for the school baseball team.

Meriwether enrolled in the Wendelstedt Umpire School shortly after graduating from Athens with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education, beginning his baseball career in 1979 and landing a full-time American League gig in 1993, where he umpired until 2010 (adding the NL in 2000 when the staffs merged), working several Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Games, and World Series.

Meriwether spent a total of 11 years in Triple-A, including the Pacific Coast League (1982-85) and American Association (1986-92). He currently works for Major League Baseball as an Umpire Supervisor, one of his duties involving the AAA-to-MLB transition, meaning he visits Triple-A stadiums such as First Tennessee Park throughout the season. He also has ties to the city of Nashville itself, serving on the Nashville Metropolitan Sports Authority Board of Directors for metro Nashville and Davidson County.

Surrounded by family and friends during Friday's pre-game event, Meriwether was presented with a plaque commemorating the new "Chuck Meriwether Umpire Room" by Sounds owner Frank Ward and team mascot Booster, a giant red rooster.