Friday, March 11, 2011

Frank Dezelan Remembered


Former National League umpire Frank Dezelan passed away on Monday at Manor Care Health Services in Monroeville, Pa. He was 81. Dezelan served as an NL umpire from 1966-71.

Dezelan was behind the plate on Sept. 22, 1969, when Willie Mays hit his 600th career home run in San Diego. Dezelan also served as one of the umpires for the 1970 All-Star Game at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, a game best known for the Ray Fosse-Pete Rose collision.

The Pittsburgh-area native also was the first-base umpire for the first game at Three Rivers Stadium on July 16, 1970.

Dezelan's professional career in blue began in 1958 in the Northern League, with stops in the South Atlantic League, Pacific Coast League, Southern League and International League before reaching the Majors.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

MLU Welcomes Dan Bellino to the 2011 Staff


Dan Bellino has been selected to the Major League staff for the 2011 season..has umpired professionally since 2003…has been assigned to work Major League Spring Training each year since 2009…has been called up to the Majors each year since 2008...has 156 days of service at the Major League level…made his Major League umpiring debut on June 25, 2008, when the Orioles played the Cubs at Wrigley Field…has worked in the New York-Penn League (2003), Midwest League (2004), Florida State League (2005), Eastern League (2006), Pacific Coast League (2007-2009) and International League (2010)…worked the Arizona Instructional League (2005), Hawaii Winter League (2006), Arizona Fall League (2007-2008) and Puerto Rico Winter League (2009). Born in October 1978, resides in Illinois. He holds a law degree (J.D.), an MBA & has passed the bar exam.

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