Part 2
HIGHLIGHTS
“Interpreters, chauffeurs, and local hosts were made available at all times at all events attended in Europe, Taiwan, Philippines, Brazil, South America, Japan, and Canada. Provisions were made to permit a couple of days off so umpires could visit these countries. The hospitality demonstrated from each country’s representatives was unbelievable.”
For those of you who are wondering why Ray never attempted to join the ranks of the professional umpires of MLB, he answered.
“Fred and I discussed it briefly, but by the time we completed our involvement with amateur baseball, we decided that we were too old.”
GREATER MANCHESTER BASEBALL UMPIRES ASSOCIATION
Prior to moving from the local umpiring scene in New Hampshire, he and best friend, Fred Jasinski Sr. organized the Greater Manchester Baseball Umpires Association (GMBUA) for the expressed purpose of training new umpires for transition into youth leagues, high school, and college baseball.
With the cooperation of the Manchester Pony & Colt Leagues, the Youngsville Little League, and the Goffstown Babe Ruth League, they started an umpire-training school. Each of the leagues allowed the GMBUA to use their facilities for training where live games permitted new umpires to develop their respective skills. The Goffstown BRL (through Moe Allard) provided use of the fields for clinics and classes.
During the winter months, they were able to bring umpire candidates and veterans to the Goffstown facility for the expressed purpose of working on plate mechanics and calling balls & strikes (using a pitching machine).
Honing the plate mechanics of the umpires in attendance were the “staff” of Ray, Fred, Jim Fletcher, Mike Hodgdon, Chris Larose, Duasne Welch, Steve Garrett, Tom Ebol, and Doug Thomas
Ray developed and implemented the “three-man umpiring system” for use in both baseball and softball at the collegiate level which involves SNHU, St. Anselm, PSU, KSC, NEC, FPU, U-Mass Lowell, Hawthorne College, DWC, and Rivier College.
Ray started the assigning system for the GMBUA which later became “Arbitersports”, a nationwide assigning system that is used currently. This gives all members of the GMBUA the opportunity to work live games where both plate and base umpires would have video-tapes made of their performances which could then be used for further study and evaluation. It would be important to note that the process involves one instructor being assigned to one apprentice where words of encouragement and constructive criticism would be offered.
This valuable tool, especially for the apprentices, was drawn from the Joe Brinkman-Bruce Froemming Professional Umpiring School located in Cocoa, FL.
10 members of the GMBUA took the Collegiate Baseball Umpires Association entrance exam and 8 successfully passed, thus permitting them to now work college games. Previously, only ONE umpire in NH was on the college staff.
GMBUA member Tom Ebol was selected to the New Hampshire Softball Umpires Association Hall of Fame. When Ray & Fred retired from the association, Tom, because he was a solid umpire and supporter of its programs to develop umpires, Tom became its director.
Brian Troupe, having no previous umpiring experience, came to the GMBUA and worked long hours to develop his skills. He became one of the 8 who took the college umpires’ exam and, upon passing it, became the CBUA president and currently umpires at that level.
GENERAL
Two men played major roles in influencing Ray’s athletic life.
First was Jim Abbott, the one-armed pitcher Ray met while umpiring Olympic baseball. In addition to being a great pitcher, Abbott was also a prolific writer and Ray read several of his books. The content of them, especially the subject of overcoming adversity, is what Ray carried into his work life, at times giving a copy of the book to fledgling umpires who sometimes struggled with their personal skills and abilities.
Second was the man who aided him the most in setting up the GMBUA, Major League Baseball umpire Joe Brinkman. It was Brinkman’s material, especially game management, that served as the guideline that Ray & Fred used in developing the GMBUA.
QUOTES HE’S NEVER FORGOTTEN AND HAS OFTEN LIVED BY…
“You’ll get more with honey than you will with shit.”
As Ray explained: “Unfortunately, you’ll sometimes see a coach and/or player get into it with an umpire. I remember a specific incident that took place when i was doing the bases. A player from one of the teams was attempting to steal 2nd, but the ball got there before him. In fact, he never even made it to the bag. As he lay there on his back, I gave the “out” signal lifting my fist & arm into the air. No sooner had I made the call, he looked at me and said ‘You suck!’ A little startled, I looked at him and said ‘What did you just say?’ to which he again answered, ‘You suck!’ It was then that I gave the signal for ejection.
In years past I probably would have run him after the first comment, but over the years I’ve learned to temper my reactions. I wanted to give him a chance to apologize or say the comment was intended for someone else, but when I asked him to repeat his comment…and he DID…I couldn’t let it go because our rules don’t excuse behavior like that.
As he got up I said ‘Son, I want to be sure that the statement you made to me was accurate when I write up my report after the game. Would you please repeat the statement you made to me and he again answered…I said ‘You suck!’
By this time his coach, a huge former player who looked more like a linebacker than a baseball coach, was sprinting toward me like I was an opposing quarterback. When he reached me he asked what happened and I told him that his player made a derogatory comment toward me. He asked what the comment was and I told him and he responded with ‘Well, that ain’t so bad.’ Then I told him ‘Coach, he said it three times! That’s why I had to run him’.
The coach turned away from me then sprinted toward his bench where his ejected player was sitting. He grabbed the kid by the shirt, pulled him up off the bench then proceeded to slam his body into the dugout wall…all the time saying you said ‘You suck’ THREE times…THREE TIMES!!!’
If I had run the player immediately after the first comment, his coach would have been on me like a magnet. By staying calm and explaining to the coach why I did what I did, the matter was immediately resolved…at least for me.”
“Use common sense.” – John “Jumbo” Reilly
“While I was umpiring a Sweeney game, a play developed that could have been argued both ways…one supporting the position taken by the coach, the other supporting the position taken by the umpire. When a coach has an issue with a call I’ve made and questions me on it, I always ask him how he saw the play. After listening to him I’ll say ‘OK, coach, now this is how I saw it.’
After I explained why I made the call I did, Coach Reilly just looked at me and said. ‘Got it. but when you make a decision you always have to remember to use common sense. That’ll cut down on the confusion and end most arguments.’ He was right and I’ve never forgotten that.”
“When you put your uniform on, always give your best effort.” – Gerald Valliere (Ray’s Dad)
“No matter what sport I played or what game I umpired, that was the mantra I followed. My Dad said that I should play or ump like somebody important was watching you. If you do that, though you may not always be successful, you’ll always give it your best effort and that’s all anyone can expect of you.”
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” – Joe Kennedy (President John Kennedy’s Dad)- Knute Rockne (Notre Dame football coach)
“One of my favorites that’s used in both sports and life itself.” Simply put, as explained by Wikipedia, it means when the situation becomes difficult, the strong will become engaged.
“The real secret to any success is just work.” – Ray Valliere
“If you want to develop, you’ve got to keep working. I used to work about 140-150 games a year. I’d work every day. In fact, I probably worked too much. If you love being around kids, you just want to work.”
ODDS & ENDS
Why he stepped down from his job with the Manchester Youth Services Office and umpiring…
“Health had a lot to do with it. I don’t want to sit in a rocking chair. It’s not like life gave me a bad blow. That’s not it. I’ve had a lot of rewards…especially in umpiring. We had a great rash of talented kids from the late 50’s until the mid 70’s. I can remember doing games with Flanagan pitching against Huot…a double no-hitter one time that went 10 innings. I’m not trying to say that kids aren’t as good today, but I don’t think they have the same dedication.”
His thoughts on today’s young players (and their parents)…
“There’s a lack of respect and a lack of discipline, especially at home. Today’s players have been too coddled. Parents and coaches have been too soft on them. You shouldn’t get a trophy just for playing a sport. Also, too many parents think their kids are going to become professionals and that’s just not going to happen.”
and coaches…
“I miss the days when coaches with decades of experience were more common. Good coaches taught their players in practice and just watched them in games – and did so quietly. They knew the game. And you didn’t get a lot of grief on little things. When they came out of the dugout for something, they had a good reason.“
And the Pro athletes?…
“Cut your hair, shave your beard, and get rid of the jewelry!”
Athlete today that he most respects.
Derek Jeter. And because Ray’s been a life-long fan of the Yankees, I’m not surprised. However, being a life-long Red Sox fan, I have to agree with Ray’s choice. Jeter’s behavior both on and off the field has resulted in him being someone I also respect and admire.
Favorite sports movie…
Ray has several, among them “Bull Durham” and “The Natural”, but his top choice was “Bang the Drum Slowly”.
ASKED HOW HE WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED…
“That I cared about people, that I was always available, and that I was involved in a labor of love.”
A PERSONAL COMMENT…
As I mentioned when I started writing, I knew Ray’s story would be interesting and, as I also mentioned, it certainly has been.
As much as I was, at times, in awe referent to what he’s done, there was one “constant” that prevailed throughout the hours that we sat and talked at the Dunkin Donuts Shoppe on Candia Road…and it’s one that still leaves me a little overwhelmed…especially considering his age.
I’m 74 and I often can’t remember the details of what I did yesterday never mind what I did 50 years ago.
Though Ray is 84 years old, no matter the year, no matter the location, no matter the team, no matter the score, no matter the participants, no matter whatever it was we were discussing, he could tell me exactly the year, the location, the teams, the participants, the inning, the batting order, the count on the hitter, or whatever it was we were covering.
In all my years as an educator, in all my years as an athlete and a coach, I’ve met some interesting and intriguing people, but never anyone like him.
Though the baseball/softball diamonds have lost a gem of an umpire, because of his dedication, commitment, and love of the sport, Manchester has gained a legend.
And after putting together the information for this story, I can say without hesitation, Ray Valliere Sr – the CHIEF – truly is ONE OF A KIND.
Ted Menswar Jr. is a life-long resident of the Queen City and a retired member of the English Department of Memorial High School who has been involved in local sports for 70 years as a player, a coach, a mentor and a fan. He can be reached at tedmenswar@outlook.com