Hall of Famer jokes about Joe West after retirement news
On Friday, long-time MLB umpire Joe West made it official, announcing his retirement from baseball after umpiring a record 5,460 regular-season games.
The 69-year-old West broke into the league back on September 14, 1976, serving as the third base umpire in a game between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros. His final game came on October 6 when he was behind home plate for a tilt between the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals.
Following the announcement of West’s retirement, Chicago Cubs legend and Baseball Hall of Famer, Fergie Jenkins, hit Twitter with some jokes that likely resonated with other current and retired players.
Whenever he called games I pitched, I used to call him Ray Charles!😎😎 https://t.co/ufjWMhY1L5
— Fergie Jenkins (@fergieajenkins) February 4, 2022
In 19 big league seasons, Jenkins won 284 games and recorded 3,192 strikeouts over 4500.2 innings. He was also named a three-time All-Star and won the won the 1971 NL Cy Young Award. But like many both before and after him, Jenkins wasn’t happy about West’s strike zone. Obviously.
The debate will now rage over West’s Hall of Fame eligibility but after such a record-setting career, there’s little doubt he’ll eventually find himself enshrined in Cooperstown.
