Longtime MLB umpire Bruce Froemming dies at 86

Longtime MLB umpire Bruce Froemming has died at the age of 86, his family confirmed to The Athletic.

Froemming's sons told The Athletic and Associated Press that Froemming fell at his home in Wisconsin on Tuesday and hit his head on the hardwood floor. He was taken to a hospital in Milwaukee, according to his family, before succumbing to a brain bleed that medical personnel were unable to stop. Froemming had been on blood thinners.

Froemming worked 5,163 MLB games, which is the third-most games by an MLB umpire, over 37 consecutive baseball seasons beginning in 1971. Among those games, he worked five World Series and was on the field for 11 no-hitters.

Froemming was behind the plate for no-hitters by Milt Pappas (1972), Ed Halicki (1975), Nolan Ryan (1981) and José Jiménez (1999).

Froemming retired in 2007, when his total games worked stood second behind Bill Klem’s 5,373. Both Froemming and Klem were surpassed by Joe West, who worked 5,460 games before he retired in 2021.

Following his retirement, Froemming served as a special assistant to the league’s vice president on umpiring.

RIP MLB UMPIRE BRUCE FROEMMING

The 1st matchup he called B/S for was Tom Seaver vs. Pete Rose in 1971 & he worked long enough to call Reds games with Joey Votto.

Here’s every final out for the record 11 no-hitters he called. He was on home for Pappas, Halicki, Ryan, Jimenez. pic.twitter.com/OvjUwdAVwh

— Rocco Constantino (@OfficialMLBRFC) February 26, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bruce Froemming dies at 86: Umpire worked MLB games for 37 seasons