and wondered aloud whether Fox analyst Eric Karros had ever hit a ball that far. For his final season, Froemming's crew included Brian Runge, the son of Paul Runge, who served on the NL staff from 1973 to 1997; Froemming has recalled that he used to baby-sit for Brian. Froemming was also associated with the Joe Brinkman umpire school in Cocoa, Florida, which was renamed the Brinkman/Froemming umpire school several years prior to its closing in 1998. Memorable games Froemming was the plate umpire (wearing number 16) when Milt Pappas was going for a perfect game on September 2, 1972, against the San Diego Padres, but made a ball four call on the 27th batter, Larry Stahl, which cost Pappas the perfect game, though he still pitched a no-hitter. The call remains controversial. Froemming was the first base umpire (wearing number 5) when he ejected New York Yankees manager Billy Martin in Game Four of the 1976 World Series in the top of the ninth inning, the first World Series managerial ejection since Earl Weaver was tossed by umpire Shag Crawford in the 1969 World Series. Froemming is reviled in Philadelphia for a call in the 1977 National League Championship Series. In Game 3 of the series, the Philadelphia Phillies led the Los Angeles Dodgers by a run with two outs in the ninth with Manny Mota on third. Davey Lopes hit a smash that struck third baseman Mike Schmidt in the knee and caromed to shortstop Larry Bowa, who fired to first. Lopes was called safe, and the Dodgers went on to win the game and the series in four games. On September 26, 1981, he was behind the plate for Nolan Ryan's record 5th no-hitter. Froemming worked his first perfect game as the first base umpire for Dennis Martinez's perfect game on July 28, 1991. On April 6, 2001, Froemming was the home plate umpire for the first game at Miller Park in his hometown of Milwaukee. On September 3, 2001, Froemming was the second base umpire for the no-hitter pitched by Bud Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals. That game marked the record 11th time he had umpired in an official no-hitter having previously shared the record of 10 with Silk O'Loughlin, Paul Pryor and Jim McKean. He also umpired in a near no-hitter on July 26, 1991, two days prior to Martinez's perfect game. Montreal's Mark