Baseball's Best Umpire Third-Strike Calls Ever

Throughout the history of baseball, umpires have played an important role in acting as officials in charge of enforcing the rules of the game and in keeping the peace between the white lines.

Home plate umpires in particular are called upon to act as judge and jury for the pitcher, always having the final say on every ball that crosses the plate.

As such, many umpires have adopted a particular style in which they call balls and strikes, and in particular, the all-important third strike.

Here are some umpires who have perfected the art of the third-strike call in their own unique styles.

1. The Jump Technique

The ways in which home-plate umpires make called third-strike determinations are varied in nature.

In this particular case, a minor-league home plate umpire seems to have practiced his particular call in front of a mirror before bringing it onto the field.

2. The Ninja Technique

Umpires have always been meant not only to enforce rules and officiate over all plays in the course of a game, but also to do it in a way that doesn't showcase them as the visual highlight of the game itself.

However, in the case of this particular umpire, his third-strike call resembling that of a ninja is clearly the highlight of this particular game.

3. The Boom Technique

While some home plate umpires are about their visual presentation when ringing up a batter, others are more inclined to vocalize their calls.

In the case of this particular home plate umpire, you don't hear the traditional "strike three" call, but more of a long, drawn-out "boom."

4. The Enthusiastic Sweep Technique

For some umpires, the art of ringing up a batter for a called third strike combines a level of enthusiasm along with a good dose of acrobatics.

For this home-plate umpire, his technique certainly calls on both, along with excellent use of hand gestures.

5. The Whirly-Bird Technique

This particular home-plate umpire may be just a bit out of shape, but he certainly puts his own spin, pardon the pun, on his third strike call.

Not quite sure what a helicopter has to do with calling balls and strikes, but this dude makes it work anyway.

6. The Breakdance Technique

The art of break dancing was first introduced to the general public in the 1980s, when Flashdance and other similar movies popularized the new style.

Apparently, this home plate umpire wants to bring us back to those days.

7. The Duel to the Death Technique

MLB umpire Laz Diaz has been employed by MLB since 1999, and has since become a respected umpire in both leagues.

Maybe it's because he keeps things light. While this video has nothing to do with a called third strike, Diaz demonstrates his dueling skills between innings of a game between the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies.

The Giants' bat boy could have at least made it an interesting fight.

8. The Countdown-Takeoff Technique

On a full count with one out—hence the 3-2-1 call at the beginning of the video—this particular umpire uses a bit of flair on a pressure-packed situation at the plate.

Literally counting down and then taking off, this umpire is clearly the highlight of the game.

9. The 'Showing Up the Kids' Technique

I love an animated umpire; it makes the game even more fun to watch.

However, not so much in a Little League game. Showing up kids after a strikeout is cruel and unusual punishment in my book.

10. The Three-Pronged Technique

One night in Fenway Park in September 2009, the home plate umpire must have been having difficulty picking up the ball out of relief pitcher Billy Wagner's hand.

He enlisted the help of two more umpires behind him as well.

11. The Uppercut Technique

This particular home-plate umpire decided that the marriage of boxing and baseball was a perfect match.

Roy Jones Jr. would have been very proud.

12. The Bow-and-Arrow Technique

While this may not qualify as a home plate umpire's call per se, Dan Patrick goes off on a tangent regarding his opinion of certain called third-strike calls.

Patrick's impersonations probably won't win him any awards, but he's got the bow-and-arrow technique down pretty well.

13. The 'Make It Very Obvious' Technique

There are some umpires who make a point of letting the entire crowd know through his actions and expressions exactly what the call was on a ball thrown over the plate.

While this isn't a third strike call, I think you'll get the general idea in this particular case just how vocal an umpire can get on any strike call.

Imagine what his third-strike call is like after hearing this.

14. The Cobra Technique

With absolutely one of the most unique third strike calls in baseball, Bruce Walker is famous enough to even have a name for his call.

The "Cobra" call apparently is now legendary in Southeast Ohio.

15. The Undercover Technique

Who cares if it isn't real, it's without a doubt the best third-strike call in the history of baseball.

Lt. Frank Drebin is on the case in The Naked Gun, looking to foil an assassination plot against Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. His investigation takes him to the baseball diamond, and of course his undercover work as an umpire.

Twenty-four years later, it still brings tears to my eyes.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.

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