The major league baseball umpire, John Tumpane, never imagined the off-the-field call he would have to make last Wednesday.
While Tumpane was in Pittsburgh last week to work the series Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays he went for a walk over the Roberto Clemente Bridge. The 34-year-old umpire had a bad feeling when he spotted a woman, who assured him she was just getting a better view of the Allegheny River. Tumpane was not convinced and grabbed the woman’s arm as she hoped of the bridge railings. Luckily, another bystander came and held on to the woman’s other arm and Rays employee – Mike Weinman – secured her legs. Tumpane mouthed to someone in the crowd to call 911, and the three of them held onto the woman until rescue arrived. Thankfully the woman was rescued and taken down from the bridge safely. Tumpane says that as he was umpiring the tournament, and saw the bridge in the distance, he kept thinking about how the outcome could have been different. The modest man told the Associated Press, “I happened to be in the right spot at the right time.” John Tumpane is a great example of someone living on and off the field.
Right Spot. Right Time.
By: Tanner Kennedy
Photo Courtesy of Associated Press
