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Umpire calls his last out after 20 years and over 1,000 games
- Klas Stolpe
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
Longtime sports official David Means leaves a legacy on the field for others to follow
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
It wasn’t a typical Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé softball game in late May.
Yes, the Crimson Bears were playing Southeast Conference rival Ketchikan. Hosting the Lady Kings at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park on the JDHS senior night. That happens each season.
But amid the celebrations and flowers, and some sun, a brief tip of the caps was given to the game’s base umpire, David Means, 72. A sentence or two announcing his retirement was spoken to a brief applause and, true to his demeanor, the longtime Alaska sports official gave a slight wave.
“We are not here for the accolades,” Means said between innings. He later noted some factors that make a good umpire: “Among them is love of the sport, understanding the reason behind the rules, collegiately working with partners and some athleticism to keep up with the players.”
Means finished his 14th season umpiring high school softball that night, and was entering his 20th and final season for adult softball. His first was in May 2007.
“I don’t remember umpiring my first high school softball game,” Means said. “My first adult softball game was very wet. I learned not to rely solely on a volunteer scorekeeper. I asked her in between innings what the score was. She said the team that was ahead had 17 runs. I asked her again an inning later and she reported the team ahead had 13 runs. Most umpires confirm the score after every half inning and write the score down on the lineup card. Second lesson on Dimond Park Field No. 1: always take the bases when it is cold, windy and wet because it is better to have one’s back to the wind.”
He remembers his first high school baseball game, a junior varsity contest between JDHS and Ketchikan at Melvin Field.
“I was not a certified ASAA umpire,” Means said. “I saw the catcher stand in front of home plate and make more signals than a sailor would signal a helicopter pilot landing on a ship during stormy weather. The wife of the Ketchikan High School coach was a longtime work colleague of mine from Ketchikan. So I asked her in between innings. The signals mean ‘CATCH the ball and get this guy OUT.’ During the same game the bases were loaded with one out. As the base umpire, I was in front of the shortstop. The batter hit a line drive to the shortstop. He caught it and stepped on second before the runner tagged up. Out. He threw down to third base, who tagged the runner diving back to third. Out. Then I looked at my indicator. That was the fourth out. Extra outs do not carry over into the next inning, according to the rules.”
He remembers his first Little League softball game.
“I was a Little League baseball umpire who was asked to umpire the juniors’ state softball series between Anchorage and Juneau,” Means said. “It was a nice, warm sunny Saturday afternoon.”
The top of the first inning ended with a runner on third base trying to score on a dropped third strike and being tagged out.
“At the top of the second inning with runners on first and second, the Juneau assistant coach comes out of the dugout shouting, ‘We have an illegal player,’” Means said. “I thought I did not want to touch that issue with a 10-foot pole because it would involve a player not on the official roster. The plate umpire talked with the coach, the scorekeeper, Anchorage’s coach and the first base umpire. I soaked up vitamin D. Finally, the two umpires came to me and asked, ‘Do you remember if the batter reached first base at the end of the first inning?’ I was surprised at the question, and then I told them, ‘If the softball rules for batting out of order are the same as baseball’s, then it is too late to appeal a batting out of order.’ The plate umpire agreed and the game resumed."
"Technical note: it does not matter if the batter-runner reached first or not because her ‘at-bat’ ended with the dropped third strike. From that incident, I always write down when a batter does not complete his or her ‘at-bat.’ Second note: the defense must appeal a batting out of order before the next pitch, or if the rules allow, an intentional walk is given. And I decided that I would step in if there is a lengthy discussion because I may be able to resolve the issue quickly. However, from time to time I have to ask my partners about some obscure rule.”
Memories. Means’ go back a few years. Born in Oregon in 1953, he graduated from Willamette High School in Eugene. He played one season of baseball after fourth grade. He moved to Ketchikan in 1978, where his officiating career began. A friend and football official asked Means to join the ranks of officials in the Ketchikan Youth Football League in 1983, similar to the Juneau Youth Football League with Cubs, Juniors and Seniors.
“At first, they also had an open league, which was for high school-level players,” Means said. “Games were played on Norman Walker field. Sometimes the umpire had to stand over the ball once it was ready for play or otherwise it would float away downstream. Ketchikan High School began playing football on a limited basis and I started officiating high school football. I called Ketchikan High School’s very first touchdown. It was a broken play with the Ketchikan defense recovering a loose ball in the end zone.”
Means started umpiring Ketchikan Little League baseball in 2004.
“Because Norman Walker field’s ground was rough and it hurt my legs to run on it,” he said. “I thought I would replace football with baseball. Ketchikan sent me to Petersburg to umpire a minors’ (ages 10 and under) district series in 2005. The Juneau superintendent of schools travelled to Petersburg during that tournament to interview me for the Juneau School District director of administrative service position.”
Means took the post and moved to Juneau. He began volunteering to umpire Gastineau Channel Little League baseball in the spring of 2006. He remembers watching JDHS play the Pasco, Washington, football team that year at Adair-Kennedy.
“I thought they were the same size as the JDHS players,” he said. “Then about 10 minutes later, Pasco’s linemen came out. They were huge. I wondered how many bales of hay did each of them lift to develop their muscles and size. After that game I offered to officiate football again. I took classes and began officiating football in August 2006. Turf fields are much easier on legs.”
At that time, football officials were part of the Juneau-Douglas Officials’ Association, which had an agreement to umpire adult recreation league softball. Means was asked to work softball so he took classes during the spring in 2007 and began umpiring softball that May. Then-officials Everett Boster and Bob Sims asked him to umpire high school softball around 2012. The three went to Anchorage to attend a USA Softball umpire clinic for training.
His advice for rookie officials is to study the rules and mechanics of the profession.
“I recommend that softball umpires view the USA Softball manual found on their website whether they are umpiring Little League or high school or adult softball,” he said. “This is good even for Little League baseball umpires working the 60-foot field. I also read the case book, which provides plenty of examples of applying rules in many different situations. Umpires can also log on to a blog to learn more about rules, equipment, and how to umpire. Little League sometimes provides training to its umpires by a national trainer. And the local umpire group provides basic training to adult softball umpires every spring. There are books and magazines to continue self-study. Lastly, work as many games as possible because game experience is the best way to learn from both correct calls and mistakes.”
Means’ resume includes Little League and high school baseball and softball, USA youth and adult softball, and youth and high school football. Three times he has traveled to umpire USA softball tournaments, including to Portland, Oregon, and Kent, Washington.
“I have umpired over 1,000 games here,” Means said. “One year I umpired 100 or more adult softball games when I checked the records. This past year was a light season for high school softball when I umpired nine games over two weekends and one to two adult softball nights a week...The most significant change to high school softball was a change in the pitching rule during the 2024 season. The most significant change to adult softball was starting an ‘at-bat’ with a one strike, one ball count to shorten the game time.”
He noted his favorite player and some difficult calls to make.
“Pete Carran and his dog, Rufus,” Means said. “Pete had a nice, pleasant welcoming demeanor...I have seen some triple plays and some spectacular catches. Close plays at first base can be difficult to call at every level because it is a matter of inches whether the batter-runner is safe or out. We should be in the proper position while watching the ball, the batter-runner, the base, and the defensive player. I would like to think I always got the calls correct, but sometimes we ask our partner whether the defensive player pulled their foot, especially if the base umpire is calling it from behind the shortstop.”
Calls can lead to dealing with angry or taunting fans or upset players and coaches.
“This comes with experience,” Means said. “I respect the players and coaches. Good communication will often reduce the upsetness of a particular call. I ignore the fans. Juneau is a very nice place to officiate because Juneau folks respect their officials. It has been years since I have encountered a disrespectful fan or player.”
Means was asked what he will miss the most.
“Umpiring on a nice, warm, Saturday afternoon,” he said. “I will also miss the friendships from my fellow umpires and officials.”
Note: A shortage of officials has continued across the state and the country. Following are some sites for those interested in helping our community continue to participate in safe sports practices:
Future umpires can also contact local officials Matt McGuan or Bob Sims or southeast Region V Officials Coordinator Keith Perkins.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com
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