Ump hit by ball, hospitalized

© St. Petersburg Times
published June 1, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Veteran umpire Steve Rippley, a St. Petersburg native, was hospitalized after being struck on the left temple by a ball during Friday's game at Tropicana Field.

Rippley, 48, slumped to the ground and lay on his back for several minutes before being taken from the field -- conscious and talking -- on a stretcher and to Bayfront Medical Center for evaluation. Preliminary reports showed no fracture and Rippley was expected to be released early this morning, Rays officials said.

The other umpires said Rippley didn't appear to be seriously hurt when he left the field, though Tim Timmons said stitch marks from the ball were visible on his temple.

"He was conscious, no pain or tingling or anything like that," umpire Gary Darling said. "It just hit him in the temple and started to swell up pretty good. He wanted to get up, but they wanted to use precautionary measures and lock down his head. They were just being careful."

The incident occurred in the sixth when a 1-and-1 pitch from rookie Lee Gardner hit Oakland's Adam Piatt on the side then struck Rippley, whose wife was in the stands, on the temple. The game resumed with three umpires after a 15-minute delay.

"He was out, completely dazed," Piatt said.

Rippley, who reached the majors in 1984, was raised in St. Petersburg, playing baseball and other sports at Northeast High.

He attended the Rays' 1998 inaugural game as a spectator because he was a National League umpire until the staffs merged in 2000.