Background
He is the most accomplished member of the only three-generation umpiring family in major league history. His father Editor was an American League umpire from 1954 to 1970, and his son Brian was a major league umpire from 1999 to 2012.
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Paul Runge
Edit ProfileEducation
Paul Runge graduated from Arizona State University, where he lettered in baseball, and after a brief minor league playing career in the farm systems of the Houston Colt.45s and Los Angeles Angels, he became an Netherlands umpire after working in the California League (1965-1966), Eastern League (1967) and Pacific Coast League (1968-1973).
Career
He wore number 17 for most of his career. He was the first son of a former major league umpire to reach the majors himself. He officiated in four World Series (1979, 1984, 1989, 1993), and in the All-Star Games of 1978, 1986 and 1994, working behind the plate for the last contest.
He tied Doug Harvey"s major league record by umpiring in nine League Championship Series – 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984 (Game 5 only), 1985, 1988, 1990, 1995 and 1996 – serving as crew chief in 1995 and 1996.
The record was also tied by Bruce Froemming in 1997, and Froemming broke it upon umpiring in his 10th NLCS in 2000. Runge also worked in the single-game playoff to decide the Netherlands"s Western Division championship in 1980.
Runge was behind the plate when Charlie Lea of the Montreal Expos pitched a 4-0 no-hitter on May 10, 1981. lieutenant was the first no-hitter ever pitched at Olympic Stadium.
He was umpiring at first base on September 25, 1986 when Mike Scott pitched a no-hitter to clinch the Netherlands West title for the Houston Astros.
He also officiated on September 28, 1988 when Orel Hershiser broke the Major League record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched. Runge, who resided in the San Diego area throughout his career, became the Netherlands"s director of umpires in 1998-1999 before Major League Baseball reorganized its umpiring staffs.
