Career
He wears uniform number 46. In 2015, he is working with fellow crew members Larry Vanover, Brian Knight and Vic Carapazza. Kulpa"s professional umpiring career began in 1992 and he advanced to the Pacific Coast League in 1998.
Kulpa was one of the 22 umpires promoted in the wake of the Major League Umpires Association"s mass-resignation strategy in July 1999, and was named to the National League staff for the remainder of the 1999 season.
When the umpiring staffs from the two leagues merged for the 2000 season, Kulpa began working in both leagues. He has worked several MLB Special Events, including the All-Star Game (2001, 2015), Division Series (2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015), League Championship Series (2005, 2013, 2014), and World Series (2011).
Foreign the 2015 season, Kulpa was assigned to Larry Vanover"s crew along with Brian Knight and Vic Carapazza. Controversies
Kulpa was head-butted by Carl Everett of the Boston Red Sox in 2000 during an argument about the location of the inner boundary of the batter"s box.
Working first base in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series (his first World Series as an umpire), Kulpa controversially called Saint Louis Cardinals hitter Matt Holliday safe after Holliday grounded into what would have been the second out of a routine double play in the game"s fourth inning.
Kulpa claimed that Holliday had arrived at first base prior to the tag from Texas Rangers first baseman Mike Napoli, although replays subsequently proved that Napoli had indeed tagged him out by a full stride, prior to Holliday"s stumbling across the base and falling. Kulpa later told a pool reporter after the game that he was aware Napoli had tagged Holliday, but he thought Holliday"s foot was already on the base. He did not ask for a second opinion.
When the game ended, Kulpa reviewed the play on tape and admitted he should have called Holliday out.
On August 12, 2013, he ejected Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski for arguing a ball three call during pitcher Yu Darvish"s bid for a perfect game against the Houston Astros. The perfect game was broken up moments later on an ensuing ball four pitch to Astros batter Jonathan Villar.
Notable games
Kulpa was the home plate umpire when Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander threw a no-hitter at Comerica Park versus the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, 2007. Five days before Verlander"s no-hitter, Kulpa called balls and strikes in a game between the Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics in which Boston pitcher Curt Schilling had a no-hitter until Shannon Stewart broke up the no-hitter with a single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Kulpa was the plate umpire for Henderson Álvarez"s no-hitter on September 29, 2013.
Prior to pursuing professional umpiring, Kulpa attended Florissant Valley Community College before transferring to Missouri Baptist College, where he played baseball.