Umpire is EJECTED during independent league game after making contact with a player during heated confrontation over allegations of sign stealing
Referee is REMOVED from an independent league match after making contact with a player during a heated confrontation over allegations of stealing signs
- The umpire in question is Warren Nicholson, who was seen in the first inning
- Nicholson connected with Bounders second baseman Tucker Nathans
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Countless baseball executives’ dreams came true Sunday night in upstate New York, where an independent league umpire was actually ejected from a game after being stopped from arguing with players and coaches.
This man-bite-dog scenario played out in Pomona, New York, where the Tri-City ValleyCats visited the New York Boulders in a Frontier League game.
As described by the Albany Times Unionfirst base umpire Warren Nicholson was thrown out in the first inning after arguing with Bounders second baseman Tucker Nathans, and eventually restrained by other officials.
The ValleyCats—a team led by former Philadelphia Phillies slugger Pete Incaviglia—had accused the Boulders of illegally using field cameras to steal signs, leading Nicholson to remove league-approved computer equipment from the home team’s dugout.
That move led to an argument between Nicholson and Nathans, the latter of whom was promptly ejected.
First base umpire Warren Nicholson will be restrained by the home plate umpire on Sunday in Pomona
Nicholson made contact with Bounders second baseman Tucker Nathans (far right)
But Nicholson, too, would be thrown out after making contact with Nathans, as seen in broadcast footage obtained by Jomboy Media.
After the confrontation, Nicholson was seen leaving the ballpark through an opening in the outfield wall on the left.
The match was then delayed for an hour due to a camera being removed from midfield.
“Your manager in Tri-City has been accusing us of stealing signs for three days now, which is both insulting and embarrassing,” Boulders team president Shawn Reilly said in a statement.
Nicholson is seen walking out through the left field wall after being sent off on Sunday
“The referee went over on the basis of Pete (Incaviglia) and he threw out (Nathans) and things got out of hand.
‘It’s unfortunate. It was not a good time for the competition. It was an embarrassing moment and it should never have happened.”
Reilly insists the camera has a 30-second delay, making it impossible to steal plates.
Frontier League spokesmen did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment and further information.