Don Lawyer, a long-time CDUA and SBUO umpire passed away recently. The last few years he has worked numerous CDMSBL games at the older age division. He was a colorful person on and off the field who loved to tell stories of the old days. His obituary can be found in the Schenectady Gazette.
todd - thanks for putting that notice about don in. i'm sorry to hear it as i'm sure others will be.
don was an old-time old-timer, my guess is that he was probably in late 70s early 80s when i last saw him umping, which was at new scotland.
don was red-faced man of irish lineage (so he told me once when i asked him where the word "lawyer" came from), about 6-feet tall, with thin white hair and reddened, muscular arms (he was probably a powerful hitter in his day) and a ready smile - though he didn't take any backtalk on the field from players. he was no nonsense and by the book. at the same time, he knew the book. he could make a call fast - and he knew rules behind it. more than once, i heard him correct other, younger umps. not harshly, but loud and clear. he conveyed the sense he cared about showing that he knew the book and cared about getting calls right. i once checked the book against one of his calls and saw he was right. on the days he did the plate i thought his strike zone was fair and his calls consistent. he once told me he used to umpire minor league games, in the eastern league. that's a lot of calls over the years.
i can't recall if i last saw don this past summer or the summer before. i do remember it was at new scotland and he was doing the bases. we'd chat as i ran to and from the outfield. despite his strict attitude about calls and field behavior, don had a ready wit behind what could seem a gruff exterior. he was always ready to chat and swap jokes with the players. i remember thinking as i ran by him for the last time - the innings were long and it was getting dark - how it was probably good for him to get out and do these games. then i thought, it was good for us too. he not only knew the game, and was, in a sense, walking history, but in a way he was a model for the rest of us. i thought how good it would be if we're all still out in the sun, connected in various ways to the game, if we make it to our 70s and early 80s.
Love him, or dread seeing him come to the field, there was no denying that Don Lawyer was a character........his experience spanned 39 years, and he loved our game with a passion. He was a guy who worked as many games as he always could, not for the money, but to be connected to the game...There was no bigger Yankee fan......while the time was coming to back down on schedule, and level of ball, he intended to stay active to the very end, and did not care about level, as the game he had that day was the best game of the day!.......he was very devout Catholic, taking his elderly mother to mass and breakfast every Sunday.....he has his priorities straight, with family, God and baseball.....Don will be missed, but I'm sure he's already behind the plate, wearing his plate coat, enoying baseball with the Man upstairs, working a Sunday doubleheader. Don - rest in peace, and God Bless your soul.
