An umpire was caught wearing a shirt featuring Kramer from the classic sitcom "Seinfeld" underneath his uniform during Saturday's Los Angeles Angels game against the visiting Atlanta Braves.
It happened in the top of the fifth with nobody on and nobody out with the Braves holding a 4-0 lead. Braves batter Whit Merrifield hit a fly ball to deep left that at first glance appeared to hit the top of the outfield wall. However, as left fielder Taylor Ward threw the ball into second base to hold Merrifield to a double, second base umpire James Hoye saw that the fly ball actually bounced off a thin piece of padding above the outfield wall near the Angels bullpen and correctly ruled the play a home run for Merrifield, extending the Braves lead to 5-0.
The play was reviewed to confirm Merrifield's home run, but as Hoye was ready to announce the confirmed call to the crowd, the camera captured Hoye wearing a shirt featuring a portrait of Kramer underneath his umpire uniform, which led to some hilarious dialogue between the Angels play-by-play announcers.
"That's Kramer on his shirt. Look at that. A picture of Kramer on his shirt."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 18, 2024
"Yes he does. Cosmo Kramer."
"That's unbelievable. What a sequence we just saw."
Wayne Randazzo and Mark Gubicza spot James Hoye wearing the world's greatest undershirt. pic.twitter.com/n0V2nT1pA7
"This will certainly be confirmed as a homer - That's Kramer on his shirt! Look at that! A picture of Kramer on his shirt...That's unbelievable."
Angels play-by-play broadcaster Wayne Randazzo later joked on X that this was a top 3 highlight of his career.
Umpires sometimes find themselves getting attention for controversial calls. Given the standard black uniform, to see an umpire reveal a non-standard T-shirt underneath their uniform is a bit unusual. At the same time, it makes Hoye a bit more relatable that he likes the same classic TV shows that most of us do.
The Braves went on to score 4 more runs in the fifth inning to blow the game wide open on the way to an 11-3 rout of the Angels.
Moonlighting as a blogger to pursue my interest and enjoyment of sports. Former high school and Division I athlete (now a "retired" family man) that loves watching and discussing all sports. Follow me on Twitter (@HoldoutSports) and like Holdout Sports on Facebook.
