Crawford umps final game in hometown

Jerry Crawford heard something that umpires rarely hear: a warm ovation from the fans.

Then the game started.

In a ceremony at home plate, the Philadelphia native was honored for his 34 seasons as a full-time major league umpire. He has announced his retirement at the end of the season.

"To be honest, I've been choked up the whole game," the 63-year-old said during the rain delay in yesterday's game. "I've been looking around. I didn't think it was going to affect me this way, but I've been weepy-eyed all day. I saw my sister up there and I started to tear up again. That was very nice. I was very moved."

In the fourth inning, though, he called Nationals leftfielder Roger Bernadina safe on a close play at first.

"Then I heard, 'Hey, you missed that one.' And I was like, 'OK, everything's normal again.' Philly fans are Philly fans," he said with a laugh.

The Crawford name has become well-known for producing professional sports officials. Jerry's father, Shag, was a big-league umpire for 20 years. His brother, Joe, is an NBA official.

During his career, he has worked the Division Series four times, the League Championship Series a record 12 times, the World Series five times and the All-Star Game twice.

He said he is retiring because of continuing back problems along with the fact that he was not scheduled for the postseason this year.

"I've had some physical difficulties over the past few years. All my off time I've been rehabbing," he said. "And the problem is, even though I feel OK, there's no guarantee. I've even had to take some time off this year because of it. I'm getting older. It's not getting physically better where I'm feeling comfortable and I'm not worrying about my back. And you lose concentration. In my job, that's a tough thing. You can't lose your concentration. That was always my game, to be able to focus and concentrate.

"I've been thinking about this for the last couple years. If I can't work the playoffs - and I don't blame Major League Baseball for not putting me in there because, let's face it, they don't want me to go out there and not be able to [finish the game] - but if I'm not going to be considered for the playoffs, that's the case."

When he was born, the Crawfords lived on Frazier Street, across from Most Blessed Sacrament at 57th and Chester Avenue, where he attended school. The family moved to Havertown after Shag was promoted to the big leagues in 1956. Jerry, who began umpiring in the Hilltop League when he was 15, attended Monsignor Bonner and then went to umpiring school after he graduated. He now lives in Florida. *