2006 Major League Umpire Executives

Garcia worked in the Florida Instructional, Florida State, Southern, International, and Dominican Winter Leagues prior to joining the American League staff in 1975.

During his tenure as a major league umpire, Garcia worked two All-Star Games (1980, 92), three Division Series (1995, 97, 98), five League Championship Series (1978, 82, 86, 90, 96) and four World Series (1981, 84, 89, 98).

McKean worked in the Florida State (1970), Florida Instructional (1970), Eastern (1971), Puerto Rico Winter (1971) and International (1972-73) Leagues prior to joining the American League staff in 1973.
 During his tenure as a major league umpire, McKean worked three All-Star Games (1980, 82, 93) and three World Series (1979, 85, 95). He also called five League Championship Series (1977, 83, 87, 91, 98) and three Division Series (1981, 95, 99).
 McKean, a 1966 graduate of Concordia University with a degree in education, played quarterback for Saskatchewan in the Canadian Football League from 1963-69. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1963 and led the team to the Grey Cup title in 1966.
 A native of Montreal, Quebec, McKean graduated from Monklands High School where he won the Principal's Award as the High School Athlete of the Year. In his spare time, McKean works with the Holy Family Church Auction, Police Athletic League, Make-a-Wish Foundation and various children's hospitals.
 McKean resides in St. Petersburg with his wife, Ann. The couple has two children, James Scott and Brett George.

Palermo was previously hired by Major League Baseball on April 6, 1994, as a Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Major League Executive Council. He handled special projects, one of which was studying the length of games.

After attending the Umpire Development Program, Palermo worked in the American Association, New York-Penn League, Carolina League, Eastern League, Florida Instructional League, Dominican Winter League and Puerto Rican Winter League prior to joining the American League staff in 1977.

During his tenure as a major league umpire, Palermo worked the 1986 All-Star Game in Houston and the 1983 World Series between Baltimore and Philadelphia. He also umpired four American League Championship Series in 1980, 82, 84 and 89. He was part of the first joint committee on training and helped to collaborate the first-ever major league umpire manual.

Palermo's umpiring career was shortened on July 6, 1991 when he was shot in the back while coming to the aid of a robbery victim in the parking lot of a Dallas restaurant.

A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Palermo studied education at Norwich University, Leicester Junior College and Worcester State College.

Palermo resides in Overland Park, KS with his wife, Debbie.

Pulli worked in the Midwest, Eastern and International Leagues prior to joining the National League staff in 1972.

During his tenure as a major league umpire, Pulli worked two All-Star Games (1977, 88) and four World Series (1978, 83, 90, 95). He also called seven League Championship Series (1975, 79, 84, 86, 91, 93, 97) and four Division Series (1981, 95, 96, 98). He was also part of the first joint committee on training and helped to collaborate the first-ever major league umpire manual.

A native of Easton, Pennsylvania, Pulli played baseball and basketball in high school.

Pulli resides in Palm Harbor, FL with his wife, Kim. He has six children, Vicky, Michelle, Frank Jr., Michael, Candice and Nikki.

Rieker worked in the Midwest (1983-85), Eastern (1985-86), American Association (1986-95) and Dominican Winter (1987-88) Leagues prior to joining the National League staff in 1996. During his tenure as a major league umpire, Rieker worked one All-Star Game (1998) and two Division Series (1999, 2000). He also was an instructor at the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School for 16 years.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Rieker graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1984 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration & Marketing.

Rieker resides in Orlando, FL with his wife, Kathleen. He has two children, Jacob and Michael.

Springstead began his professional umpiring career in 1960 in the Class "C" Northern League. He also worked U.S. Army Baseball in Fort Hood, TX (1961-62) and in the Southern League (1963-65) before becoming a member of the American League staff in 1966. During his 20-year major league career, Springstead umpired in three All-Star Games (1969, 1975 and 1982) and three World Series (1973, 1978 and 1983). A crew chief for 11 years, Springstead also officiated five American League Championship Series (1970, 1974, 1977, 1981 and 1984). He also had the distinction of working behind the plate for two no-hitters before he retired following the 1985 season.

A distinguished guest speaker, Springstead has taught and lectured throughout the world. He has held clinics in Japan, where he instructed the Japanese Professional Umpires of the Pacific League, and has also taught in various Canadian provinces and for the United States Air Force in Spain, Holland and Germany.

Springstead, who was just the fourth person ever to hold the position of Executive Director of Umpires for the American League, attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ, majoring in advertising. He now resides in Sarasota, FL.

In his current position, Lepperd is responsible for facilitating communication between Major League Baseball's Umpire Operations and the major league umpires and with Minor League Baseball. He also assists in the schedule of umpire assignments and maintains current records of umpire information and game events.

Lepperd graduated number one in his class from the Bill Kinnamon Umpire School in February 1975 and was assigned to the Midwest League for that season. After working in the Midwest League (1975-76), Lepperd umpired in the Eastern League (1976-77) and American Association (1978-86). He was assigned to work in American League Spring Training games from 1983-86 and also served as a fill-in in AL regular season games (1984-86) before joining the Umpire Development Program as a supervisor in 1987, where he stayed until joining the National League in 1998. He was also a part of the first joint committee on training and helped to collaborate the first-ever major league umpire manual.

Lepperd graduated from the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) with highest university honors and a B.S. in Teaching of Mathematics in 1972. Prior to attending the Kinnamon Umpire School, Lepperd taught mathematics at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, IL for three years.

A native of Rochelle, Illinois, Lepperd resides in West Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife, Susan, and two children, Kelsey (11) and Zachary (8).

Letendre served as a Major League Baseball athletic trainer for 18 years with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees. He was named to serve as National League athletic trainer at the 1987 and 1994 MLB All-Star Games. Letendre has been a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association since 1979 and is an active member of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society.

When he is not lecturing on health care techniques, Letendre is educating audiences on the hazards of spit tobacco and was honored in 1998 by the National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP) for his efforts to educate players on the effects of spit tobacco.

He is a member of the Scottsdale Charros, a civic group, and serves on the board of governors for the Scottsdale Boys' and Girls' Club and as an officer for the Baseball Assistance Team charity.

Letendre is a 1978 graduate from the University of Maine-Orono where he received a B.S. in Physical Education and Health. He resides in Scottsdale, AZ with his wife, Judy, and daughters, Alyssa and Shannon.