# Is the umpire actually saying "Strike!" or "Ball!"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-umpire-actually-saying-strike-or-ball/177309 "2003-05-24T23:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-umpire-actually-saying-strike-or-ball/177309/1 "2003-05-24T23:54:00Z")
_Note: This applies to baseball as well._ I’m watching the College World Series (softball) right now, and the umpires are in top form. Whenever they call a pitch, however, it doesn’t seem that they are saying “Strike” or “Ball”; rather, they seem to give a pained yell, i.e. “Yaaaaagghh!” or “Euuuuuuoooogh!”. Or, is this just me, and they’re actually articulately yelling “Strike” or “Ball”? Please note that I have only been to one ballgame in person, and I can’t recollect what the umpire did. Thanks for the help! ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-umpire-actually-saying-strike-or-ball/177309/2 "2003-05-25T00:01:00Z")
\ is the SCWS always in Oklahoma City? ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-umpire-actually-saying-strike-or-ball/177309/3 "2003-05-25T00:03:05Z")
Yep, the field at the Softball Hall of Fame is used. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-umpire-actually-saying-strike-or-ball/177309/4 "2003-05-25T00:14:26Z")
Generally, for strike one, they say something like “EEE-yah!” For strike two, it’s “Tuuuuuuh!” For strike three, it’s "“RRRrrrrowwwww!!!” They’re silent on balls. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-umpire-actually-saying-strike-or-ball/177309/5 "2003-05-25T00:15:57Z")
They’re not always silent. Some of the more showboating umpires in baseball will yell BAWWWWWL! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-umpire-actually-saying-strike-or-ball/177309/6 "2003-05-25T00:53:18Z")
True, but there’s actually no requirement. In Dave Pallone’s (former MLB umpire) book _Behind the Mask_ he recounts his learning the profession in umpiring school. While a fist held up is indicative of a strike there’s no sign for a ball and no requirement for any vocalization at all. All that stuff you hear is just tradition. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-umpire-actually-saying-strike-or-ball/177309/7 "2003-05-25T00:54:49Z")
thanks Joe! ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-umpire-actually-saying-strike-or-ball/177309/8 "2003-05-25T01:02:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by erictelevision \* > \*\*thanks Joe! \*\* Not a problem… 🙂 … And, thanks to everyone else for such swift answers. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-umpire-actually-saying-strike-or-ball/177309/9 "2003-05-25T12:53:24Z")
Every ump has his own style. Generally, though, a strike gets a loud call and a right-hand gesture, often toward the batter’s dugout (so the manager can see it.) A ball gets a quiet comment, “baw,” just loud enough for the catcher and batter. If there’s a gesture, it’s left-handed. If the batter is unhappy with the call, the ump often walks away, so he doesn’t have to throw the guy out for his grumbling.