MLB.com

MAJOR LEAGUE SERVICE TIME: 31 Years

CAREER: Finished first in the 1974 Umpire Development Class (now known as the Jim Evans Academy)...began minor league career in the Western Carolinas League and was selected to its Hall of Fame in 2002...worked the Carolina League (1975), Southern League (1975-1976), the American Association (1976-1977) and the Puerto Rican Winter League (1977)...worked first Major League game in September 1976 at age 23...became full-time National League staff member in April 1978...has worked two All-Star Games (1987, 2005), four Division Series (1995, 2002, 2005, 2008), seven League Championship Series (1981, 86, 88, 93, 96, 2003-04), three World Series (1992, 1997, 2005)...worked the San Diego round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic...participated in MLB's Umpire Camp for Marines as an instructor in March 2009 in San Diego...was the youngest umpire ever to work a NLCS in 1981 at age 28...serves as the president of the World Umpires Association.

PERSONAL: Joseph Henry West...born in Asheville, NC in October 1952...resides in Florida...played college football at East Carolina (safety on the freshman team) and was three-year starting quarterback at Elon College (now Elon University), where he threw for 4,337 yards and 35 touchdowns, leading the team to three Carolinas Conference Championships and a number two national ranking in NAIA Division 1 in 1973...the team's only loss in 1973 was to Abilene Christian, led by future Dallas Cowboys quarterback Clint Longley and Pro Football Hall of Famer Wilbur Mongomery...was named team MVP in 1973...was inducted into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, part of the same class as legendary North Carolina State basketball coach Kay Yow...designed all of Wilson Sporting Goods' "high" end umpires equipment and owns the United States, Canadian, Australian, and Japanese patent on the chest protector known worldwide as the "West Vest.'' This endeavor prompted him to found majorleagueumpires.com. His equipment is the only equipment endorsed by Major League Baseball for use by its umpires...nicknamed "Cowboy Joe" or "Country Joe" for his singing and songwriting, Joe emceed and sang with the "Living Legends Golden Tour" at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA in March 2007. The show included Grand Ole Opry stars Jan Howard, Freddie Hart, Stonewall Jackson, Jack Greene, Helen Cornelius and Jim Ed Brown...Joe is a regular performer at "John A's Little Palace" in Nashville, TN and has often performed with Ray and Ron Herndon at "Handle Bar J's" in Scottsdale, AZ...Joe has performed with country music stars Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, Merle Haggard, Bonnie Owens, T.G. Sheppard, Box Car Willie, Randy Corner, Jimmie C. Newman, Marty Martel, Ron Gaddis, Kent Goodson, Jon Potter and rock and roll artists "Skunk" Baxter, Jason Scheff (Chicago), Rick Seratte (White Snake) and Les Dudek (Allman Brothers)...Joe has also performed with world-renowned bands such as "The Statesiders" (Mel Tillis's band), "The Jones Boys" (George Jones' Band), "The Gems" (Jim Ed Brown's band), "The Red Rose Express" and "The Urban Cowboy Band" (Mickey Gilley's bands), "The Bayou City Beats" (voted the No. 1 club band in America), "The Super Grit Cowboy Band," "The Nashville Now Band," and he performed at the Grand Ole Opry with Charlie McCoy and "The Hee Haw Band"...Joe's two albums are marketed by Good and Western Records (available at goodandwestern.com and cowboyjoewest.com)... Joe is a member of the Celebrity Players Golf Tour.