12 For 12 with Gerry Davis: An Umpire Podcast

Baseball is back, and so is 12 for 12 with Gerry Davis - a podcast for umpires, hosted by the umpire who has worked the most playoff games in Major League Baseball history. These 12 minute podcasts with #12 give a look behind the mask of Gerry's 38-year career in the big leagues. New episodes are released weekly.

Timing and Positioning 09/21/2021

Timing and Positioning Gerry talks about how to maintain proper timing as an umpire, teaches a simple trick to becoming a more consistent plate umpire, and discusses some specifics of positioning for plays on the bases. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/20543945

Back on the Field 09/03/2021

Back on the Field Gerry talks about the steps he had to take in order to get back on an MLB field, recalls his first plate job back in the big leagues lasting over 4.5 hours, and shares some of the advice that he gave to his partners while working his rehab stint in the Minor Leagues. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/20360729

Foreign Substances 07/16/2021

Foreign Substances Gerry addresses MLB's recent enforcement of rules against pitchers using foreign substances - from how the umpires are being asked to enforce it, to the specifics of the rules, to how it may trickle down to levels below the Major Leagues. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/19857584

Advice from the Crew Chief 07/02/2021

Advice from the Crew Chief Gerry remembers a routine that he and the late Eric Gregg used for self-evaluation after games, talks about the importance of physical posture during discussions with players or managers, and describes how his time as a junior college basketball coach gave him empathy as an umpire. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/19725725

Umpires are Partners 06/25/2021

Umpires are Partners Gerry talks about what makes a good partner on and off the field, the importance of being honest with yourself as an umpire, and when is the right time to stand up for your partner during an argument. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/19636985

Listener Questions 06/11/2021

Listener Questions Gerry talks about the importance of an umpire's pregame and postgame dress code, discusses how often umpires should refresh themselves on the rule book, and recalls a mistake from his time in Single-A that taught him a lesson. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/19445150

Joe West Breaks All-Time Games Record 05/28/2021

Joe West Breaks All-Time Games Record Gerry shares his thoughts on Joe West setting MLB's all-time record for games umpired, gives an update on his upcoming return to the field, and talks about some of the important details to think about when making changes to your lineup card. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/19335731

The 2 and 3 Man Systems 05/07/2021

The 2 and 3 Man Systems Gerry talks about some of the intricacies of the 2 and 3 man umpiring systems and explains why sometimes it can be better to trust experience and feel over the instruction manual. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/19032530

What You Think vs. What You Know 04/30/2021

What You Think vs. What You Know Gerry talks about the changes to Major League Baseball's warning and ejection policy in bean-ball situations and discusses the differences between what you think on the field vs. what you know. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/18972299

Baseball Rules in Black and White 04/23/2021

Baseball Rules in Black and White Gerry talks with Jim Bettencourt of Baseball Rules in Black & White, a new mobile app that serves as a convenient, organized, and understandable resource for umpires at any level who are looking for a practical and detailed understanding of the rule book. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/18865685

Season 40 in MLB 04/16/2021

Season 40 in MLB Gerry talks about starting the 2021 season as a replay official due to minor health complications, explains how his signature stance behind the plate has helped with his longevity, and answers questions from the listeners. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/18751400

Little League Director of Umpire Development - Part 2 12/19/2020

Little League Director of Umpire Development - Part 2 Tom Rawlings shares some stories about Gerry's role in working with Little League umpires and gives recommendations for how listeners can get involved on both the local and national levels. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/17276255

Little League Director of Umpire Development - Part 1 12/05/2020

Little League Director of Umpire Development - Part 1 Tom Rawlings talks about working his way from volunteer umpire to Director of Umpire Development for Little League International, discusses the process of getting selected to umpire in Williamsport, and shares what Little League is doing to get more young people involved in umpiring. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/17126240

Hunter Wendelstedt 11/18/2020

Hunter Wendelstedt MLB veteran Hunter Wendelstedt talks about following in the footsteps of a father who is a legendary umpire, taking over the operations of the Wendelstedt Umpire School, and the challenges of the 2020 season. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/16864904

World Series Umpire Mark Carlson 10/27/2020

World Series Umpire Mark Carlson 23-year MLB veteran Mark Carlson talks about some of the challenges of the 2020 season, life in the "bubble," and his upcoming assignment of calling balls and strikes for Game 7 of the World Series. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/16562615

Rob Drake - Part 2 09/24/2020

Rob Drake - Part 2 In the second half of our conversation with Gerry's longtime partner, Rob Drake gives advice about game preparation and dealing with "butterflies," discusses how he's dealt with the pain of injuries, and tells a story about his ejection of Lou Piniella that led to fans littering Wrigley Field. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/16147475

Rob Drake - Part 1 09/12/2020

Rob Drake - Part 1 Veteran umpire Rob Drake recalls what it was like getting the call to MLB after working in the Minor Leagues for over 15 years, tells a story about how his first appearance in professional baseball started in the middle of an at-bat, and shares memories from behind the plate for Felix Hernandez’s perfect game. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/16057724

Greg Gibson - Part 2 09/05/2020

Greg Gibson - Part 2 "Gibbo" shares his thoughts on how to accept not being "perfect" as an umpire, talks about some of the biggest games he's worked alongside Gerry, and tells a classic story of an off-the-field interaction with Bobby Cox that ended in a headlock. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/15967895

Greg Gibson - Part 1 08/29/2020

Greg Gibson - Part 1 Gerry's longtime partner Greg Gibson joined the show to talk about the accident that sidelined him for the 2020 season, how the MLB replay operation has changed due to COVID-19, and leaving college to pursue umpiring. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/15825536

Making an Impression 08/22/2020

Making an Impression Gerry describes how MLB evaluates its umpires, what it means to "hustle" as an official, the importance of appearance on the field, and draws comparisons between umpiring and playing pool. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/15712115

Easing The Tension 08/15/2020

Easing The Tension Gerry talks about when the time is right for an older umpire to stick up for a younger umpire, when to discuss a past incident with a player or manager, and tells a story about Harry Wendelstedt easing the tension between he and Gary Carter. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/15643259

Listener Questions 08/01/2020

Listener Questions 12 For 12 listeners asked Gerry for advice to umpires who have been away from the game but want to return, his thoughts on adding the Designated Hitter in the National League, the best way to explain rulings to managers, and more. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/15435737

Opting Out 07/25/2020

Opting Out Gerry talks about his decision to opt-out of working the shortened 2020 Major League Baseball season, what that means for his immediate future, and career as a whole. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/15380351

Creatures of Habit 07/11/2020

Creatures of Habit Gerry talks about how COVID-19 has affected the typical routines of umpires everywhere, remembers the atmosphere from his first World Series, and describes how his stance behind the plate has contributed to his health. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/15170348

Baseball is Back! 07/04/2020

Baseball is Back! Gerry talks about some of the questions surrounding the upcoming season, his pursuit of 5,000 career games in Major League Baseball, and his pending retirement. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/15084131

Umpire Equipment & Protection 10/03/2019

Umpire Equipment & Protection Gerry talks about the start of Gerry Davis Sports, the original Gerry Davis Plate Shoe, and the new Con-CUSHION Mask Enhancer that saved him from a concussion late this season. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/11507153

The Adrian Beltre On-Deck Circle Ejection 09/26/2019

The Adrian Beltre On-Deck Circle Ejection Gerry talks about upcoming Postseason assignments, and then tells his side of the story from ejecting Adrian Beltre for moving the on-deck circle in 2017. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/11409941

Phil Cuzzi - Part 3 09/12/2019

Phil Cuzzi - Part 3 Phil Cuzzi shares the emotional story about his chance encounter with National League president Len Coleman that led him back to professional umpiring after being released by Major League Baseball. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/11230610

Phil Cuzzi - Part 2 09/05/2019

Phil Cuzzi - Part 2 In part 2 of this 3-part series, Phil Cuzzi talks about getting the call to the Major Leagues for the first time, and the subsequent call from Branch Rickey notifying him of his release, which kept him out of baseball for 3 years. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/11139140

Phil Cuzzi – Part 1 08/29/2019

Phil Cuzzi – Part 1 Gerry’s longtime partner Phil Cuzzi joined 12 For 12 and told stories about working Little League games for $15, the first time he knew he wanted to umpire professionally, going to umpire school four times before getting a job, and getting singled out by Hall of Fame umpire Al Barlick. /episode/index/show/12for12/id/11051951

12 For 12 with Gerry Davis: An Umpire Podcast

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