A First Base Umpire Took an Errant Throw to the Side of the Head

Umpire Junior Valentine is probably dealing with a sore face today.  That's because he took an errant throw to the side of the face during last night's Cardinals-Mets game.

Valentine was the first base umpire last night when Cardinals shortstop Edmundo Sosa attempted, and failed miserably, to make a spinning throw to first.  The throw was way off line and struck the umpire in the side of the head.

The umpire was focused on first base and the baseball to the side of the head knocked him off his feet.  While on the ground Valentine discovered he was bleeding.

 

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Despite taking the baseball to the face, the umpire finished the game.  A 7-0 Cardinals win.  Next time there's a ball up the middle and Sosa is making the play the first base umpire might want to keep one eye on the throw.

Sosa makes spinning throws to first like a little leaguer.