Quinn Wolcott Appointed to Umpiring Staff; 28-Year Umpire Gary Darling Retires
Major League Baseball announced today that Quinn Wolcott has been named to the full-time Major League Umpiring staff.
Wolcott, a professional umpire since 2006, has worked at the Triple-A level since 2011. The 28-year-old has umpired in the Arizona Rookie League, the Northwest League, the Midwest League, the Carolina League, the Southern League (Double-A), the Pacific Coast League (Triple-A) and the Arizona Fall League. Wolcott also was assigned to the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in 2012. After working his first Major League Spring Training in 2013, he debuted in the Major Leagues on May 27th that season and has worked 149 Major League games overall. Wolcott will work with the crew of Gerry Davis in the upcoming weeks.
Wolcott replaces veteran Gary Darling, who has elected to retire after 28 years of service as a Major League Umpire. Darling, 56, was officially appointed to the National League staff in 1988. He became a crew chief prior the 2004 season. Darling has been on the disabled list throughout the 2014 regular season. The San Francisco native was selected to a pair of World Series (2003, 2010), five League Championship Series (1992, 2004, 2006, 2011-12), 10 Division Series (1995, 1997-98, 2002-03, 2005, 2007-08, 2010, 2013), the inaugural American League Wild Card Game in 2012 and two All-Star Games (1993, 2003). Darling also serves as the President of Umps Care Charities (www.umpscare.com), established by the Major League Umpires to provide financial, in-kind and emotional support for youth and families in need.