---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good umpire is the umpire you don't…"
description: "\"A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice\" — Ban Johnson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ban-johnson-110777_baseball_a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-ev_1721708.png"
---

#  A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice

![“A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice” quote by Ban Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ban-johnson-110777_baseball_a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-ev_1721708.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ban-johnson-110777_baseball_a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-ev_1721708.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ban-johnson-110777_baseball_a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-ev_1721708.png)

> “A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice”

Ban Johnson

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A great umpire blends into the game, so players focus on play rather than officiating.

**In simple terms:** Best umpires go unnoticed.

Key Takeaway

Value subtle competence.

Themes

sports leadership invisibility efficiency respect

Mood

neutral respectful analytical

Type

Baseball:1 Good:1 Inspirational:0 Love:0 Umpire:1 Umpires:0 Good Umpire:1 Umpire Umpire:0 Umpire Don:0

When to use this quote

- baseball games
- coaching
- referee training

Key Concepts

sports management psychology team dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How does unnoticed leadership feel?
- When should you assert presence?

A Different Perspective

Over‑visibility can cause criticism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

## Related quotes

> [A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice. He's there all afternoon but when the game is over, you don't even remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-johnson/a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-even-notice-he-s-there-all/)

Ban Johnson

> [A good umpire, like a good FBI agent, is never noticed if he is doing his job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boswell/a-good-umpire-like-a-good-fbi-agent-is-never-noticed-if-he-is-doing/)

[Thomas Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boswell/)

> [The only thing I'd say about Darrell Hair is that he is a very good umpire. He's very firm and he obviously sticks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/the-only-thing-i-d-say-about-darrell-hair-is-that-he-is-a-very-good/)

[Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/)

> [Whenever you have a tight situation and there's a close pitch, the umpire gets a squawk no matter how he calls it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-barber/whenever-you-have-a-tight-situation-and-there-s-a-close-pitch-the/)

[Red Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-barber/)

> [We are to remember what an umpire Nature is; what a greatness, composure of depth and tolerance there is in her. You take wheat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/we-are-to-remember-what-an-umpire-nature-is-what-a-greatness/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [“I would like to be an umpire when Sachin is batting, so to get the best possible view of his shots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-would-like-to-be-an-umpire-when-sachin-is-batting-so-to-get-the/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [Being an umpire is like being a king. It prepares you for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/being-an-umpire-is-like-being-a-king-it-prepares-you-for-nothing/)

[Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/)

> [She'll be evaluated like any other Double-A umpire. Major League Baseball has never attempted to influence our decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-fitzpatrick/she-ll-be-evaluated-like-any-other-double-a-umpire-major-league/)

[Mike Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-fitzpatrick/)

> [In case of dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-naismith/in-case-of-dispute-the-umpire-shall-throw-it-straight-into-the-field/)

[James Naismith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-naismith/)

> [The best recommendation for an umpire in the old days was: "He licked somebody in the Three-I League. He ought to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-cobb/the-best-recommendation-for-an-umpire-in-the-old-days-was-he-licked/)

[Ty Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-cobb/)

> [In sport, part of the game is accepting the umpire's call, no matter how hard that might be. Sometimes the calls go your way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-richardson/in-sport-part-of-the-game-is-accepting-the-umpire-s-call-no-matter/)

[Dot Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dot-richardson/)

> [Sometimes you've just got to let an umpire know that you're not satisfied with his decision. That they've missed the play in your opinion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lasorda/sometimes-you-ve-just-got-to-let-an-umpire-know-that-you-re-not/)

[Tommy Lasorda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lasorda/)

> [It is the duty of the Umpire to determine all questions submitted to him according to these laws, when they apply, and according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-staunton/it-is-the-duty-of-the-umpire-to-determine-all-questions-submitted-to/)

[Howard Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-staunton/)

> [No one ever grew up intending to be an umpire, except perhaps my friend Bill Haller. His brother Tom wanted to be a catcher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-luciano/no-one-ever-grew-up-intending-to-be-an-umpire-except-perhaps-my/)

[Ron Luciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-luciano/)

> [It isn't enough for an umpire to merely know what he's doing. He has to look as though he knows what he's doing, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-goetz/it-isn-t-enough-for-an-umpire-to-merely-know-what-he-s-doing-he-has/)

[Larry Goetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-goetz/)

## More by Ban Johnson

> [A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice. He's there all afternoon but when the game is over, you don't even remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-johnson/a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-even-notice-he-s-there-all/)

Ban Johnson

Explore all 2 Ban Johnson quotes

## More Baseball quotes

> [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/)

[Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/)

> [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/)

[Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/)

[Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/)

> [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/)

[Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/)

> [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/)

[Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/)

> [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/)

[Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/)

> [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/)

[George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/)

> [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/)

[Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/)

> [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/)

[Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/)

> [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/)

[Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/)

> [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray &amp; Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/)

[Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/)

> [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/)

[John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/)

> [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/)

[Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/)

[Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ban Johnson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-johnson/a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-even-notice/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Baseball"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-johnson/a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-even-notice/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ban-johnson-110777_baseball_a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-ev_1721708.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ban-johnson-110777_baseball_a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-ev_1721708.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e78/ban-johnson-110777_baseball_a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-ev_1721708.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice” — Ban Johnson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ban Johnson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-johnson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A good umpire is the umpire...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-johnson/a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-even-notice/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-johnson/a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-even-notice/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
