--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just loved officiating, and I hope what…" description: "\"I just loved officiating, and I hope what I did helped make it better. That's what I tell young umpires: you can have fun. I never spent a day where go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/doug-harvey-17445_baseball_i-just-loved-officiating-and-i-hope-what_3131712.jpg" --- # I just loved officiating, and I hope what I did helped… ![“I just loved officiating, and I hope what I did helped make it better. That's what I tell young umpires: you can have fun. I never spent a day where going out on a baseball field didn't make me feel better.” quote by Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/doug-harvey-17445_baseball_i-just-loved-officiating-and-i-hope-what_3131712.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/doug-harvey-17445_baseball_i-just-loved-officiating-and-i-hope-what_3131712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/doug-harvey-17445_baseball_i-just-loved-officiating-and-i-hope-what_3131712.jpg) > “I just loved officiating, and I hope what I did helped make it better. That's what I tell young umpires: you can have fun. I never spent a day where going out on a baseball field didn't make me feel better.” [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Umpiring can be enjoyable and rewarding; sharing that joy encourages newcomers to find fulfillment in the role. **In simple terms:** Umpiring can be fun and rewarding. Key Takeaway Teach and inspire others. Themes sports mentorship joy Mood inspirational hopeful Type motivational educational When to use this quote - training programs - youth leagues - career counseling - sports administration Key Concepts career satisfaction role modeling community building Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain joy amid pressure? - What support helps new umpires thrive? A Different Perspective Umpiring also involves stress and criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) ## Related quotes > [I always told my young umpires, 'Don't get mad. Whatever you do, don't show it. But no matter how long it takes, get even.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-always-told-my-young-umpires-don-t-get-mad-whatever-you-do-don-t/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I'd love to stay in baseball, but I won't beg. I'd love to work with young umpires. I think I could teach them, help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-d-love-to-stay-in-baseball-but-i-won-t-beg-i-d-love-to-work-with/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Umpires are supposed to be non-confrontational - they're supposed to uphold the peace on the baseball field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/umpires-are-supposed-to-be-non-confrontational-they-re-supposed-to/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [Umpires are necessary evils. That's just the nature of the beast. For years, people have looked on umpiring as a job they could get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/umpires-are-necessary-evils-that-s-just-the-nature-of-the-beast-for/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I've heard it said that umpires are necessary evil. Well, we are necessary, but we are not evil. We are hard-working and dedicated people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-ve-heard-it-said-that-umpires-are-necessary-evil-well-we-are/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [The integrity of the game is the umpires. Nobody else. The entire integrity of the game is the umpires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/the-integrity-of-the-game-is-the-umpires-nobody-else-the-entire/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [The one thing that all umpires have is pride, and if you don't have pride, you lose that edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/the-one-thing-that-all-umpires-have-is-pride-and-if-you-don-t-have/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [If you don't need umpires out there, and you can put robots out there, then why do we need ballplayers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/if-you-don-t-need-umpires-out-there-and-you-can-put-robots-out-there/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Error is part of the game. I never, ever second-guessed myself on a call and don't believe good umpires ever should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/error-is-part-of-the-game-i-never-ever-second-guessed-myself-on-a/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Umpires are necessary evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/umpires-are-necessary-evils/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [With what has occurred in my life, the baseball field is where I feel most comfortable. That's what I feel I was born to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-rodriguez/with-what-has-occurred-in-my-life-the-baseball-field-is-where-i-feel/) [Alex Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-rodriguez/) > [Don't tell me about the world. Not today. It's springtime and they're knocking baseball around fields where the grass is damp and green in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hamill/don-t-tell-me-about-the-world-not-today-it-s-springtime-and-they-re/) [Pete Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hamill/) > [I spent a lot of hours on the baseball field doing whatever I could do to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-longoria/i-spent-a-lot-of-hours-on-the-baseball-field-doing-whatever-i-could/) [Evan Longoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-longoria/) > [If you could equate the amount of time and effort put in mentally and physically into succeeding on the baseball field and measured it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-schmidt/if-you-could-equate-the-amount-of-time-and-effort-put-in-mentally-and/) [Mike Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-schmidt/) > [There was but one question he left unasked, and it vibrated between his lines: if gross miscalculations of a person's value could occur on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/there-was-but-one-question-he-left-unasked-and-it-vibrated-between/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) ## More by Doug Harvey > [I remember when replay first came to TV. I can't remember who it was now, but a manager came out to beef about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-remember-when-replay-first-came-to-tv-i-can-t-remember-who-it-was/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I went into umpiring at age 16. I got into officiating because of the fact that I could not stand the referees that worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-went-into-umpiring-at-age-16-i-got-into-officiating-because-of-the/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Umpires are necessary evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/umpires-are-necessary-evils/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I must admit, I was born to officiate; I was made to officiate. I miss it. I knew why I was doing it. God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-must-admit-i-was-born-to-officiate-i-was-made-to-officiate-i-miss/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [My mom beat us until she started breaking clothes hangers. Wooden clothes hangers! Once we started laughing back at her, then your spankings were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/my-mom-beat-us-until-she-started-breaking-clothes-hangers-wooden/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Error is part of the game. I never, ever second-guessed myself on a call and don't believe good umpires ever should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/error-is-part-of-the-game-i-never-ever-second-guessed-myself-on-a/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I say to you, you want a thrill, volunteer to be an umpire. I'd like you to go just work the bases some day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-say-to-you-you-want-a-thrill-volunteer-to-be-an-umpire-i-d-like-you/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Officiating is trying to do your absolute best with what you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/officiating-is-trying-to-do-your-absolute-best-with-what-you-ve-got/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I always told my young umpires, 'Don't get mad. Whatever you do, don't show it. But no matter how long it takes, get even.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-always-told-my-young-umpires-don-t-get-mad-whatever-you-do-don-t/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I'll say it again: you've got to put the argument back in the game. They're trying to make baseball mechanized, a machine. They're ruining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-ll-say-it-again-you-ve-got-to-put-the-argument-back-in-the-game/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I set out to be the best umpire of my time. But I don't know what it takes to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-set-out-to-be-the-best-umpire-of-my-time-but-i-don-t-know-what-it/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [Before I joined professional baseball, I started umpiring in San Diego, California. I worked 155 games in a five-month season. For three years in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/before-i-joined-professional-baseball-i-started-umpiring-in-san-diego/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [I know that there are no famous 'Doug Harvey plays.' And I'm proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/i-know-that-there-are-no-famous-doug-harvey-plays-and-i-m-proud-of/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [The part of the game that fans will soon miss: the argument between manager and umpire! There was something special about watching a manger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/the-part-of-the-game-that-fans-will-soon-miss-the-argument-between/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) > [When asked what he was fighting for, General Washington, in writing to General Thomas, said the object was 'neither glory nor extent of territory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/when-asked-what-he-was-fighting-for-general-washington-in-writing-to/) [Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) [Explore all 37 Doug Harvey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/) ## 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 & 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": "I just loved officiating, and I hope what I did helped make it better. That's what I tell young umpires: you can have fun. 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