Former MLB umpire, Milwaukee native, Bruce Froemming dies at 86
Froemming worked the third-most games in MLB history.
Updated: 8:00 PM CST Mar 1, 2026
Bruce Froemming, an MLB umpire for 37 seasons and a Milwaukee native, died Feb. 25, his son told ESPN. He was 86.Froemming worked the third most games in MLB history. He also called a record 11 no-hitters.According to reports, Froemming fell just after midnight on Tuesday and hit his head on a hardwood floor at his Mequon home. He was taken to a hospital in Milwaukee, family said. He had brain bleeding that couldn’t be stopped because he was on blood thinners, leading to his death.”I thought I was in heaven — on the ballfield, professional athletes, I was starting my professional career,” he told The Associated Press days before his retirement. “But never did you dream at the time, ever even think of going to a big league ballpark, because you had so far to go through the minor leagues to even get a chance.”Froemming became a special assistant to MLB’s vice president on umpiring when he retired.
MILWAUKEE —
Bruce Froemming, an MLB umpire for 37 seasons and a Milwaukee native, died Feb. 25, his son told ESPN. He was 86.
Froemming worked the third most games in MLB history. He also called a record 11 no-hitters.
According to reports, Froemming fell just after midnight on Tuesday and hit his head on a hardwood floor at his Mequon home. He was taken to a hospital in Milwaukee, family said. He had brain bleeding that couldn’t be stopped because he was on blood thinners, leading to his death.
“I thought I was in heaven — on the ballfield, professional athletes, I was starting my professional career,” he told The Associated Press days before his retirement. “But never did you dream at the time, ever even think of going to a big league ballpark, because you had so far to go through the minor leagues to even get a chance.”
Froemming became a special assistant to MLB’s vice president on umpiring when he retired.