Bill Hohn


William John Hohn is a former Major League Baseball umpire from 1987–99 and 2002–10. Hohn's uniform number was 29.

Umpiring career

Prior to joining MLB, Hohn served in numerous other leagues from 1977–88. He umpired in the 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and the Divisional Series in 1996, 1998, and 2005. Hohn was the home plate umpire for Hideo Nomo's no-hitter on September 17, 1996.
Hohn missed the entire 2011 season owing to back and neck issues, and his retirement was announced on April 5, 2012. His spot on the MLB roster was filled by Todd Tichenor.

Controversies

On July 5, 1992, while umpiring a game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs, Hohn approached the Braves dugout while arguing with Atlanta player Terry Pendleton, with the dispute leading to the ejection of Braves manager Bobby Cox. After a fan made a gesture with his hand toward Hohn, the umpire called for security to have the fan removed from the stadium. However, the fan would only be required to move twenty-nine rows back.
On June 21, 2009, he ejected Eric O'Flaherty, Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox for arguing balls and strikes. O'Flaherty on a 0-2 pitch seemingly struck out JD Drew in Boston. Hohn called it a ball despite visual evidence showing otherwise. Then ejected the three braves following JD Drew's single off the Green Monster. A run would score on the play to make it 5-4 Boston.
In July 2009, Hohn again roused the ire of the Braves after he exchanged a fist-bump with Florida Marlins catcher John Baker at the conclusion of a Braves-Marlins game. Hohn previously ejected Braves manager Bobby Cox and catcher Brian McCann from the game. Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton called the fist-bump "shocking" and Atlanta's Chipper Jones said, "I've never seen it before in my 16 years." A month prior, Hohn ejected 3 members of the Braves from a game in Boston. Hohn declined to comment on the situation, other than to state that the league had reviewed it.
In 2010, Hohn ejected Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt from a game although Oswalt told Hohn that he was not talking to him. MLB executive Bob Watson stated that Oswalt would not receive more punishment, while Hohn would be addressed "in a very stern way." It was the first time Oswalt had been ejected since 2004, when he was thrown out by Hohn after a hit batter.