:Joe West (umpire)

West was born in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1952. He grew up in Greenville, North Carolina, where he played youth baseball and football. He graduated from JH Rose High School in Greenville.{{cite news|title=Umpire Told to Stay Out of Player Fights|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UElOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6939,6006496&dq=joe+west+umpire+high+school&hl=en|access-date=January 23, 2013|newspaper=Wilmington Morning Star|date=August 30, 1990}} West played safety on the first-year football team at East Carolina University (ECU) in 1970 and he was a quarterback for Elon College (now Elon University) from 1971 to 1973.{{cite news|last=West|first=Joe|title=Spring Ball With a Special View|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yhFPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6726,3725884&dq=joe+west+elon+college&hl=en|access-date=February 4, 2013|newspaper=Star-News|date=March 27, 2005}} He intended to play his college football career at ECU, but head coach Mike McGee resigned after his first year, prompting West's transfer.

While in college, West hoped to play both baseball and football. However, spring practice for football interfered with West's ability to be on the baseball team. He concentrated on football and umpired high school baseball games on the side.{{cite news | title =The Life of an Umpire Enjoyable for Joe West | newspaper =Spartanburg Herald-Journal | date =February 6, 1986 | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PkYsAAAAIBAJ&pg=5143,1579501&dq=joe+west+umpire+childhood&hl=en | access-date =August 2, 2012}} In his three seasons at Elon, West was the starting quarterback and the team won three conference championships. He was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) on the 1973 team that lost the NAIA Division I title game to Abilene Christian; the Abilene Christian team was led by future professional football players Clint Longley and Wilbert Montgomery. West left Elon holding three passing records that were not broken for 20 years and was inducted into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.{{cite web |title=Umpires: Roster – Joe West |publisher=Major League Baseball |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/umpires/bio.jsp?id=3051 |access-date=February 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102000657/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/umpires/bio.jsp?id=3051 |archive-date=November 2, 2019}}

While umpiring locally as a college student, West met Carolina League umpire supervisor Malcolm Sykes, who recommended that West attend an umpire training school. West went to umpire school and graduated at the top of his class. He worked in several minor-league circuits (the Western Carolinas League, Puerto Rican League, Florida Instructional League, Southern League and American Association) before he was promoted to the major leagues. West made his first National League (NL) appearance in 1976 and joined the full-time NL staff in 1978.

In his first season as a full-time MLB umpire, West umpired the game in which Willie McCovey hit his 500th career home run.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1978/B06301ATL1978.htm |title=Atlanta Braves 10, San Francisco Giants 9 (1) |website=Retrosheet |date=June 30, 1978 |accessdate=May 10, 2025}} In the same year, he was at first base when Pete Rose tied the modern NL record for most consecutive games with a hit (37, set by Tommy Holmes of the 1945 Boston Braves), and he was the home plate umpire when Rose broke it the following day.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-rose-breaks-nl/172106520/ |title=Rose Breaks NL Hitting Streak Record |agency=AP |newspaper=The Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, Vermont |page=1C |date=July 26, 1978 |accessdate=May 10, 2025 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1978/B07240NYN1978.htm |title=Cincinnati Reds 5, New York Mets 3 |website=Retrosheet |date=July 24, 1978 |accessdate=May 10, 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1978/B07250NYN1978.htm |title=New York Mets 9, Cincinnati Reds 2 |website=Retrosheet |date=July 25, 1978 |accessdate=May 10, 2025}} In 1981, West worked first base for Nolan Ryan's fifth career no-hitter. On October 13, 1981, West was 28 when he became the youngest NL umpire to call a League Championship Series.

In July 1983, West was suspended for three days and fined $500 for shoving Atlanta Braves manager Joe Torre.{{cite news |title=Umpire Is Suspended |newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 9, 1983 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/09/sports/umpire-is-suspended.html |access-date=February 8, 2023}} The manager was angry at the end of a game and had followed West into the walkway outside the umpires' dressing room to argue with him. On appeal, NL President Chub Feeney reduced West's fine to $300. Torre also received a fine stemming from the incident.{{Cite news |title=Umpire's Ban Upheld |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/13/sports/umpire-s-ban-upheld.html |date=July 13, 1983 |pages=B11 |access-date=February 11, 2023 |work=The New York Times |agency=The Associated Press}} This was believed to be the first incident of an umpire being suspended during a baseball season in decades.{{cite news |title=Polarizing MLB umpire Joe West is retiring. Here are his greatest hits and misses. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 5, 2021 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/10/05/joe-west-bad-calls/ |access-date=February 8, 2023 |author=Matt Bonesteel}}{{cite news |title=THE UMPIRES STRIKE RACK |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 2, 1984 |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1984/04/02/the-umpires-strike-rack |access-date=February 8, 2023 |author=Steve Wulfl}}

During a game between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium on May 9, 1984, West ejected two cameramen with SportsChannel after they allowed coach Bobby Valentine and pitcher Mike Torrez of the Mets to watch the replay of a close call that had ended the fourth inning.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-ump-ejects-2-tv-cameramen/172105329/ |title=Ump ejects 2 TV cameramen |first=Jack |last=Lang |newspaper=New York Daily News |page=85 |date=May 10, 1984 |accessdate=May 10, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/488331037/ |title=New York Mets 3, Atlanta Braves 1 |website=Retrosheet |date=May 9, 1984 |accessdate=May 10, 2025}}

West made his second NLCS appearance in 1986. He umpired his first All-Star Game in 1987. On September 28, 1988, West was on the field when Orel Hershiser set the MLB record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched.{{cite book|title=The Official Major League Baseball Fact Book 2002|year=2002|publisher=The Sporting News|isbn=0-89204-670-8|page=502}} West returned to the NLCS in 1988 and was the plate umpire when Dodgers pitcher Jay Howell was ejected for having pine tar on his glove.{{cite news| title =Pine tar gets Dodgers' Howell into a very sticky predicament | newspaper =The Bulletin (Bend) | date =October 9, 1988| url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19881009&id=Hx1VAAAAIBAJ&pg=5054,2720330 | access-date =November 24, 2012}}

During a 1990 on-field brawl between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, West attempted to break up the fight by throwing Phillies pitcher Dennis Cook to the ground. The matter ultimately was handled among West, NL President Bill White, then-Commissioner Fay Vincent, and the umpires' union.{{cite news | last =Chass | first =Murray | title =Baseball; White-Umpire Dispute Is Defused by Vincent| newspaper =The New York Times | date =September 5, 1990 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/05/sports/baseball-white-umpire-dispute-is-defused-by-vincent.html| access-date =November 24, 2012}} West said White supported his actions in the brawl, but White quickly issued a statement saying he had prohibited West from making further physical contact with players. White was reported to have nearly resigned due to a lack of support from Vincent, but the NL president remained in his post after receiving approval from league owners.{{cite news | title =Bill White Got Owners' Support He Wanted | newspaper =Bangor Daily News | date =September 13, 1990 | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nKhJAAAAIBAJ&pg=4864,4093159&dq=joe+west+bill+white&hl=en| access-date =November 24, 2012}} West met more controversy the following year when Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson bumped him after a called third strike during a game at Wrigley Field. After Dawson was ejected from the game, he walked back to the dugout and tossed 14 bats onto the field. Chicago fans threw debris onto the field, causing a delay in the game. Dawson received a one-game suspension and a $1,000 fine.{{cite news| title =Cubs' Dawson Receives 1-Game Suspension| newspaper =Milwaukee Sentinel| date =July 30, 1991| url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o7UyAAAAIBAJ&pg=6957,6660797&dq=joe+west+andre+dawson&hl=en| access-date =November 24, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On his check to the league, Dawson wrote "donation for the blind".{{cite news | last =Bagnato| first =Andrew| title =Essian Pep Talks Take 2 Approaches | newspaper =Chicago Tribune| date =September 19, 1991| url =https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/09/19/essian-pep-talks-take-2-approaches/| access-date =August 3, 2012}}

In 1992, West made his first World Series appearance when the Atlanta Braves faced the Toronto Blue Jays. West was behind the plate in the first World Series game played in Canada and ejected Braves manager Bobby Cox for throwing a helmet onto the field.{{cite news | last =Hohlfeld | first =Neil | title =Jays' Candy spoils Braves' appetite 3–2 | newspaper =Houston Chronicle| date =October 21, 1992 | url =http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1992_1088429/jays-candy-spoils-braves-appetite-3-2.html| access-date =November 24, 2012}} In 1993, he appeared in the NLCS. He worked another no-hitter on April 8, 1994, when Kent Mercker shut down the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 1995 NLDS was West's first League Division Series. The following year West worked in the NLCS. He returned to the World Series in 1997 when the Cleveland Indians faced the Florida Marlins.

In 1999, West was among 22 MLB umpires who engaged in mass resignations during a labor dispute. The strategy backfired when MLB accepted the resignations instead of entering into further negotiations with the umpiring union.{{cite news|last=Chass|first=Murray|title=Umpires File Charges Over Their Lost Jobs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/04/sports/baseball-umpires-file-charges-over-their-lost-jobs.html|access-date=December 18, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 4, 1999}} The union filed charges against MLB with the National Labor Relations Board, saying the mass resignation was "a concerted action protected by law". After arbitration and appeals, MLB settled with the union. A few umpires received severance pay and were allowed to retire under the settlement, but MLB rehired West and several other umpires in 2002.{{cite web | title =Six more will split $2.3M in severance pay | agency=Associated Press | date =December 24, 2004 | url =https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1953109 |publisher=ESPN |access-date = November 24, 2012}}

In the same year he returned to the field, West worked in the ALDS. He also umpired in the 2003 and 2004 ALCS. In game six of the latter series, West's crew ruled Yankees batter Alex Rodriguez out for interference after Rodriguez appeared to swat the ball out of the glove of opposing pitcher Bronson Arroyo on his way to first base. Fans threw debris on the field, Red Sox manager Terry Francona pulled his team off the field, and NYPD officers in riot gear took to the field to calm the crowd. West said fans actually applauded the umpires for the correct call when they came onto the field the following day.{{cite web|last=Ropeik|first=David |title=Men in Black (Or Light Blue): Umpiring Much More Than Just Balls and Strikes |publisher=Boston.com |date=September 28, 2005 |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/09/28/the_men_in_black/ |access-date=October 1, 2011}} West's first All-Star Game and World Series appearances after his rehire came in 2005; that year he umpired in his second ALDS and his third World Series, serving as World Series crew chief.

File:Umpire Joe West.jpg manager Ozzie Guillén in 2007.]]

West was the home plate umpire when rookie pitcher Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on September 1, 2007, at Fenway Park; West called a curveball strike three for the final out.{{cite news|last=Ulman |first=Howard |title=Rookie Buchholz pitches no-hitter |publisher=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |date=September 2, 2007 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/red-sox-rookie-pitches-no-hitter/ |access-date=November 24, 2012}} He worked his 4,000th career game on July 30, 2009, at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; he ejected Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman from the contest.{{cite web |title=Ump West works 4,000th game|agency=Associated Press|date=July 30, 2009|publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4366807|access-date=April 24, 2012}} That same year he appeared in the American League Division Series and the World Series. He was also elected president of the World Umpires Association (WUA).{{cite web |last=Miller|first=Doug|title=West elected president of umpires |publisher=Major League Baseball|date=April 7, 2009|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090407&content_id=4146694&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|access-date=November 24, 2012}} West and the union's governing board negotiated the largest umpiring contract in the history of MLB. The contract ran from 2010 through the 2014 season. West designed the chest protector sold commercially as the West Vest, now marketed by Wilson Sporting Goods.{{cite web|last=West|first=Joe|title=Umpire Equipment |url=http://www.umpirejoewest.com/products.htm|publisher=Joe West Co |access-date=September 5, 2011}} He held patents on the West Vest in the US, Australia, Canada, and Japan. He also designed Wilson's high-end umpiring gear, the only umpiring equipment endorsed by MLB.{{Cite interview |last=West |first=Joe |interviewer=Ben Lindbergh |title=Effectively Wild Episode 1967: Season Preview Series: Angels and Red Sox (Plus Joe West) |url= https://blogs.fangraphs.com/?powerpress_pinw=405840-effectively-wild|date=February 9, 2023}} Event starts at 01:50:12.

In 2010, West sparked controversy by criticizing the slow pace of a recently completed series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, which he called "pathetic and embarrassing".{{cite news |title=Umpire Joe West Blasts Yankees, Red Sox Over Slow Pace Of Play |newspaper=Sports Business Daily |date=April 8, 2010|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2010/04/Issue-143/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/Umpire-Joe-West-Blasts-Yankees-Red-Sox-Over-Slow-Pace-Of-Play.aspx |access-date=April 12, 2010}} Red Sox manager Terry Francona referred to the remarks as "troubling," while Yankees closer Mariano Rivera remarked, "If he has places to go, let him do something else."{{cite web |last=Edes |first=Gordon |title=Francona calls comments 'troubling' |work=ESPN |date=April 10, 2010

|url=https://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5071970|access-date=April 18, 2012}} Columnist Wallace Matthews defended West, saying the umpire was simply expressing what people had been thinking for a long time.{{cite web |last=Matthews |first=Wallace |title=Ump should be praised, not punished|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=5068453|work=ESPN.com|date=April 8, 2010 |access-date=January 9, 2013}} West was not fined by MLB for his comments but was "admonished firmly," according to press reports.{{cite news |title=Joe West Admonished Over Yankees, Red Sox Pace Of Play Comments |newspaper=Sports Business Daily |date=April 12, 2010 |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2010/04/Issue-145/Leagues-Governing-Bodies/Joe-West-Admonished-Over-Yankees-Red-Sox-Pace-Of-Play-Comments.aspx |access-date=November 24, 2012}} On May 26, 2010, West made two controversial balk calls on Mark Buehrle and consequently ejected White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén for arguing and Buehrle for throwing his glove which led to the Chicago announcer asserting that West was becoming a "joke to the umpiring profession" and was "in need of a suspension."{{cite news |title=Two balks lead to two ejections |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2Nvy3SFs7M |access-date=July 28, 2016}} On August 26, 2010, West was the plate umpire for Albert Pujols' 400th career home run.{{cite web|title=Box Score, St. Louis at Washington, August 26, 2010|url=http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=uniontrib&page=mlb/scores/final/finallog.aspx?GameID=29395|publisher=Union-Tribune Publishing Co.|access-date=January 23, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203072713/http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=uniontrib&page=mlb/scores/final/finallog.aspx%3FGameID=29395|archive-date=February 3, 2013}}

On September 14, 2014, West ejected Jonathan Papelbon for the lewd act of adjusting his groin, resulting in a confrontation where West grabbed Papelbon's jersey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/philadelphia-phillies-closer-jonathan-papelbon-ejected-after-four-run-ninth-inning/c-94710988|title=Papelbon ejected after gesture to crowd|date=September 14, 2014|access-date=February 11, 2023|publisher=Major League Baseball|last=Bacharach|first=Erik}} MLB subsequently suspended Papelbon for seven games for his lewd act and West for one game for initiating contact with Papelbon. West later claimed Papelbon had initiated first contact, but Major League Baseball determined that the video replay showed West was not correct, and that the contact was initiated by West.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/umpire-joe-west-suspended-one-game-for-papelbon-incident/c-95106248|title=Umpire West suspended one game for contact with Papelbon|date=September 17, 2014|access-date=February 11, 2023|publisher=Major League Baseball|last=Fordin|first=Spencer}}

File:Joe West and Gabe Morales on May 31, 2015.jpg

West umpired in his second NLDS (and fifth LDS) in 2011. The next year West was the first base umpire for Félix Hernández's August 15 perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays.{{cite web|title=Felix Hernandez throws perfect game, overpowers Rays|work=ESPN |date=August 15, 2012 |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320815112|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816100347/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320815112|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2012|access-date=August 15, 2012}} He umpired another NLDS that year, then appeared in his fifth World Series. His career has spanned the tenure of baseball commissioners Bowie Kuhn, Peter Ueberroth, Bart Giamatti, Fay Vincent, Bud Selig, and Rob Manfred. The 2015 season was West's 38th in MLB, making him MLB's most senior umpire. Umpire Bruce Froemming, who was previously the most senior umpire, spent 37 seasons in MLB, retiring at the end of the 2007 season.{{cite web |title=Bruce Froemming |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/F/Pfroeb901.htm/rss |website=Retrosheet |access-date=October 30, 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On August 9, 2017, West was suspended for three games after making inappropriate comments about Adrián Beltré. Beltre defended West, stating that he thought the suspension was unnecessary and that West had made the comments in jest.{{cite web|title=Umpire Joe West suspended 3 games for comments towards Adrian Beltre|date=August 9, 2017 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20288292/joe-west-suspended-3-games-comments-adrian-beltre?sf104673359=1|publisher=ESPN|access-date=August 9, 2017}}

In the bottom of the first inning of Game 4 of the 2018 ALCS, a deep drive and potential two-run homer to right field by Houston's Jose Altuve, which Boston's Mookie Betts nearly caught with a leaping grab at the wall, was ruled by West to be an out due to fan interference. West, the crew chief for the series, made the call from his right field position; the call stood after review by video replay.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/red-sox-vs-astros-controversial-fan-interference-plays-huge-role-in-first-inning-of-game-4/ |title=Red Sox vs. Astros: Controversial fan interference plays huge role in first inning of Game 4 |first=Pete |last=Blackburn |work=CBS Sports |date=October 17, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018}} The call was widely discussed in coverage of the game and on social media such as Twitter.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/mookie-betts-fan-interference-in-tweets/c-298086790 |title=Relive the madness of the Mookie Betts fan interference in ALCS Game 4 with these tweets |first=Eric |last=Chesterton |publisher=Major League Baseball |date=October 17, 2018 |access-date=October 18, 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Kate-Upton-Astros-Red-Sox-twitter-fan-interference-13316616.php |title=Kate Upton tweets displeasure with umpires from her seat at Astros game |first=Matt |last=Young |work=Houston Chronicle |date=October 18, 2018 |access-date=October 18, 2018}}

On August 14, 2019, West umpired his 5,164th Major League Baseball game to move past Bruce Froemming for the second-most number of major league games officiated.{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/umpire-joe-west-works-5-164-game-the-second-most-in-major-league-history/490981771/?refresh=true|title=Umpire Joe West works 5,164th game — the second most in major league history|work=Star Tribune|date=August 16, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019}} Only Bill Klem, who umpired from 1905 to 1941, had called more games than West.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/24/sports/baseball/joe-west-lawsuit-lo-duca.html|title=Umpire Joe West Files Defamation Suit Against a Former Player|work=The New York Times|date=October 24, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2019}}

On October 22, 2019, West filed a defamation lawsuit in New York against Paul Lo Duca and Action Network over comments that the former New York Mets catcher made on a podcast in April 2019. On the podcast, Lo Duca recalled his teammate Billy Wagner telling him in 2006–2007, "Joe loves antique cars so every time he comes into town I lend him my '57 Chevy so he can drive it around so then he opens up the strike zone for me." In the complaint, West denied this and said he suffered unspecified damages as a result of Lo Duca's comments.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2019/10/22/joe-west-paul-lo-duca-billy-wagner-lawsuit/2450256001/|title=MLB umpire Joe West suing former All-Star Paul Lo Duca for claiming he took bribes|work=USA Today|date=October 22, 2019|access-date=October 22, 2019}} West was later awarded $500,000 in damages.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-umpire-joe-west-awarded-500000-in-defamation-lawsuit-against-former-catcher-paul-lo-duca/ |title=MLB umpire Joe West awarded $500,000 in defamation lawsuit against former catcher Paul Lo Duca |first=Shanna |last=McCarriston |work=CBS Sports |date=April 13, 2021 |access-date=October 4, 2021}}

On July 30, 2020, while umpiring the Washington Nationals–Toronto Blue Jays game, West was hit on the side of the head when Bo Bichette lost his bat. He left the game in the bottom of the first inning but returned in the top of the third as the third base umpire.{{cite web |last1=Acquavella |first1=Katherine |title=MLB umpire Joe West temporarily leaves Blue Jays-Nationals game after getting hit in head with bat |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-umpire-joe-west-temporarily-leaves-blue-jays-nationals-game-after-getting-hit-in-head-with-bat/ |work=CBS Sports |date=July 30, 2020 |access-date=July 30, 2020}}

On May 25, 2021, West surpassed Bill Klem's major league record by umpiring his 5,376th career game, in a contest between the White Sox and Cardinals at Guaranteed Rate Field.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/il-state-wire-chicago-white-sox-st-louis-cardinals-mlb-baseball-7f913bd60bf904389e4cf87d8d450e1e |title=Joe West breaks umpiring record with 5,376th game |first=Jay |last=Cohen |publisher=Associated Press |date=May 25, 2021 |access-date=May 26, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Nightengale |first1=Bob |title='What did you expect?' Joe West booed as he sets record with his 5,376th game as an umpire |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2021/05/25/joe-west-umpire-record-booed-cardinals-white-sox-game/7441525002/ |access-date=February 10, 2023 |work=USA TODAY |date=May 25, 2021}} West announced he would retire after the 2021 postseason;{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32338710/record-breaking-umpire-joe-west-retire-postseason |title=Record-breaking umpire Joe West to retire after postseason |first=Jesse |last=Rogers |website=ESPN.com |date=October 4, 2021 |access-date=October 4, 2021}} his final assignment was the 2021 National League Wild Card Game, where he was the home plate umpire.{{cite news |url=https://fansided.com/2021/10/06/nl-wild-card-joe-west-twitter-trend-final-game/ |title=NL Wild Card: Joe West so bad he created his own Twitter trend in final game |first=Alicia |last=de Artola |website=FanSided |date=October 6, 2021 |access-date=October 17, 2021}}

On February 4, 2022, West officially retired.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/roberto-ortiz-makes-mlb-umpire-history-as-league-replaces-joe-west-other-retirees/|title=Roberto Ortiz makes MLB umpire history as league replaces Joe West, other retirees|work=CBS Sports|date=February 4, 2022 |access-date=February 6, 2022}}

West has been mentioned in several polls of MLB players. In 2006, the spring after he was crew chief in the World Series, a Sports Illustrated survey asked 470 MLB players to identify the best and worst umpires. West was identified as the best MLB umpire by 2 percent of those players, ranking him ninth on that list. With respect to the worst umpire, 6 percent of players in the survey selected West, ranking him fourth.{{cite magazine|title=SI Players Poll|magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=June 20, 2006|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/players/06/20/poll.0620/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210053821/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/players/06/20/poll.0620/|archive-date=February 10, 2012 |access-date=October 1, 2011}} A 2007 review of umpire strike zones by The Hardball Times determined that West "had the fewest number of extra balls and strikes," which the outlet asserted "is a sign of consistency."{{cite web|last=Imber|first=Gil|title=After Video Review, Umpire Crew Perfect in San Francisco Games|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1385237-world-series-after-video-review-umpire-crew-perfect-in-san-francisco-games|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=October 31, 2012}}

In a 2010 poll of 100 players, West ranked as the second-worst umpire in the league.{{cite web |title=Joyce tops survey; players nix replay|work=ESPN|date=June 13, 2010 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5281467 |access-date=July 11, 2010}} In a 2011 players poll, 41 percent of players polled (the "overwhelming" plurality) named West the worst umpire; only 5 percent of players polled named him as best.{{cite news |last=Rosecrans |first=C. Trent |title=Poll: Joyce best umpire, West the worst |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=August 17, 2011 |url=http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/31372124 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612013139/http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/31372124 |archive-date=June 12, 2012}}

In a 2019 study by Boston University's Mark T. Williams, West was identified as the umpire during the 2018 season with the second-highest percentage of bad ball-and-strike calls when working behind home plate. Over West's last eleven years, he has averaged 21 incorrect calls a game, or 2.3 per inning.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Mark |title=MLB Umpires Missed 34,294 Ball-Strike Calls in 2018. Bring on Robo-umps? |url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2019/mlb-umpires-strike-zone-accuracy |website=BU Today |date=April 4, 2019 |publisher=Boston University |access-date=November 2, 2019}}

West is known outside umpiring as a singer-songwriter. His involvement in country music and his demeanor on the field have earned him the nickname "Cowboy Joe". West has described his music as "two chords and the truth. ... It's simple. It tells a story."{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Steven|title=Umpire Joe West Is Living The Dream|url=http://www2.tbo.com/sports/sports/2008/jul/22/sp-living-the-dream-dream-ar-147939/|publisher=TBO.com|date=July 22, 2008 |access-date=February 1, 2013}} In 2009, West said of his musical pursuits, "I was lucky. You know, the dues you have to pay to get here as an umpire are long and tedious, but the music business, because I was already in the major leagues, kind of opened a lot of doors I normally wouldn't have been able to open."

West has appeared at the Grand Ole Opry. He has performed with Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, and Merle Haggard.{{cite web|last=Heyman|first=Jon|title=Umpire's inappropriate rant sheds light on a growing problem |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/04/09/friday.scoop/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412103519/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/04/09/friday.scoop/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 12, 2010 |publisher=SI.com |date=April 9, 2010 |access-date=December 14, 2012}} West served as a pallbearer for Boxcar Willie.{{cite web | last =Simonetti | first =Kristin| title =Behind the Mask – Joe West '74| work =E-Net News & Information | publisher =Elon University | date =Winter 2010 | url =http://www.elon.edu/e-net/Note.aspx?id=942957&type=atom&ecast=true&departments=MOE&max=9 | access-date =August 11, 2012}}

West released his first album, Blue Cowboy, in 1987. Blue Cowboy is an album of three original songs and five covers. Chuck Yarborough of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said, "Listening to the first excerpt of his "Blue Cowboy" made me balk—you'll pardon the expression—at listening to the second. But I did. And the third. And so on. And now? Well, if I'm Nashville, I run West outta the game."{{cite web|last=Yarborough|first=Chuck|title=As a country singer, Joe West is a good umpire|date=May 27, 2010|url=http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2010/05/as_a_country_singer_joe_west_i.html|publisher=Cleveland.com|access-date=February 1, 2013}} In a September 2012 review, music blog Long After Dark said, "Blue Cowboy easily ranks with Ron Artest and Carl Lewis as one of the worst albums that a sports figure has cut ... ever. I can say that I managed to make it through the record, although it was not easy."{{cite web|title=The Weirdest Album I Have Ever Bought: Joe West's Blue Cowboy|date=September 19, 2012|url=http://longafterdark.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/the-weirdest-album-i-have-ever-bought-joe-wests-blue-cowboy/|publisher=Long After Dark|access-date=February 1, 2013}}

He released Diamond Dreams in 2008. The album was a collaboration with Kent Goodson, pianist for country star George Jones. It tells baseball stories inspired by West's umpiring career. Goodson later said, "As I look back on how this CD came together, I realize that I am a musician and Joe is an umpire. But his love for music and my love for baseball bonded us in this project."{{cite web|title=Diamond Dreams|url=http://www.cowboyjoewest.com/diamond_dreams.htm|access-date=February 1, 2013}}{{cite web |title=Baseball Has a Heart, and Joe West Lets you Hear the Heartbeat |url=https://www.voodoobrown.com/2011/09/04/baseball-has-a-heart-and-joe-west-lets-you-hear-the-heartbeat/ |website=voodoobrown.com |date=September 4, 2011 |access-date=February 1, 2013 |archive-date=June 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614025147/http://www.voodoobrown.com/2011/09/04/baseball-has-a-heart-and-joe-west-lets-you-hear-the-heartbeat/ |url-status=dead }} Sportswriter Doug Miller said that the album was "a fun, humorous and often touching collection of spoken-word gems in which the listener gets a perfect sampling of the true personality of Cowboy Joe West".{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Doug|title=Veteran ump makes a country call|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20080910&content_id=3449882&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 1, 2013}}

West has made one film appearance, playing a third base umpire in the 1988 comedy film The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! He also made a cameo appearance on the television crime drama The Oldest Rookie.{{cite web|last=Carree|first=Chuck|title=Major league ump has plenty of history to share in homecoming|url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20110114/ARTICLES/110119761?p=2&tc=pg|publisher=Star News Online|date=January 14, 2011 |access-date=December 14, 2012}} An avid golfer, West appears on the Celebrity Players Tour.

Following his retirement, in 2023, West attempted to edit his Wikipedia article in order to "change unfavorable aspects", specifically with regards to the shoving match with Torre. His account was indefinitely blocked from editing after making legal threats.{{cite web |last1=Sutelan |first1=Edward |title=Is Joe West editing Wikipedia? Former controversial umpire allegedly tried changing unfavorable aspects of his page |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/joe-west-wikipedia-edit-page-umpire/u479pcwm10jm6n8cqpjjdknq |website=Sporting News|date=February 10, 2023 }} Following the block, West explained that his motive in editing his own page was due to being introduced for a speech in Southern California with some remarks that confused him, and he eventually traced the source of the remarks to his Wikipedia page.

West appeared on the Baseball Hall of Fame Contemporary Era Committee Ballot in 2023, for induction in 2024. He did not receive enough support to be elected in his first try.{{cite web |last1=Axisa |first1=Mike |title=Baseball Hall of Fame voting results: Jim Leyland, World Series-winning manager, elected into Cooperstown |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/baseball-hall-of-fame-voting-results-jim-leyland-world-series-winning-manager-elected-into-cooperstown/ |website=cbssports.com |date=December 4, 2023 |publisher=CBS INTERACTIVE |access-date=December 16, 2023}}{{cite web |title=CONTEMPORARY BASEBALL ERA COMMITTEE BALLOT TO BE CONSIDERED DEC. 3 |url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/Contemporary-Baseball-Era-Committee-ballot-to-be-considered-Dec.-3 |website=baseballhall.org |publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum |access-date=December 16, 2023}}

West has been married twice. After the death of his first wife, West remarried.

In 2012, West was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, which is now in remission.{{cite web |last1=Seaberg |first1=Abigail |title=MLB Umpiring Legend and Throat Cancer Survivor Joe West Breaks Baseball's Umpiring Record |url=https://www.survivornet.com/articles/joe-west-breaks-mlb-umpiring-record/ |website=survivornet.com |access-date=May 30, 2021}}{{Cite magazine |date=May 25, 2021 |title=Joe West Poised to Break Umpiring Record With 5,376th Game |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/05/25/joe-west-break-umpiring-record-game-5376 |access-date=February 24, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |agency=Associated Press}}

• List of Major League Baseball umpires (disambiguation)

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• {{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29812877/major-league-baseball-umpire-joe-west-never-missed-call-just-ask-him |title=Major League Baseball umpire Joe West has never missed a call. Just ask him |first=Tim |last=Kurkjian |website=ESPN.com |date=September 16, 2020 |access-date=September 16, 2020}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{IMDb name|1236679|name = Joe West}}
• [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/W/Pwestj901.htm Retrosheet]
• [http://www.closecallsports.com/2013/03/uefl-profile-of-mlb-umpire-joe-west.html Umpire Ejection Fantasy League Profile]

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