May 6, 2018 8 min read

Other than their partners, the men wearing blue on the baseball diamond do not commonly have a fan or a friend.

But every so often that one umpire – maybe even two or three – comes along who commands respect, takes control and basically is not noticed during the game.

One of those men is Rich Chaney.

For more than 25 springs, summers and some falls, Chaney has graced many infields in Washington, Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland counties.

He has worked high school games, an increasing load of middle school games and now even some travel games.

Chaney, 69, has mostly worked youth games in his career. He works them quite well.

The retired coal miner and father of three sons has forged a reputation of excellence, fairness and a sincerity that is not surpassed by his peers.

“As a man, there are few I know who are better than Rich,” said John Cherup, a highly-regarded high school and youth umpire in his own right. “He’s a terrific family man. He’s always been involved with his children and grandchildren. He’s been that way for as long as I’ve known him, which is more than 20 years. Rich is very supportive of his friends, which I’m lucky to count myself as one. With both myself and my wife being (inflicted) by cancer, my wife more recently, he has been in constant contact to offer support in any way that he can.”

Chaney started his umpiring career in the early 1990s after coaching his three sons through youth baseball and midget football.

At the behest of his friend, Jerry Maley, Chaney pushed aside the natural fears and doubts about his ability to transition from coach to umpire.

Maley gave him little time to think about it. The first game Chaney worked was with Maley – a Mustang League contest.

Chaney inquired about his positioning and responsibilities in the field.

Maley didn’t offer help.

“I was real nervous when Jerry suggested me being an umpire,” Chaney said. “He said the most important thing was being consistent with my calls.”

On the way to that first game, Chaney asked some questions.

“I asked him what I have to do in the field. He looked at me and said ‘You’re not going in the field. You’re going behind the plate. The first game.’

“Of course, I was nervous. But once I got into the game, it just kind of flowed. I never was behind the plate. I was left-handed and always played first base. But I just felt comfortable back there.”

Maley said the reason he thought Chaney would be a good umpire with ability to excel is simple.

“He is a very fair person,” Maley said. “I was looking for a good guy so we could build up and strengthen our organization. Rich immediately came to mind. So I went after him. I recruited him.

“If I were umpiring a game and it was down to a big point in the game, and I looked around, I’d love to have Rich on the field with me. He’s just so fair and knowledgeable. He knows the game.”

Chaney, who graduated from Bentworth High School in 1967 and resides in Centerville with his wife, Rose, followed his sons – Derek, 45, Kevin, 42, and Scott, 39, through Pony League as a coach. He also kept statistics for the Bentworth High School football team when the program was resurrected in the 1990s, and restored to winning status, by the district’s current assistant superintendent George Lammay.

His love of sports and trying to help young kids hasn’t waned. He keeps working hard to be the best umpire he can. Most of the coaches and players who have witnessed him work his craft would concur that he’s one of the best.

“I have to have somebody else tell me I’m good,” Chaney said. “I am always trying to get better. People tell me I do a good job and I’m fair. I think I enjoy what I am doing. If you enjoy something, then you’re always trying to make yourself better. Am I the best umpire? No. But I think I am one of the better umpires we have.

“You’re there for the love of the game and the kids. You’re not there for the money. You are willing to take criticism to make yourself better. You find out what you can do to be better. Believe me, nobody has umpired a perfect game.

“You have to understand you are not going to please everybody,” he continued. “You have to be fair to make sure all the kids or players get an even shot.”

Chaney is part of the South West Umpires Association, a new organization this year, formed when the majority of communities in Vesta Youth Baseball joined the Mon Valley Youth Baseball Association.

Previously, Chaney and Cherup were the linchpins of the former National Pike Umpire Association.

Said one longtime coach in the area: “When you see Rich Chaney show up at your game, you know your team will be treated fairly and the game will be called correctly. He is respected and genuine. He gives you his best each game.”

Cherup said it is Chaney’s love for the game and his craft that lifts him.

“There are umpires and there are guys who umpire baseball,” Cherup said. “Rich is an umpire. A good umpire will control the game, not let the game control him. That is Rich. A good umpire does his best to raise the level of play. That is Rich. A good umpire is confident in his abilities. That is Rich. A good umpire will treat coaches and players with respect. That is Rich. A good umpire will treat his partner, no matter how young or inexperienced, with respect. That is Rich. A good umpire respects the game of baseball. That above all else is Rich.”

Chaney said it is his desire to make continual improvement. He studies umpires at all levels, focusing on them more than a game that he is watching.

“I think if you get to the point where you think you can’t get any better, it’s time to get out,” he said. ” There is always room to improve. That’s what we try to stress to our membership.”

Chaney would like to umpire for 30 years – he missed some time along the way because of knee replacement. He admits there are times he has considered walking away. The desire to umpire, however, remains strong.

“I do this because of the kids,” Chaney said.

Cherup said Chaney’s devotion to youth baseball and the game are incomparable.

“I’ve been an officer with Vesta Youth Baseball for the last 21 years,” Cherup said. “In past years, during the season we would meet every other week. Rich Chaney was the umpire representative who would attend the meetings. He had no vote and no say in how the organization was (operated). Rich was there to observe. Meeting after meeting, Rich was in attendance. Our current league president, Von Braddock, who’s been around a long time as well, noticed Rich’s commitment and suggested to the league that we give Rich a seat at the table and make the umpire representative a full voting member.”

Chaney is hopeful younger people will get involved with umpiring. It can be a rewarding experience.

“We’ve tried to recruit, actually going to schools with flyers looking for high school kids to umpire,” Chaney said. “It’s tough because you might get some of those kids, but then they go on to college and they are gone for four years. Most don’t come back.”

Chaney has made many happy returns to baseball over the years.

“I’ve had my knee replaced when I retired (from the mines) seven or eight years ago and I couldn’t umpire that year,” he said. “It was tough to go to a game. I’m still a coach to an extent. You hate to see a kid struggle. You go up to them and make a suggestion and encourage them to try it. They’ll look at you, and when it works out they thank you.

“The year I couldn’t do it, I really missed it. It brought the passion back. When it’s taken away, you understand what you are missing.”