Like Father, like son: Hunter Wendelstedt has made the bigs as an umpire

Tim Graham

Friday, Sept. 4, 1998 | 10:25 a.m.

Hunter Wendelstedt always knew the first time he worked with his dad would be significant.

The aspiring major-league umpire waited years to stand on the same diamond as Harry Wendelstedt, the venerable National League ump, so they could ply their trade together.

The moment finally arrived last month. At San Diego's Qualcomm Park, the younger Wendelstedt, filling in for a vacationing ump, was positioned at second base. Behind the plate was his father.

But the excitement didn't last as long as they hoped. The next day, Hunter's grandfather, Harry Wendelstedt Sr., died.

"It was a storybook-type thing," said Hunter Wendelstedt, who was part of the Pacific Coast League crew that called this week's series between the Las Vegas Stars and Tucson Sidewinders at Cashman Field. He was positioned at first base for the Stars' 5-0 loss Thursday night.

"We found out my grandfather was in bad health last year, and he wasn't supposed to make it past last September. He got to see us on TV that first night and read about it in the paper the next morning. Then he passed away.

"We like to think he held on just to see our first game together. He got to see everything he wanted to see."

Harry Wendelstedt Jr., 60, is the NL's longest-tenured umpire with 33 years of service. He had been in the majors five years before his son was born.

But Hunter Wendelstedt didn't want to follow in his father's cleat marks. He wanted to make his own tracks on the diamond.

"I always wanted to be a ballplayer," he said. "But there comes a time when you have to be realistic with yourself. When I was in high school, I played in the same area as (Atlanta Braves third baseman) Chipper Jones. So I could tell there were players who were a lot better than me."

Hunter Wendelstedt still wanted to be a part of the game he grew up with. He enrolled in his father's world-famous umpiring school, but did not receive preferential treatment.

"They cut me no slack," he said of the instructors. "They were harder on me than the other guys. They liked to make an example of me on the field."

It didn't take long, however, for his father's colleagues to discover talent ran in the Wendelstedt genes. Hunter quickly rose through the minor-league ranks and already is expected to fill one of the next NL openings.

But Hunter Wendelstedt knows he still must establish himself. Merely possessing the same last name as one of the game's greatest umps won't be enough.

"If I had a dollar for every time I heard I'm not as good as my father," Hunter Wendelstedt said, "I'd be sitting on the beach, enjoying the good life.

"But my response to those people is 'Nobody is as good as my father.' He may be the best of all-time. And if I was half as good as he is, I'd already be in the major leagues."

Managers and players know this. It shows in the varied ways they treat the Wendelstedts in controversial situations.

"He doesn't have any problems now," Hunter Wendelstedt said of his father. "After 33 years he doesn't get questioned. But a younger guy like me, they will question."

Hunter Wendelstedt won't be intimidated. His first ejections -- within seconds of each other -- were of Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz and manager Bobby Cox, both for committing the ultimate no-no: making physical contact with the ump.

There have been positive major-league moments for Hunter Wendelstedt, too. He witnessed home runs by record-chasers Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. He called balls and strikes for Cy Young Award winners Greg Maddux and Curt Schilling.

Still, Hunter Wendelstedt insisted he hasn't been spoiled by his stints in the majors.

"What makes it good coming back to (the triple-A) level is it gives you perspective," he said. "I know where the promised land is, and it makes me work that much harder to get back there."