Durwood Merrill

Edwin Durwood Merrill (March 12, 1938 – January 11, 2003) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League for 23 seasons (1977-1999).

Born in Cloud Chief, Oklahoma, Merrill was known for being friendly and outgoing, as well as being a top-notch umpire. He was also a leader in charitable work in his hometown of Hooks, Texas. In 1998 he wrote a humorous collection of his experiences, called You're Out and You're Ugly, Too!.

Merrill served as football coach and athletic director at Hooks High School until attending the Bill Kinnamon umpiring school in 1972. Among his classmates that year were future Major League umpires Ed Montague, Dallas Parks and Steve Palermo. He graduated third in his class and was immediately assigned to the Class-A California League for the 1972 season. He quickly worked his way through the minors, officiating in the Double-A Texas League in 1973 and the Triple-A American Association in 1974, 1975 and 1976, when he also was a fill-in in the American League.

Merrill umpired in the 1988 World Series, as well as American League Championship Series in 1981, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1997. Merrill was behind the plate in Game 2 of the 1983 ALCS when Mike Boddicker tied an LCS record with 14 strikeouts, and Game 2 of the 1988 World Series, when Orel Hershiser of the Los Angeles Dodgers fired a three-hit, 6-0 shutout vs. the Oakland Athletics, led by "Bash Brothers" Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.

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