Phil Cuzzi
| 10 – Phil Cuzzi | |
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Cuzzi in 2013
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| Born |
August 29, 1955 Newark, New Jersey |
| MLB debut | June 4, 1991 |
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Special Assignments
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Philip Cuzzi (born August 29, 1955) is an American professional baseball umpire. He worked as a reserve umpire in the National League from 1991 to 1993 and returned to the NL in 1999. Since 2000, he has worked throughout both major leagues. Cuzzi wore number 99 when his career started; now he wears number 10. As of 2015, Cuzzi's fellow crew members are Gerry Davis (crew chief), Tony Randazzo, and Will Little. Cuzzi has worked six Division Series, two League Championship Series, one All-Star Game, and one Wild Card Game.
Cuzzi appeared in the New York-Penn League, Carolina League, South Atlantic League, Southern League, Triple-A Alliance, International League, American Association, Florida State League and Eastern League before his full-time promotion to the major leagues in 1999.
Cuzzi's umpiring career temporarily came to a halt in 1993. Although he had advanced to Class AAA baseball and served as an MLB reserve umpire, by that year there were no full-time major league slots for Cuzzi and he was released. Cuzzi subsequently worked as a substitute teacher and bartender. While working at a hotel bar in 1996, he had a chance meeting with NL president Len Coleman, who allowed him to resume umpiring if he would work his way back up from the low minor leagues.
Cuzzi was the plate umpire for a game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays on August 29, 2000. During the game, eight members of the Rays were ejected, but no Boston players were thrown out, something that reportedly had never happened before.
On April 16, 2009, Cuzzi was the first base umpire for the first game ever at the new Yankee Stadium.
In Game 2 of the 2009 ALDS between the Yankees and Twins Cuzzi incorrectly called a foul, leading writer Jeff Passan to advocate for broader use of instant replay in Major League Baseball.
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