Max's kid

The Pirates made a roster move Friday and the player they promoted has ties to the Frontier League. Pittburgh placed pitcher John Wasdin on the DL and called up pitcher Marty McLeary from Class AAA Indianapolis. McLeary is the son of former Frontier League umpire Max McLeary, who worked many games at the Wild Things' ballpark, whatever it's called this week. Max McLeary is famous in baseball circles for being a one-eyed umpire (if I recall correctly, he lost an eye when hit by the heel of a shoe). He's also the subject of the book "Everything Happens in Chillicothe." It's a shame that Max is no longer umpiring – he's the general manager of a collegiate summer league team in Cincinnati – because he's the funniest guy, and best storyteller, I encountered during five years covering the Frontier League.