Welke named World Series umpire crew chief

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Tim Welke, a 25-year veteran major league baseball umpire, was selected crew chief for the six-umpire team working the 2008 World Series.

As crew chief, Welke will work home plate Wednesday for Game 1 in Tampa, Fla., when the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays open the best-of-seven series. He would also be behind the plate for a potential Game 7.

MLB said the rest of the umpire crew, with their Game 1 assignments, are: Kerwin Danley, first base; Fieldin Culbreth, second base; Tom Hallion, third base; Jeff Kellogg, left-field line; and Tim Tschida, right-field line.

This year marks the fourth World Series for Welke, who also called series in 1996, 2000 and 2003. Tschida and Kellogg are working their third World Series while it will be the best such assignment for Hallion, Danley and Culbreth.