Topic: Tim Welke

Timothy James Welke (born August 23, 1957 in Pontiac, Michigan) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who was named to the American League staff prior to the 1984 season, and has worked throughout both major leagues since 2000. He has been a crew chief since 2000, and currently wears uniform number 3. His brother Bill is also a major league umpire.

Tim Welke has umpired in 11 postseasons, including the World Series in 1996, 2000, 2003, and 2008. He also worked the League Championship Series in 1991, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006; and the Division Series in 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2008. He served as crew chief for the 2004 and 2006 NLCS and the 1995 and 2000 ALDS. He has also umpired in the All-Star Game in 1990 and 2005. Among the other notable games in which he has umpired was that of April 29, 1986, as the first base umpire when Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox recorded a record 20 strikeouts against the Seattle Mariners.

Welke appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in October 1998 under the headline "Kill the Umps," wearing his old uniform number 30 . When the league staffs combined in 2000, Welke became number 10, and later switched to his current number, 3.