Paul Runge (umpire)

Paul Edward Runge

• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
• School Arizona State University

• Born October 20, 1940 in St. Catharines, ON CAN

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

OF/C Paul Runge played in the minor league system of the Houston Colt 45s in 1962-1963 and the Los Angeles Angels in 1964.

After retiring, Runge was an umpire in the California League (1965-1966), Eastern League (1967), and Pacific Coast League (1968-August 1973). He then was a National League umpire from September 1973 to 1997. He served as the National League's Director of Umpires from 1998 until its umpiring staff was merged with that of the American League after the 1999 season.

His father, Ed Runge, and his son, Brian Runge, have both also served as big league umps. Paul was famous for a controversial "interference call" on Brett Butler that saved Orel Hershiser's 1988 scoreless inning streak, nullifying a run by José Uribe. On a more positive note, he was on the field for two major moments in Canadian baseball history: he was the third base umpire when Charlie Lea pitched a no-hitter for the Montreal Expos on June 10, 1981, and he was at second base when Joe Carter hit a walk-off home run that gave the Toronto Blue Jays a championship in the 1993 World Series.

He umpired in 9 National League Championship Series, 4 World Series and 3 All-Star Games.

He was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2026.

Related Sites

• Paul Runge at Retrosheet.org
• Sporting News umpire card
• Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame bio