Brian Runge, a Major League Baseball veteran umpire for 14 years, has been unceremoniously dismissed after failing a drug test, the first time in MLB history an umpire has been canned for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
MLB umpires are forced to submit to random drug testing, just as the players are, but players face a 25-game ban and $10,000 fine for their first offense, while umpires lose their jobs.
Runge is a third-generation umpire, according to reports, and his father, Paul Runge, worked as a National League official from 1973 to 1997, and worked four World Series. After that, he became the NL's executive director of umpires. His grandfather Ed Runge served from 1954 to 1970 and worked three World Series. Runge has called three no-hitters in his career, and worked last year's All-Star game.
The three no-hitters Runge was on the field for were Philip Humber's perfect game in 2012, and a six-pitcher no-no by the Seattle Mariners in June. He was also the third base umpire for Matt Cain's perfecto.
Back in 2008, Runge was suspended by MLB for one game after bumping then-Mets manager Jerry Manuel. Manuel had been arguing a blown call against then-center fielder Carlos Beltran. Both Manuel and Beltran were ejected and fined.
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