Evans to serve as MiLB umpire advisor

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Minor League Baseball announced Wednesday former Major League Baseball umpire Jim Evans will serve as a special advisor to the President of Minor League Baseball on umpire-related matters. Evans will consult on special assignments on behalf of the President, utilizing his extensive umpiring knowledge and experience.

Evans' career as a Major League Baseball umpire in the American League spanned nearly three decades, lasting from 1972 to 1999. During that time, Evans was a crew chief for 19 years (1981-1999). He umpired eight no-hitters and two perfect games, including serving as the plate umpire in Nolan Ryan's first no-hitter (1973). Additionally, Evans worked 13 postseason series, including four World Series (1977, 1982, 1986 and 1996) and three Major League Baseball All-Star Games (1976, 1989 and 1999). Evans was also a member of the crew that worked Major League Baseball's longest game on record on May 8-9, 1984, between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox, which spanned 25 innings and lasted eight hours and six minutes.

Not only has Evans made an impact on the umpiring profession in the United States, but he has taken his experience to international venues to teach future umpires America's favorite pastime. He has led a series of comprehensive five-day umpiring clinics in Puerto Rico, Japan, France, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Austria and is the only foreign umpire to be invited to work the plate in a Japanese All-Star Game (Shizuoka, Japan, 1991).

Evans is a graduate of the University of Texas, where he earned a degree in education.