About Ed Spindler Expertise Baseball rules and interpretations of plays and what is and should be the correct call.
Experience I have umpired at all college levels for 20 years. I have umpired high school baseball in Iowa for 24 years, working 15 state tournament finals(mostly large school classifications).
Organizations IHSBCA (Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association)
Publications none
Education/Credentials I was(now retired)a high school history teacher for 15 years. I was also the athletic director. I officiated all the major sports other than baseball as well.
Awards and Honors Umpire of the year in Iowa 1991. District umpire of the year 3 times.
Question Hi I often wanted to know y they call the off season the Hot Stove and the origin of this expression. I have never gotten a definitive answer. Please answer only factually if u can not folklore. Thnx. Enjoy the season. Bruce.
Answer The Hot Stove League is a baseball-related term, referring to the off-season. It is not actually a "league", but the term instead of images of baseball fans, ready for the start of the new season, gathering around a "hot stove" during the cold winter months discussing their favorite baseball teams. The term has also come to refer off-season player transactions. Since most free agent signings and trades occur during the off-season, this time of significant player transactions (including rumors and speculation about possible trades), is often referred to as the "Hot Stove League" or sometimes more simply "Hot Stove". Essentially, teams continue competing, except it is the team owners and general managers who are doing the playing, with the score being in terms of human resource losses and gains.
