10 Behind-the-Plate Secrets of MLB Umpires

(via Mental Floss) Even if you’re not Major League Baseball’s most devoted follower, you probably know a few things about MLB umpires right off the bat. They wear blue or black, they’re stationed at strategic points around the diamond, and they ignore a lot of verbal abuse from fans who feel untouchable when shouting grievances from the stands (or on Twitter). But beyond making calls and ejecting the occasional agitator, what does the job really entail, and what does it take to do it well?