24 Facts About Derryl Cousins

Derryl Cousins was an American umpire in Major League Baseball, who worked in the American League from 1979 to 1999, and umpired throughout both leagues from 2000 until his retirement following the 2012 season, ending his career as a crew chief.

Derryl Cousins was born in Fresno, California, on August 18,1946.

Derryl Cousins graduated from El Segundo High School, and went on to study at El Camino College.

Derryl Cousins played minor league baseball for several seasons before entering umpiring.

Derryl Cousins started playing as a catcher with the Statesville Tigers of the Western Carolinas League.

Derryl Cousins proceeded to play for the Rocky Mount Leafs of the Carolina League in 1968, then with the High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms.

Derryl Cousins made a comeback with the Reno Aces of the California League in 1970.

Derryl Cousins umpired in the Midwest League, Carolina League, Texas League, Pacific Coast League and Arizona Instructional League before being promoted to MLB during the 1979 umpire strike.

Derryl Cousins umpired in the World Series in 1988,1999 and 2005.

Derryl Cousins officiated in the All-Star Game in 1987,1998 and 2008, and was behind the plate for the 2008 game at Yankee Stadium, which lasted a record 4 hours 50 minutes before ending in the 15th inning.

Derryl Cousins worked in seven League Championship Series, and in five Division Series.

Derryl Cousins was promoted to crew chief for the 2008 season.

Derryl Cousins was crew chief during the semi-finals and finals of the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and served as the home plate umpire in the latter game.

Derryl Cousins wore uniform number 13, starting when the AL adopted numbers in 1980.

Since Derryl Cousins was called up to the AL during the 1979 umpires' strike, he was not allowed to join the Major League Umpires Association, the former umpires' union which was headed by Richie Phillips.

Derryl Cousins was a member of the World Umpires Association, the new collective bargaining union of MLB umpires since 2000.

Derryl Cousins was the last umpire to wear the American League's red blazer during its tenure in the AL, and one of the few officials who wore the AL's red short-sleeved shirt in the mid to late 1990s.

Derryl Cousins umpired his 4,000th game on May 3,2009, when the Seattle Mariners faced the Oakland Athletics.

Derryl Cousins became the eighteenth MLB umpire to attain that milestone.

Derryl Cousins subsequently retired at the end of the 2012 season.

Derryl Cousins was arrested in March 2015 for driving under the influence in downtown Scottsdale, Arizona.

Derryl Cousins was residing in Las Vegas at the time of the incident.

Derryl Cousins died on October 19,2020, at his home in Palm Springs, California.

Derryl Cousins was 74, and suffered from cancer in the time leading up to his death.