A Family Affair

The Smorol family at the Chiefs game 8/4/14

© 2014 Robin Deehan 

By: Robin Deehan 

SYRACUSE - It's a sure thing that at every baseball game you'll hear someone loudly disagreeing with the umpire's call.

But at the Syracuse Chiefs game on Monday night there was one group of fans who will always be on the umpire's side.

The Smorol family, distantly related to Chiefs General Manager Jason Smorol, was at the game to cheer on one of their own.

Johnny Smorol was the third base umpire that night and the family was thrilled to watch him.

"He loves the game and he's really passionate about it," Johnny's son Justin said.

For the Smorols, baseball is a family affair and Johnny's journey to being an umpire started decades ago.

The Valley Little League is where it all began.

John and Stella Smorol married in 1947 and raised their three sons, Lenny, Billy, and Johnny, on the South Side of Syracuse with a love for baseball.

They were coached in Little League by their dad and all three had enough talent to play for New York State Baseball Hall of Fame coach Bob Southworth at Corcoran High School.

The brothers played a little college ball but the middle brother, Billy, was given a shot at the majors.

Billy was a catcher, and in 1975 was invited to attend spring training with the New York Yankees where he was able to catch for Ron Guidry.

Being Yankees fans, the Smorol family was ecstatic, but Billy had to return home after injuring his knee. 

Billy came back to Syracuse, married his wife Connie in 1977, and was catching in the bullpen for the Chiefs when he decided to get involved in umpiring.

A new family tradition was born. 

“He just loved it, it was his way to stay involved in the game,” Connie said.

Billy worked his way up the ranks and was calling college games and Cape Cod summer league games when he inspired his younger brother Johnny to start umpiring too.

“Johnny just wanted to aspire to what Billy did and he’s worked his way all the way up,” the oldest brother, Lenny said.

Billy unexpectedly died ten years ago of a heart attack and the family uses baseball as a way to celebrate his life and the love they still have for the game.

Most of the family was in attendance Monday night, the youngest being Connie's grandson Cooper.

Cooper proudly showed off a present Johnny gave him before the game.

It was a signed baseball that Cooper will have as a reminder of his grandfather and two great uncles’ love and long history in baseball.

“To Cooper, Thanks for Coming 8/4/14. Pop Pop.”