Oral history - Maurie Reynolds

Western Australian Maurice 'Maurie' Reynolds was born in Kalgoorlie in 1941. He played baseball for Thornlie and Nedlands for several years in the early 1960s when it was still a winter sport. During that time he began umpiring junior baseball games, where a lack of umpires meant he stood behind the pitcher, umpiring plate and bases.
From the late 1960s Reynolds umpired senior grade games, which included local league baseball and representing Western Australia at Claxton Shield level on 13 occasions from 1973/1974 up to 1991/1992. He umpired 161 Australian Baseball League games and was the crew chief on all of those occasions. His skill level and ability to manage games brought him the highest accolades during this time.
Due to Reynolds's well-honed umpiring ability, he was selected to represent Australia on four occasions: 1983/84, 1984/85, 1987/88 and 1988/89. These appointments were in Asia, and also for international tournaments held in Australia. He also officiated at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.