‘Dream come true’: London, Ont. umpire selected to work Little League World Series

Rob Macdonald of London, Ont. is the only Canadian headed to Williamsport, PA. to umpire the Little League World Series. CTV's Brent Lale reports.

Umpire Rob Macdonald of London, Ont. is headed to Williamsport, PA. to represent Canada at the upcoming Little League World Series (LLWS).

“It is absolutely a dream come true,” said Macdonald.

The 35-year-old math teacher with the Thames Valley District School Board was chosen by the international selection committee as the only Canadian to work the tournament.

“It’s something I’ve been working towards since I was 11, 12 years old,” said Macdonald. “When I got the letter and got the call, it was just, ‘Is this actually happening here?’”

Macdonald has worked the Junior Little League World Series in Taylor, Mich., but this is another level.

The event is televised on TSN in Canada and ESPN in the U.S., and draws millions of viewers annually.

“It’s one thing that I’ve always wanted to do, just be able to represent my country,” said Macdonald. “I’ve been able to represent my province, but this is only the second time getting to represent Canada. The first time was a couple of years ago at the Junior Little League World Series, but this is just on a magnified scale to that.”

The tournament has 20 teams, 10 from the U.S. and 10 more international teams.

“The Little League is basically like pro ball on a small field,” said Macdonald. “I’ve been down there before just to watch. Some of these kids, the way they field the ball, the way they throw the ball, it’s like watching the Major Leagues on a 60-ft field.”

This is the 25th year Macdonald has been wearing the umpire gear. He got his start in the Hamilton area, keeping the family tradition of officiating.

“This means is the world to me as my grandfather started volunteering for Stoney Creek Optimist Little League in 1958 or 1959,” he said. “We’ve had a Macdonald volunteering at Stoney Creek ever since. You’re not going to get good without good mentors. I’ve had a lot over my 25 years of umpiring, but, just like Steve Meyer (Umpired LLWS in 2010), Mike Marasco, Hal Barton out of the Hamilton area. Just phenomenal, phenomenal mentors and helping me get to get to where I am.”

Fellow umpire Mark Harris has known and worked with Macdonald for a few years.

“I know him to be a dedicated umpire and has a very good passion for the game,” said Harris. “He loves what he does. He’s good on both plate and bases at getting in the right position at the right time and makes the calls correctly.”

He will have a large contingent of support at the LLWS to witness family history. His dad, mom, brother and possibly cousins and uncles will be headed to watch him on the big stage.

Years of dedication has finally paid off.

“We work our way up through working league games into district provincials, national championships or regionals and then from there, we get evaluated,” said Macdonald. “If we’re deemed good enough, we can put our name in to, to get any of the seven World Series events for Little League.”

He got the big one, and he’s ready to soak it all in.

“It’s finally, finally, finally going to happen,” he said.