Mention the name of Steve Palermo around baseball and those who worked with him, knew him or had only heard of him usually bow their heads, lower their eyes and simply nod.
An umpire with Hall of Fame potential, all cut short on that summer night in Texas a long time ago.
Palermo, whose accomplished career ended when he was shot trying to break up a robbery in 1991, has died. He was 67.
Major League Baseball announced Sunday that Palermo had died. Palermo, who lived in the Kansas City area, had been ill with cancer.