Major League Baseball announced on Sunday that umpire supervisor and former umpire Steve Palermo lost his battle with cancer and passed away.
"Steve Palermo was a great umpire, a gifted communicator and a widely respected baseball official, known in our sport for his leadership and courage," said commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement. He had an exceptional impact on both his fellow Major League Umpires and baseball fans, who benefited from his ability to explain the rules of our game. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Steve's wife Debbie, the World Umpires Association and his many friends and admirers throughout the game.