Todd Tichenor
A Major League Baseball umpire known for his consistent strike zone and calm demeanor, who worked his way up to calling World Series games.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American baseball umpire·Birthday: December 15·Generation X
Biography
Todd Tichenor's path to the major leagues is the classic American baseball story of perseverance. Born in 1976, he honed his craft in the minor leagues, paying his dues in small-town ballparks before getting the call as a reserve MLB umpire in 2007. Promotion to the full-time staff in 2012 was a testament to his skill and professionalism. On the field, Tichenor is recognized for his steady, unflappable presence. He cultivates a reputation for a consistent strike zone and a management style that prioritizes game flow over confrontation, though he won't shy away from making the tough call. This reliability has earned him the trust of the league office, leading to assignments in high-pressure postseason games, including the Division Series and, ultimately, the World Series. In a profession where the best umpires are often the ones you don't notice, Tichenor has built a respected career not on flash, but on a deep understanding of the rulebook and an unwavering commitment to the integrity of the game.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Todd was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Todd Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Todd's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Promoted to a full-time Major League Baseball umpire in 2012 after serving as a reserve.
- Has umpired in multiple MLB postseason series, including the World Series.
- Selected to work the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field in New York.
Did You Know?
He wears uniform number 13, which he switched to before the 2014 season.
He previously wore the number 97 when he first joined the MLB staff.
He worked his first World Series in 2020, a series played at a neutral site in Arlington, Texas due to the pandemic.
“null”
