R.I.P Dutch

Lawrence "Dutch" Rennert, 88, died Sunday in St. Augustine, Florida -- and the world of baseball lost a colorful character.

There was never a question about a call with Dutch. He was as animated as they come when calling a strike. Heck, if you were sitting in the upper deck, you heard him.

Dutch was from Oshkosh, WI. A long-time minor-league umpire, he was promoted to the National League in 1973. He worked 2,693 regular season games, plus six NL Championship Series, three World Series (1980, '83 and '89) and two All-Star Games.

I first met Dutch while working with the Oshkosh Northwestern back in the  '70s, heading over to his house to interview him before he headed off for spring training. In the off-season around the Fox Valley, you often saw Dutch (paired with Larry Van Alstine) working high school or college basketball games.

What you saw with Dutch was what you got. He was a real story teller. He loved his job, and he loved people, from fans to players. He told a great story of working games in Montreal when the Expos were there, and a fan who showed up for every game, calling "DUTCHEEEE" to him before the game. He was proud of his work, and humbled by the opportunity.

RIP Dutch. I know you're behind the plate again and loving every minute of it.