Every Little Leaguer® who picks up a baseball bat or glove for the first time dreams of one day making it to the biggest stage in professional baseball – the Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series. They imagine the roar of the crowd, the bright lights, and the pressure of coming through when the stakes are at their highest. Few, however, picture themselves standing behind home plate with their umpire mask on, responsible for every call that shapes the game, but that’s where Alan Porter’s journey led him.
Porter’s path to his first MLB World Series assignment in 2019 didn’t come from chasing stardom on the field, but from discovering a different way to be part of the game he fell in love with as a youth athlete. His career quietly began when he was at Montgomery County Community College, where his coach, Lou Lombardo, saw something in him beyond just his playing ability and connected him with a local assigner. What started as a fun opportunity quickly became something more. Through that connection, Porter met a man named John Kilally, a mentor whose guidance left a lasting impact on Porter. Even after his passing, Porter still credits Kilally as a key figure in his journey.
At the time, Porter was still playing baseball, including a brief stint at California University of Pennsylvania and semi-pro ball in the summer. Some of the guys were older than Porter, and they soon began having conversations with him that began to shift his thinking. The players were adamant about Porter attending umpiring school – something that Porter had never even heard of. After some research and more games under his belt, Porter took the leap and enrolled in January 2002.
The training program proved to be a new challenge for Porter. Individuals must finish top 25 to move to the Minor League evaluation course. Porter took this challenge head-on and performed well enough to earn his shot.
From there, his climb through the minors was a long but steady climb. He began at the Gulf Coast League, the lowest level in the Minors, and later moved into the New York Penn League, a Rookie Ball League. As Porter became more experienced and his skills became more ironed out, he continued to be promoted. His next step was with the South Atlantic League in the Low-A Division. As he began to have more success, it motivated him to a new degree.
In 2005, he was climbing the hill faster, reaching High-A, with a promotion the following year to the Eastern League for AA, and before he knew it, in 2008, he quickly found himself one step away from achieving a dream of his at the International League AAA level of play.
In 2009, Porter faced his toughest test yet. He was in the Arizona Fall League for six weeks, which was a prerequisite to try to get to the big leagues. After an impressive showing, he earned his chance in 2010 to umpire a Major League game, becoming one of only 11 Black umpires to reach this milestone.
Through all this success, Porter’s approach to the game remains grounded. While players prepare with a variety of routines and rituals, Porter’s pregame routine is built around relaxation. He arrives at the ballpark approximately 90 minutes prior to game time, sips his coffee, and plays cards with the rest of the umpire crew up until 30 minutes before game time. Being able to take his mind off the game and relax has been beneficial for him. The worst thing he can do before a game is to overthink it.
“I know some of the other guys are different,” said Porter. “There are guys who pace around the locker room for 45 minutes. I can’t do that. I need to be able to relax and get in game-mode.”
That mindset has stayed with him through all of his accomplishments, which include his first World Series in 2019, being named Crew Chief for the 2023 National League Wild Card series – making him the third Black umpire to earn this leadership role – several MLB All-Star games, and the dramatic final game of the 2025 World Series. Even in big moments like these, when Porter is on the field, he treats the games like they are just a regular-season game.
“Sometimes I have to tell myself, ‘I have done this thousands of times, just go do it,’” said Porter.
As his career has evolved, so have his goals. When he first entered the league, it was all about proving that he belonged. Now, after each season, filled with exciting moments, his goals now focus on more leadership opportunities.
“Every year, goals change, unless you don’t reach them in the previous year,” said Porter. “Once you don’t have the goals, or just don’t care, that is when your performance begins to lack. Setting a standard for myself and working towards something always gives me that extra motivation to do my best every single game.”
For Porter, being a good umpire is more than just calling balls and strikes; it is about having respect from both teams. However, respect is not just given to any umpire; it is earned. Being able to learn and be accountable for his own mistakes has allowed Porter to grow substantially, not just as an umpire, but as a person, too.
Players and managers don’t expect perfection, as mistakes are part of the human aspect of the game. What they do expect is honesty, accountability, and transparency.
“When I walk on the field, and players see that I am umpiring the game, I want them to think that I am giving them everything that I can to them. We’re all going to make mistakes. I have them, managers have them, and the players do, too. It happens to everyone, no matter how good we are out there. But I like them to know that when I am out there, they are getting my very best.”
Having that respect also builds a deeper meaning for him personally. As a Black umpire in a profession where only 10 officials look like him, Porter understands the significance of representation. In 2024, Porter was named one of the umpires assigned to MLB’s game at Rickwood Field in Alabama. Honoring the Negro Leagues, the game featured a crew of all Black umpires for the first time.
“I think it is important for young black men and women to see us representing a sport in other capacities, not just as the athletes on the field. As an umpire, we are there to uphold and protect the integrity of the game. I feel that representing the umpiring profession at the highest level of baseball can give young people hope in accomplishing whatever their goals are in life.”
Even with years of experience, Porter says the game continues to evolve. From the pitch clock implementation in 2023 to automated balls and strikes starting in 2026, advances in technology have completely changed the game for umpires. Despite the changes, one lesson remains – managing the game matters.
While reflecting on his career, Porter hasn’t thought about the legacy that he wants to leave behind but rather looks ahead to the more than a decade he hopes to add on to his career.
“I would love to be an umpire until I am 60. When it is all said and done, I would love to say that I was a very good umpire. As far as goals go, I have a lot of time to get a couple more achieved,” said Porter. “If I could give a piece of advice for someone trying to get to baseball’s biggest stage, I would say to just keep going and keep learning. There are a lot of technicalities in umpiring now; make sure that you are constantly reading, learning, and understanding. That will separate you from others.”
As Porter begins his 16th season with Major League Baseball, the mindset is still the same – take every game and every pitch one call at a time.
Looking to step up to the plate and be an umpire this season? Visit LittleLeague.org/Umpire to learn more and find a league near you. Also, don’t forget to shop for all your umpire polos, caps, and accessories by visiting ShopLittleLeague.org.