Williamstown Native and MLB Umpire Chris Conroy to Speak at Williams College – “Calling It As I See It “-- Thursday, February 9

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- Chris Conroy has been working toward a goal of becoming a major league umpire since 2000.

On February 9 at 7 p.m., Conroy, who was born and raised in Williamstown and currently lives on North Adams, will chronicle his journey to the major leagues in a talk entitled “Calling it as I see it.” Conroy’s presentation will be in the Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall on the campus of Williams College. The event is free and open to the public.

Conroy graduated from Mount Greylock in 1992, where he was a captain for both the men’s basketball and baseball teams in his senior year. He continued his education at Siena College in the Albany, N.Y., area, graduating in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in English.

In 2000, Conroy attended the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in Kissimmee, Fl. and shortly after completing his training there was assigned to the New York-Penn League.

From there, Conroy slowly ascended the ladder toward the majors, working the NY-Penn and Florida Instructional League in 2001, the Florida Instructional and South Atlantic League in 2002 and in the following years worked the Carolina League and the Eastern League (Double-A ball).

In 2005, Conroy married Williams graduate Becky Logue ’99. The couple now has twin daughters, Maeve and Meiris.

After three years in the Eastern League, Conroy moved up to the Triple-A level, the league directly under the Major League level, in 2006, working games in the Pacific Coast League. In 2007, he moved on to the International League and in 2007, 2009, and 2010 worked in the Arizona Fall League,

In 2010, he was called to the majors, making his debut at Shea Stadium and later working games at Camden Yards. He worked a total of five major league games in 2010. This past summer, he was called on to work 78 games at the major league level.

Conroy’s family has lived in Williamstown since 1960. His father Ed worked at and managed Hart’s Pharmacy, a Spring Street mainstay, for decades. His mother Anne is a retired nurse who spent seven years as a night nurse at the Williams Health Center.