FISHKILL – The Hudson Valley Renegades are paying tribute to being the host of the first MLB Public Address (PA) announcer to be ejected from a game by umpires. The celebration is being held Wednesday, August 11, at Dutchess Stadium as the Renegades host the Jersey Shore Blue Claws.
Renegades announcer and club VP Rick Zolzer received national attention by being ejected from a Renegades game 25 years ago at Dutchess Stadium. Part of the Renegades organization since it began in 1994, Zolzer, known as “Zolz”, was calling a game in 1996, and ran afoul with the umpire crew.
An umpire had called four straight balks against the Renegades pitcher, and after each penalty, Zolz played sound effects over the PA system that the umpires took offense to. One of the umpires used a phone in the dugout to call the PA booth to express his displeasure. Rather than appease the ump, Zolz broadcast the call over the speakers for the fans to hear.
The irate officials returned to the field and proceeded to call a balk for the fifth time. Zolz fired up the crowd by calling the umpires out over the speakers, saying “The only way you clowns will make it to the major leagues is if you buy a ticket!”
He was immediately ejected from the game, claiming his place in baseball history. Rather than leave by the door, Zolz climbed out of his PA booth through the window into the crowd who roared in support of their emcee. The story was publicized in Sports Illustrated magazine and carried by network affiliates across the country.
“I wasn’t doing it to seek publicity,” Zolzer told Mid Hudson News on Monday. “This wasn’t one of our crowd-pleasing stunts to please the audience, and, in hindsight, it was a small speedbump in Renegades history.”
“I have grown a lot since I started with the Renegades in 1994 and so has our club,” Zolzer admitted “We’re now affiliated with the legendary New York Yankees and still provide great family entertainment at low prices. Combined with the support of the Dutchess County government and the fans that come here, we continue to flourish.”
The first 1,000 ticketholders through the gate on Wednesday night will receive a commemorative Rick Zolzer bobblehead of the PA announcer climbing out of the window in his booth. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and tickets can be purchased here.
