Jim Bailey, 54, a resident of Gainesville since 1997, has been umpiring Little League softball and baseball for 12 years and was selected among thousands of umpire candidates nationwide to serve in the 2024 Little League World Series. According to the league, appointment as a volunteer umpire for a World Series event is the highest honor the organization can bestow on an umpire.
“Being named an umpire at one of our seven World Series events is an honor that thousands of Little League umpires strive for each year and has long been known as an opportunity to showcase their hard work and give back by helping to provide a fun and memorable experience for the hundreds of participants from around the world,” said Stu Hartenstein, Little League Director of Umpire Development and Operations, in a press release announcing the umpires’ selections.