Tributes flow for beloved umpire
Familiar catchcry will be missed
“YIBBIDA yibbida, that’s the ball game.”
Anyone who played baseball in Townsville over the past 30 years will miss those words dearly following the passing of legendary umpire Noel “Frosty” Miller.
Miller, 83, died recently, leaving behind two sons.
He was a highly respected baseball umpire across Australia and abroad, having officiated games in his charismatic, affable style at tournaments for all ages, from juniors to masters.
There has been an outpouring of condolences from within the baseball community, and all agree the game will never be the same again without Frosty around.
Townsville Baseball president Daniel White said Miller brought his own style to umpiring. “When the game finished he would say his trademark ‘yibbida yibbida, that’s the ball game’,” White said.
“He was larger than life and he always brought a lot of colour to the game.
“I know everyone enjoyed his company and, of course, there can be drama during the game, but he was definitely a guy you would want to have a beer with afterwards.”
Miller started umpiring with Townsville Baseball in 1993 and quickly became an integral part of the local baseball community. His enthusiasm for the game was honoured when the main field at Townsville Baseball was named ‘Frosty’ Miller Field.
He officially retired from umpiring in 2016, but Miller still continued to umpire – such was his love for the game.
Among his top achievements was umpiring at the Pan-pacific Games and officiating at masters tournaments in the United States.
“He had a real love of baseball and a love of umpiring,” White said.
“At our 40th anniversary of Townsville Baseball he was one of our inaugural hall of famers.
“He did so much for baseball and he left a legacy across the country. People from all over Australia have reached out.”
Friends on social media offered their condolences to Miller and his family.
“Playing while Frosty was umpiring, particularly when pitching, was always entertaining.
“Great fella & character of this sport we love. RIP,” John Mcbride said.
Gavin Daniels added: “R.I.P. Frosty. Umpired with him several times. Always a happy guy on the field”. Another close friend, Denis Dalzotto, offered an insight into Miller’s affable personality.
“My condolences to Noel’s family, I got to work with Frosty in his senior years and each time we took to the field we were in for a grand old time, never short of a tale to tell, a real honest guy, cheers fella,” he said.