WORCESTER, Mass. - Clark University men's cross country rising junior Noah Katz recently umpired a Savannah Bananas game on June 8 at Fenway Park in front of 37,000 fans and runs a social media channel know as " the umpire channel". Clark Athletics partook in a Q&A with Katz to discuss those experiences.

Fenway Park Video (Produced by Moses Millman '24)

Q: When did you start the umpire channel and what is the history behind it?
A: I've been playing baseball all my life, and growing up in my local Little League, I got to know the umpires really well. They said when I was a little older, I could start umpiring. So, when I was 16, I started umpiring in the same Little League that I grew up playing in, side by side with the same umpires I had played under. I absolutely loved it. It was a great part-time job where I got to work a job I loved, being out on the baseball field and giving back to my community.
At the same time, I realized that these Little Leagues had huge problems with umpire shortages. Every year, many games were being canceled because they didn't have enough umpires. I also realized that my friends didn't know they could become umpires. So, I went out to the same field where I'd been playing baseball and umpiring all my life and made a video about why being an umpire is a great part-time job. That video got 300,000 views, and today the Umpire Channel has 200,000 followers and 100 million views. We travel around the country promoting umpiring.

Q: How has the umpire channel page grown to be so successful, and did you ever imagine it growing as much as it has?
A: The channel has grown to be so successful because of all the people who have supported it, from Major League Baseball to the NBA to various college associations. Everyone who saw the need supported the development of the channel. I did imagine and hope it would get this big, but I had no idea how much people would care. It's amazing that kids at every baseball game I go to come up asking for pictures and telling me that they started umpiring because of the channel.

Q: What was the moment like when you were told you were going to umpire a Bananas game at Fenway Park?
A: It was surreal—just a dream come true.

Q: How was the game experience at Fenway, the atmosphere, game itself, etc.?
A: The game was incredible. It was so loud, more like being at a rock concert than a baseball game. The crowd and atmosphere were amazing. Getting to be at Fenway and sign the Green Monster was a childhood dream come true.

Q: How will you continue to expand the page (more visits to Polar Park, etc.)?
A: I will continue to expand the page by filming at the biggest moments in sports, showing the umpires' and referees' perspectives. I'll cover other sports, including hockey, basketball, NFL, WNBA—everything. This will truly cover all sports officials.

Q: What are your career aspirations as an umpire?
A: I'm not 100% sure yet. For the next few years, while I'm still in college, I'm interested in combining umpiring with the social media platform I've built. I'd love to umpire at places like Fenway Park.