‘It keeps me going:’ Central North Dakota man umpires softball at 89 years old

JAMESTOWN, N.D. — Thursday, June 29, was one of those perfect ballpark nights in North Dakota. Fred’s Den was taking on the Sluggers. And 89-year-old Lee Ham was preparing to ump another night of

USA Softball

in Jamestown.

Ham has been umpiring baseball and softball for just over 50 years.

“I remember umpiring a state tournament in Grand Forks and it rained. It really rained. The diamonds were all mud, and the players were having a great time, and they were sliding on their stomach and enjoying the heck out of it. It was a wild time,” Ham said.

He played ball in his hometown of Edgeley, served in the U.S. Army, was a school superintendent for years and now chases 15 grandkids and 20 great-grandkids.

But he’s also on the road several times a month in the summer.

The Hall of Fame softball umpire has overseen national tournaments and been honored countless times for his dedication to his time behind the plate — which he still meticulously maintains.

At the age of 89, Ham has thought about hanging up his hat. But said he can’t find a reason why.

“I just love to do it, I just like to do it,” Ham said. “Every year, I think this is my last year, but spring rolls around and the weather gets nice, I think, ‘I maybe have one more year.’”

He is not only the oldest softball umpire in North Dakota, but he is one of the most senior umps in the country.

“I’ve been very lucky. Very fortunate,” Ham said.

Ham has put on thousands of miles attending hundreds of games the last few decades, umpiring in Carrington, Steele and Gackle.

He will be the first to say that calling balls and strikes on prairie diamonds across the state is good for him.

“I think it is real good. Keeps me active, it gives me something to do,” he said.

“I have umpired just in Jamestown for more than 40 years, and these ladies tonight were little girls when I first started, and some of them are elderly now,” Ham said.

During the winter, he stays busy off the ball diamonds driving a school bus route in town.