Watch: Pirates salute umpire Tumpane for heroic actions Wednesday
A day after saving a woman on the Roberto Clemente Bridge, umpire John Tumpane is recognized by the @Pirates: https://t.co/7uj1MqDvlT pic.twitter.com/TV7Rsg4U2B
— MLB (@MLB) June 30, 2017
John Tumpane is no longer an anonymous umpire - and with good reason.
A day after Tumpane heroically stopped a suicide attempt on the Roberto Clemente Bridge outside PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates honored the 34-year-old umpire for his actions before Thursday's contest against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tumpane, who worked home plate on Wednesday following the incident, drew a lengthy applause from fans, his fellow umpires, and members of both teams as he was announced before Thursday's game; he then tipped his cap in acknowledgement as the Pirates' announcer publicly thanked him for "his bravery" on behalf of the team and the city.
MLB umpire John Tumpane is honored before @pirates take on @RaysBaseball for his actions Wednesday that helped save a woman's life. #pirates pic.twitter.com/mfEZ0QPSRo
— Matt Freed (@mattfreedpghpg) June 29, 2017
Tumpane has remained modest in the face of his actions, though he was lauded in both dugouts publicly and privately on Thursday.
"I told him I couldn't be more proud of him," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "The man didn't think about things. He didn't analyze things. He didn't figure out how he was feeling first, he just got engaged. He just did something to help make a difference in the life of another human being.
"That's a guy you can count on."
Related: Umpire Tumpane recalls saving woman
The woman who Tumpane rescued is now receiving treatment in hospital, according to the Post-Gazette's Michael A. Fuoco.
"I hope to cross paths with her (again)," Tumpane told Adam Berry of MLB.com. "When you're that close to somebody in that life situation, it's somebody you would like to see again. I hope she's having a better day today than yesterday."