Umpire Joyce helps save a life
PHOENIX — Umpire Jim Joyce is being credited with taking quick action to help save the life of a food service worker who collapsed of an apparent heart attack at Chase Field.
Russ Amaral, vice president of ballpark operations, says Joyce happened to be walking past Jayne Powers when she collapsed before Monday night’s game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins.
After deciding it wasn’t a seizure, as some of her co-workers suggested, Joyce quickly started CPR.
Marlins bullpen catcher Jeff Urgelles, a former firefighter and paramedic, was called to the scene and began helping Joyce.
Paramedics arrived moments later and transported the woman to a hospital, where her conditioned improved.
Joyce, Urgelles and others involved were honored in a brief ceremony before Wednesday night’s series finale. Urgelles carried the Marlins’ lineup card to home plate.
Joyce is best remembered for blowing the call that cost Detroit’s Armando Galarraga a perfect game on June 2, 2010. He’s been a major league umpire for 24 years.
