SARASOTA, Fla. — The first time Tim Welke stepped onto a ballfield as a professional umpire, he was a teenager hoping he wouldn’t get yelled at too much.

As the years turned to decades, sure, he got an earful. All umps do. But by the time he walked off at PNC Park last October on wobbly knees that would need surgery, he’d gotten quite an eyeful, too.

Reggie and Yaz, Earl Weaver and Billy Martin. Opening day in Australia, the World Series at Yankee Stadium. More than 4,200 games in the big leagues, spread over 33 seasons.

“It went like a snap,” he told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Now at 58, Welke is calling it a career. He had his left knee replaced in January, his right one will undergo the same procedure in June.

“I know my body couldn’t go any farther. It’s a young person’s job,” he said. “It’s the circle of life.”

Played out on a diamond, that is.

Welke worked the World Series four times, including the harrowing, rain-suspended matchup between Tampa Bay and Philadelphia in 2008, plus a bevy of playoffs. He did three All-Star Games, handling home plate last year.

“That was one thing I always wanted to do,” he said. “That kind of filled out the checklist.”

In all, he called 4,216 games in the regular season — Joe West is the active leader in the majors with about 600 more.

Welke worked nearly half his games as a crew chief. For a while, younger brother Bill was on those crews. Next year, Bill might switch his uniform number from 52 to 3, the one Tim wore.

Managers, players and fellow umpires often praised Welke for his even-tempered demeanor and ability to control a game without letting emotions escalate.

Welke is the last umpire to toss a manager in the World Series, that being all-time ejection leader Bobby Cox in 1996.

But true to his nature, Welke’s last ejection came in 2012. In 2014, however, he threw out a fan in Atlanta who was heckling Bryce Harper in a profane manner.

“You have to treat everybody fairly, at every level,” he said.

No surprise, as Welke spoke in the concourse at Ed Smith Stadium before Pittsburgh played Baltimore on Wednesday, a parade of familiar faces strolled by to wish him well.

There was Pirates President Frank Coonelly, a clubhouse worker and a local police officer.

“I’ll miss wearing the uniform and the guys,” he said. “I’m going to miss opening day.”

Minnesota manager Paul Molitor was among those Welke said he enjoyed on the field. The admiration was mutual.

“I remember guys that always gave me an opportunity to voice an opinion as long as it was respectful,” Molitor said.

“He took a lot of pride in his job. He wasn’t confrontational, and very professional,” Molitor said.