Former Eastern Kentucky University baseball player and Major League Baseball veteran umpire Sam Holbrook will be part of the seven-man umpiring crew for the 2016 World Series featuring the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians.
Holbrook will be the replay official for the first two games in Cleveland, then switch places with Larry Vanover when the series moves to Wrigley Field. The Morehead, Kentucky native was a pitcher and a four-year letter-winner at EKU from 1984-87 under legendary head coach Jim Ward. He was a member of three OVC championship teams during that time (1984-86).
Holbrook became a member of the Major League staff in 1998. He has worked the 2004 All-Star Game, the 2012 National League Wild Card Game, four Division Series (2005, 2007, 2010, 2013), the 2008 and 2012 American League Championship Series, the 2009 and 2011 National League Championship Series, and the 2010 World Series.
John Hirschbeck will be the umpire crew chief for the World Series and Vanover will call balls and strikes for game one on Tuesday.