It is with great sadness that the MYAS has learned of the passing of Larry Gallagher.

Larry Gallagher had a strong connection to the MYAS over the years. In the early 2000’s, Larry began writing monthly articles for the MYAS Youth Sports Connection newsletter. He regularly highlighted rules of the week and provided awesome insight and detail around baseball and basketball rules, with a commonsense explanation to MYAS youth baseball and basketball participants. Larry also provided a wealth of historical knowledge of players, stats, local sports heroes, and much more. During the early years of the Gopher State Baseball League, Larry become a lifeline to Dawson Blanck in the interpretation and clarification of NFHS baseball rules. Throughout the years, he also acted as a clinician at many of our MYAS Umpire Training Clinics.

Larry will be dearly missed in the youth sports officiating community. Regardless of the role played on the field or the court,  his impact and legacy will live on for the next generation because of the dedication, commitment, and passion that he exuded for youth sports, officiating, and the positive impact sports have on youth athletes.

Larry will be dearly missed.

Additional FOX9 Coverage - Link to Article

(FOX 9) - Minnesota baseball lost a legend this weekend as longtime high school, college, and Town Ball umpire Larry Gallagher has passed away at the age of 82.

Gallagher was remembered Sunday by the Minnesota Baseball Association and the Minnesota State High School League.

"Minnesota amateur baseball mourns the loss of Larry Gallagher. Larry was a husband, father, friend, mentor, & sports official. There will never be another Larry. Larry, you gave far more than you received. You are a legend.  Rest easy," the tweet from the Minnesota Baseball Association reads.

FOX 9 profiled Gallagher's incredible run in 2018 when the then-78-year-old ump was marking his 63rd year as an umpire since he started calling games at the age of 15.

Throughout his career, Gallagher was a familiar sight on the field for high school, college, Town Ball, and even American Legion baseball games.

"I think there's a masochistic personality in all umpires they don't care what other people think, we know we did a good job," Gallagher told FOX 9. "I think any official is the keeper of the game and they make sure it's fair for everyone and that the behaviors do justice to the game."

Along with working locally, Gallagher also was called up to the major leagues in 1979 to call games during a brief umpire strike.

Gallagher suffered a heart attack in September and was later diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. In a GoFundMe created to help pay for treatment, the organizer writes: "Larry was more to us as a father, husband, teacher, mentor, official, coach, and friend than we can put into words. We're all better people for knowing him."