Fox’s All-Star ‘Ump Cam’ Game-Changer For Baseball Telecasts

Major League Baseball and Fox Sports scored a bull’s-eye with their new “Ump Cam” camera angle during the 2022 MLB All-Star Game.

As part of Fox’s broadcast of the 92nd Midsummer Classic from Dodger Stadium, home-plate umpire Bill Miller wore a mini camera on his helmet. 

The technology gave fans an amazing view of the speed and movement of Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw’s pitches as he faced off against New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. 

The Ump Cam also captured All-Star MVP Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees launching a monster 457-foot home run, as well as Miller getting hit in his face mask by a foul ball. “Perfect timing,” quipped Jomboy Media.

Both viewers and the media embraced baseball’s version of the NHL’s “Goalie Cam” during the American League’s 3-2 victory over the National League Tuesday night.  

• USA TODAY wrote, “The fans have spoken, MLB, and it’s time to keep the Ump Cams around for good.”
• “This Kershaw slider looks SICK on Ump Cam,” tweeted FanDuel.
• Sports Illustrated simply tweeted: “More ‘Ump Cam’ Please!!”

Baseball frequently gets ripped for its boring, slow pace of play — but it might have found a literal game-changer here.

It would be natural for baseball broadcasters to invite viewers to turn on the Ump Cam in the future. More than any camera angle, it seems to illustrate the popular adage that hitting a baseball is the hardest feat in sports.

Alternative telecasts with new camera angles and different announcing strategies are all the rage these days, as seen with ESPN2’s “KayRod Cast” with Alex Rodriguez and Michael Kay, or ESPN 2’s popular “ManningCast” of “Monday Night Football” with Peyton and Eli Manning.

FOX employed more than 70 cameras for its All-Star Game telecast, according to Sports Video Group, including the Ump Cam, a Dirt Cam, and a RailCam along the first-based dugout.