Martin "Uncle Marty" Ondrovic retired from baseball umpiring in 2014 at the age of 81.

At the time, he was umpire supervisor for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, an AAA professional baseball team.For 54 years, he has been calling balls and strikes in baseball, mostly for the PIAA.On Monday night, he was honored by the Anthracite Baseball Chapter of PIAA Officials during a program in the Summit Hill American Legion.Dave "Whitey" Williams of Tamaqua, PIAA interpreter, presented Ondrovic with a plaque made from coal.Several of the officials who attended said they not only were peers of Ondrovic, but he also had been a baseball ump when they were in school.Williams said Ondrovic was honored not only for being an umpire, but also for serving 35 years as a PIAA interpreter. Ondrovic described an interpreter as "a man who dissects the rules."The honoree said an interpreter is designated by the PIAA to interpret rules and regulations for officials, athletic directors and coaches.Ondrovic said he quit umpiring because of becoming afflicted with macular degeneration.The condition affects his sight. He said, "If you can't see 'em, how are you gonna call 'em?""I decided it was time to go out because after 54 years of umpiring, I had built a good repertoire with ups and I didn't want to ruin what I built up."He said he also decided to step down as an interpreter because "modern technology has caught up with me."The award recipient said that when he began his duties as an interpreter in 1980, "they didn't have e mail. But I did have paper and pencil and I did write letters."In giving advice to his fellow baseball officials, he said, "Respect isn't given to you. You have to earn it. Over the years, I learned respect not only with the fellow umpires for also the PIAA.""And your fellow veterans," interjected an audience member.Ondrovic had served in the U.S. Army. He had a brother, Arthur Hensinger, also in the Army, who was killed in the Vietnam War.Also attending the program was Ondrovic's wife of 13 years, Dolly, age 79. He said both had previous marriages whose spouses had died. They each had three children from their previous marriage. They now have eight grandchildren and "too many great grandchildren to count."The meeting was conducted by Michael Horvath, president of the Anthracite Chapter.Ondrovic is a 1951 graduate of Emmaus High School where he lettered for four years in baseball, football and track.