He wore uniform number 4 (previously worn by former NL umpire Satch Davidson) throughout his NL career, but changed to 20 when the umpiring staffs unified in 2000.[1] His brother John is also a major league umpire, making the Hirschbecks the first pair of brothers to umpire in the Major Leagues at the same time.[2] (Brothers Tim and Bill Welke became the second such pair.)
Hirschbeck was forced to retire seven games into the 2003 season after it was discovered that he needed a hip replacement. Although Hirschbeck originally hoped to return to umpiring after he recovered from his surgery, his ceramic implant cracked six weeks after the operation.[3] About two months later, a staph infection formed in Hirschbeck's hip and he was unable to return to baseball. Hirschbeck later sued Wright Medical Technology, makers of the ceramic prosthetic, as well as the doctor who performed the surgery. Hirschbeck settled out of court with both the surgeon and the medical device company.[4]
Post-umpiring career
In 2012, Hirschbeck opened the Shelton, Connecticut restaurant, Hirschbeck's Sports Bar & Grille,[5] which later closed in 2015.[6]
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