NEW YORK (AP) — Marty Springstead, who at the age of 36 in 1973 became the youngest umpire crew chief in World Series history, has died. He was 74.

Major League Baseball said Wednesday that Springstead was found dead at his home in Florida on Tuesday night.

A native of Nyack, N.Y., Springstead was an American League umpire from 1966-85. Among his three World Series were 1978 and 1983, and he also was an umpire at the All-Star game in 1969, 1975 and 1982 and at five AL championship series.

One of the most controversial decisions of Springstead's career occurred on a rainy night at Exhibition Stadium on September 15, 1977.

With his team trailing 4–0 after 4½ innings, Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver requested that the umpires instruct the grounds crew to remove a tarpaulin covering one of the pitcher's mounds in the Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen in foul territory down the left-field line. He claimed that it was a hazard for the ballplayers if they had to make plays in that area of the field.

After Springstead, who was working at third base that evening, denied the request, Weaver pulled his team off the field. When the Oriole players did not return five minutes later, Springstead declared a forfeit and awarded the Blue Jays a 4–0 win. Afterwards he belittled the Orlole's coach with this statement.

"That midget can barely see over the top of the dugout steps," Springstead said of Weaver, "and he claims he can see all of the pitches."

After retiring from the field, he became the AL's executive director of umpires, then worked as an umpire supervisor for MLB after umpire staffs from the leagues merged.

He retired from his management position before the 2010 season.

"For a quarter-century, Marty mentored a new generation of our umpires, not only in the major leagues but around the world," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "Marty was an avid teacher, a great storyteller and a friend to countless people around our game. Like so many of my colleagues, I always appreciated his wonderful sense of humor and the pride he had for his profession."

Springstead worked U.S. Army baseball games while he was a minor league umpire and lectured on umpiring to the U.S. Air Force in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. He was involved in clinics of Japan's Pacific League and in Canada.

MLB said he was survived by wife Linda, son Bradley and stepson Robert.