During awards season, it’s not uncommon for athletes, coaches and even administrators to get all the shine each year, with game officials sometimes getting the short end of the stick. But that isn’t the case for Lynn native Mike Sullivan, who was recently named the MIAA Baseball Official of the Year. The award seeks to recognize and honor officials who have displayed character, integrity and dignity, while displaying the highest standards of ethical conduct. Candidates should have a record of exceptional performance, as well as a reputation, among their peers and the athletic community, for fair play, for good sportsmanship, and for the development of these attributes in our student-athletes.
Sullivan has all those qualities in spades. He started umpiring in 1984 and quickly joined the North Shore Baseball Umpires Association (NSBUA), whose current president — Joe Gill — is the one who nominated Sullivan for the award. In his time behind the plate, Sullivan has officiated two MIAA EMass finals, five MIAA North sectional finals and earned the C. Howard Smith ANEFO Official’s Award in 2018 for his contributions to the profession. Outside of baseball, Sullivan has also officiated five MIAA Super Bowls — his most recent coming in 2019.
Sullivan, who recently retired as the director of the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, has been involved in local sports for nearly 40 years. He has served as a coach in baseball, football, soccer and softball at the youth level. He is a graduate of Lynn English and was inducted into the Bulldogs’ Hall of Fame back in 2013.
His community involvement is just as impressive, as Sullivan has previously served as secretary of the NSBUA, president of the Newburyport Girls Basketball Association, president of the Council on Government Ethics Laws and president of the Massachusetts City Clerk Association.
Mike plans to continue his umpiring once baseball returns, whenever that may be.
