A rare win for Joe West.
The controversial veteran umpire was recently awarded $500,000 after successfully suing former MLB catcher Paul Lo Duca in a defamation case stemming from a Lo Duca-shared story in 2019.
The story alleged that former pitcher Billy Wagner, a former teammate of Lo Duca, had bribed West, offering West a chance to drive around a vintage car in exchange for a widened strike zone. West, obviously, vehemently denies this having taken place, and with good reason.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale adds that Lo Duca and Wagner were teammates between 2006 and 2007, with West acting as home plate umpire just once during that span. Wagner had not pitched in that game.
MORE: That time Joe West was called a 'Karen'
Part of the reason that West is defending his honor is that he feels he has a shot at being elected into the Hall of Fame at some point down the line, and sordid stories around him might hinder that possibility.
West was award $250,000 for damages and another $250,000 to retain a PR firm, per the USA Today.
West is on pace to umpire the most games in MLB history in 2021.
