From “Shoestrings” to the Superdome.
The true story of a Texas umpire who started dancing to make kids smile — and ended up dancing for millions.
An umpire who loves the game — and loves making people smile.
Vincent Chapman grew up in Queen City, Texas, playing T-ball through high school. At 15 he picked up an indicator and never put it down. Nearly 30 years later he’s called games from Little League fields in Atlanta, Texas, to 102,000-seat Kyle Field.
The dancing started in 2008, between innings of a youth tournament. Baseball is stressful for kids — coaches, parents, pressure. So Vinny danced. The kids relaxed. The parents laughed. A legend was born. In 2015 a video from Texarkana passed 12 million views and landed on Ellentube; in 2022, the Savannah Bananas made him the umpire of Banana Ball.
Nine innings. One wild ride.
Tap an inning to replay it.
A 15-year-old asks for a chance
While still playing ball at Queen City High, Vinny asked a league official if he could umpire. His first game was a Little League game in Atlanta, Texas — he admits he called a ball on the line foul.
“Shoestrings”
A young ump with a famously low strike zone (and a few ejections) earns his first nickname calling Dixie Youth, Little League and high school ball across the Ark-La-Tex.
The first dance break
Music came on between innings at a youth tournament. Vinny danced. The kids lit up, the tension melted — and The Dancing Umpire was born.
12 million views
A video of Vinny hitting the “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” behind the plate in Texarkana explodes past 12 million views and lands on Ellentube.
A message from Savannah
The Savannah Bananas slide into his Facebook Messenger. He was the only umpire at their tryouts.
Home plate for Banana Ball
Vinny becomes the official umpire of the Savannah Bananas — dancing between pitches in front of sold-out crowds coast to coast.
102,000 at Kyle Field
MLB ballparks, the Superdome and college football stadiums — including 102,000 fans at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field. Forty-eight states and counting.
Umpire Unmasked
Vinny takes the mic as host of his own comedy showcase at Improv clubs and venues across the country.
Bottom of the 9th? Not even close.
“I literally get paid to be me.” Fifth season with Banana Ball, a growing family of brand partners and a mission to brighten one more person’s day.
Where the moves (and the kindness) came from
Vinny credits his mom, Diane — “Sweet Pea,” all 4-foot-8 of her — for teaching him to dance and for being friendly with absolutely everybody. His dad, a Navy veteran and welder, passed down the sense of humor.
His wife, Kathrine, is his biggest supporter on the road — she’s at plenty of Banana Ball games, and the reason a guy who used to juggle restaurant shifts and a sales job could finally go all-in on spreading joy full time.
Stuff you didn’t know about the Ump
Walk-up song
Alan Jackson, “It’s Alright to Be Little Bitty”
No shin guards
He works without them so he can dance
First nickname
“Shoestrings” — for a famously low strike zone
Theater kid
One-act play and choir in high school — plus baseball, basketball and football
Autographs
He’ll stay about an hour after games — and never turns down a kid
How Banana Ball found him
A Facebook message in December 2021
Quotes from the plate
“My passion in life is to make people happy by using the gift I was given and to share it with as many people as I can.”
“If I can just brighten someone’s day, my day’s been made.”
“I literally get paid to be me.”
“When I dance, I just want to make everybody around me relax and enjoy the sport.”
“Just have fun. Play the game. You play better when you’re not worried about messing up.”
“I can truly say it changed my life.”
Photo gallery
The photos he picked — captions included.
Want this energy at your event?
Speaking, school assemblies, appearances, comedy nights and brand partnerships. Tell us your date — we’ll handle the dancing.