Former PVTL Player featured in MLB All Star Game

PHILADELPHIA — On a night reserved for the best in baseball, the Perkiomen Valley Twilight League had one of its own at the center of the action. Alan Porter, who played in the Perkiomen Valley Twilight League before beginning his professional umpiring career, served as the crew chief and home-plate umpire for the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park. Porter called balls and strikes as the American League defeated the National League, 4-0, before a crowd of 43,916 in Philadelphia. The assignment was his second Midsummer Classic, following his appearance on the umpiring crew for the 2015 All-Star Game in Cincinnati. For the PVTL community, Porter’s selection carried an additional layer of significance. Long before his World Series assignments, nationally televised games and packed Major League stadiums, Porter competed on the local diamonds of the Perkiomen Valley Twilight League. His time as a player in the league helped continue a lifelong connection to the game before he eventually pursued a career in professional umpiring. The Porter family’s connection to the league continues today through his son, Trey Porter, who is currently playing for the Lansdale Tigers. Trey, an outfielder from Ambler who has also played collegiately at Monmouth University, is listed as No. 20 on Lansdale’s current team page. His Monmouth biography identifies him as the son of Allison and Alan Porter. A Long Climb to the Major Leagues Porter’s journey to the highest level of professional baseball eventually took him from the batter’s box to behind the plate. While attending Montgomery County Community College, he was introduced to umpiring after his coach connected him with a local assigner. What started as an opportunity to stay involved in baseball quickly developed into a profession. Porter attended umpiring school in January 2002 and began working his way through the Minor Leagues. His assignments included the Gulf Coast League, New York-Penn League and South Atlantic League before promotions to the High-A, Double-A and Triple-A levels. After working in the Arizona Fall League in 2009, Porter received his first Major League opportunity in 2010. Porter worked as a substitute Major League umpire from 2010 through 2012 before earning a full-time position on the MLB staff in 2013. A decade later, he was promoted to crew chief ahead of the 2023 season. That promotion also represented an important milestone. Porter and Adrian Johnson became the second and third Black crew chiefs in American League and National League history, following former MLB umpire Kerwin Danley. Trusted on Baseball’s Biggest Stages Porter’s postseason résumé reflects the trust Major League Baseball has placed in his preparation, judgment, communication and game management. Through the 2025 season, Porter had been selected to work five Wild Card rounds, seven Division Series, four League Championship Series and three World Series. His Fall Classic assignments came in 2019, 2022 and 2025. The 2026 All-Star Game added another landmark assignment to that résumé. This time, Porter was not only part of the crew—he led it and worked behind the plate in his home state, with the baseball world watching. For the Perkiomen Valley Twilight League, Porter’s accomplishment is a reminder that baseball journeys can take unexpected paths. From competing as a player in the Perky League to becoming one of Major League Baseball’s most respected umpires, his career has taken him from local community baseball to the Minor Leagues, the MLB postseason, three World Series and now behind the plate for an All-Star Game in Philadelphia. At the same time, the Porter family remains part of the PVTL through Trey’s presence with the Lansdale Tigers. The Perkiomen Valley Twilight League congratulates Al Porter on an outstanding and well-earned honor. From his days as a Perky League player to leading the umpiring crew at the Midsummer Classic, his career is a tremendous source of pride for the local baseball community.