A BASEBALL umpire, John McSherry, died after suffering a heart attack during the Cincinnati Reds' first game of the season on Monday night against the Montreal Expos.

McSherry (51), was working behind the plate in the game at Riverfront Stadium and called just seven pitches before collapsing.

With two outs in the top of the first, McSherry called a pitch from Reds' starter Pete Schourek. He then turned and walked toward the gate behind home plate, motioned for assistance and collapsed face-first to the ground.

Paramedics arrived and continued CPR until McSherry, who failed to regain consciousness, was lifted on to a stretcher and wheeled off the field.

He was taken to University of Cincinnati Hospital and was pronounced dead at 3:04 p.m., 55 minutes after his collapse.