He was the plate umpire for the Sammy Sosa corked bat game on June 3, 2003, when the Chicago Cubs hosted the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Wrigley Field.

He was also noted for his deliberate umpiring mechanics, which earned him the nickname "Rain Delay McClelland,"[1] and for his small but consistent strike zone.

He has been a World Series umpire four times (1993, 2000, 2002 and 2006), and worked in three All-Star games (1986, 1998 and 2003), calling balls and strikes on the last occasion.

[12] In his first season in the AL, McClelland was behind the plate in the infamous "Pine Tar Game" at Yankee Stadium on July 24, 1983, in which George Brett of the Kansas City Royals hit an apparent two-run home run, which was immediately protested by New York Yankees manager Billy Martin due to an obscure equipment rule.

In the melee that followed, McClelland registered the first four ejections of his career, beginning with Brett and continuing with Kansas City's manager Dick Howser, their coach Rocky Colavito, and their pitcher Gaylord Perry.

In 2007, McClelland worked home plate for the NL's Wild Card tiebreaker game between the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies.

[10] Following the game, McClelland told The Des Moines Register that "Michael Barrett stuck out his leg, but he didn't have it planted in the ground.

With one out in the top of the fifth inning, an apparent double play was negated when McClelland called Robinson Canó safe at third after he was tagged by Mike Napoli while not in contact with the base.

[18] McClelland, who received both his BA and MA from Michigan State University,[19] resides in West Des Moines, Iowa.