Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Umpire. Widely regarded as the greatest umpire in major league history. Born in Rochester, New York, he known as the "father of baseball umpires" and was the first umpire to use the inside chest protector, now standard equipment for umpires throughout all levels of baseball. From 1905 to 1941, he umpired games and then served as chief of National League umpires. Because of his superior ability on balls and strikes, he umpired almost exclusively behind the plate. He also was among the originators of arm signals to coincide with his calls and appeared in 18 World Series assignments. He died of a heart ailment at age 77 in Miami, Florida and was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953, after the Hall established provisions for electing umpires, largely due to widespread eagerness to permit his induction.
Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Umpire. Widely regarded as the greatest umpire in major league history. Born in Rochester, New York, he known as the "father of baseball umpires" and was the first umpire to use the inside chest protector, now standard equipment for umpires throughout all levels of baseball. From 1905 to 1941, he umpired games and then served as chief of National League umpires. Because of his superior ability on balls and strikes, he umpired almost exclusively behind the plate. He also was among the originators of arm signals to coincide with his calls and appeared in 18 World Series assignments. He died of a heart ailment at age 77 in Miami, Florida and was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953, after the Hall established provisions for electing umpires, largely due to widespread eagerness to permit his induction.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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