Professional baseball umpire and manager, boxing referee. Hurst was best known for his 16-year stint umpiring in the National League and American League between 1891 and 1909. He began his umpiring career in the Pennsylvania State League in 1888. Hurst then worked in the Southern League and Western Association in 1889. In 1890, he managed the Western Association's Minneapolis Millers. He became a major league umpire in 1891 and officiated 132 games during his rookie season. Hurst umpired in the league through 1894, when he was fired after several team owners objected to him refereeing boxing matches, and he found work in the Eastern Association. He returned to the NL in late August 1895 and worked through the end of 1897. In 1898, he was named manager of the St. Louis Browns, two years before they were renamed the Cardinals. The club finished in last place with a 39-111 record. He returned to work in the NL in 1900 and worked 61 games in 1903 and one more in 1904 before joining the staff of the American League in 1905. Hurst umpired in the AL until 1909 and worked one final season in the Eastern League in 1910. Upon his death in 1915, Philadelphia Athletics manager Connie Mack called Hurst "the fairest umpire I ever knew, and one who was without fear." Hurst was among several umpires who were named to the Honor Rolls of Baseball by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946, at a time when no umpires had yet received full membership in the Hall. Working as a boxing referee from 1894 to 1912, he officiated fights including Tommy Ryan's successful defense of his world middleweight title on March 4, 1901 against Tommy West.
Professional baseball umpire and manager, boxing referee. Hurst was best known for his 16-year stint umpiring in the National League and American League between 1891 and 1909. He began his umpiring career in the Pennsylvania State League in 1888. Hurst then worked in the Southern League and Western Association in 1889. In 1890, he managed the Western Association's Minneapolis Millers. He became a major league umpire in 1891 and officiated 132 games during his rookie season. Hurst umpired in the league through 1894, when he was fired after several team owners objected to him refereeing boxing matches, and he found work in the Eastern Association. He returned to the NL in late August 1895 and worked through the end of 1897. In 1898, he was named manager of the St. Louis Browns, two years before they were renamed the Cardinals. The club finished in last place with a 39-111 record. He returned to work in the NL in 1900 and worked 61 games in 1903 and one more in 1904 before joining the staff of the American League in 1905. Hurst umpired in the AL until 1909 and worked one final season in the Eastern League in 1910. Upon his death in 1915, Philadelphia Athletics manager Connie Mack called Hurst "the fairest umpire I ever knew, and one who was without fear." Hurst was among several umpires who were named to the Honor Rolls of Baseball by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946, at a time when no umpires had yet received full membership in the Hall. Working as a boxing referee from 1894 to 1912, he officiated fights including Tommy Ryan's successful defense of his world middleweight title on March 4, 1901 against Tommy West.
Bio by: Adam Penale
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