Famous Umpires

Robert Calvin Hubbard (October 31, 1900 – October 17, 1977) played professional American football and served as a Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire. Hubbard attended Centenary College and Geneva College before playing in the National Football League (NFL) from 1927 to 1936. He played for the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, and Pittsburgh Pirates during this time, focusing most of his career with the Packers. Hubbard is credited as inventing the football position of linebacker. He umpired in the American League (AL) from 1936 to 1951. Afterward, he worked as an umpire supervisor until 1

John Bertrand "Jocko" Conlan (December 6, 1899 – April 16, 1989) was an American baseball umpire who worked in the National League (NL) from 1941 to 1965. He had a brief career as an outfielder for the Chicago White Sox before umpiring. He officiated five World Series and six All-Star Games. The Veterans Committee elected him to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.

David Michael Pallone (born October 5, 1951) was an American former Major League Baseball umpire. He worked in the National League from 1979 to 1988. During his career, he wore uniform number 26.

Henry Martin Francis O'Day (July 8, 1859 – July 2, 1935), nicknamed "The Reverend", was an American right-handed pitcher and later an umpire and manager in Major League Baseball. After a seven-year playing career, he worked as a National League (NL) umpire for 30 seasons between 1895 and 1927. O'Day umpired in ten World Series, second only to Bill Klem’s total of 18. He officiated five of the first seven games and was behind the plate for the first modern World Series game in 1903. Retiring at age 68 years, 2 months, he remains the oldest umpire in major league history.

Nestor George Chylak Jr. (May 11, 1922 – February 17, 1982) was an American Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1954 to 1978. He umpired in three ALCS: 1969, 1972, and 1973. Chylak served as crew chief in 1969 and 1973. He called five World Series (1957, 1960, 1966, 1971, 1977). He was also crew chief in 1971, working home plate in the decisive Game 7, and in 1977. Chylak worked in six All-Star Games: 1957, 1960 (both games), 1964, 1973, and 1978, working home plate in the second 1960 game and in 1973.

William Aloysius McGowan (January 18, 1896 – December 9, 1954) was an American Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1925 to 1954. McGowan founded the second umpire school in the United States. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992; he is the only person born in Delaware so honored.

Thomas J. Lynch (1859 – February 27, 1924) umpired Major League Baseball for 13 seasons in the National League (NL), spanning from 1888 to 1902. He became NL president in 1910 as a compromise among major league owners. Lynch was replaced following the 1913 season.

William Joseph Klem, born William Joseph Klimm (February 22, 1874 – September 16, 1951), was known as the "Old Arbitrator" and the "father of baseball umpires." He served as a National League (NL) umpire in Major League Baseball from 1905 to 1941. Klem worked 18 World Series, setting a major league record. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted him posthumously in 1953.

Robert Vavasour Ferguson (January 31, 1845 – May 3, 1894) was an American infielder, manager, and umpire during the early days of baseball. He played both before and after baseball became professional. Ferguson served as president of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players from 1872 to 1875, the sport's first professional league. His honesty and character were highly regarded despite damage to the game’s reputation caused by gamblers and rowdy players.

William George Evans (February 10, 1884 – January 23, 1956), nicknamed "The Boy Umpire", umpired Major League Baseball in the American League from 1906 to 1927. At age 22, he became the youngest umpire in major league history and the youngest to officiate a World Series game at age 25. Upon retirement at age 43, his 3,319 career games ranked fifth in major league history. His 1,757 home plate umpiring games ranked third in AL history.

George Joseph Moriarty (July 7, 1884 – April 8, 1964) was an American third baseman, umpire, and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1903 to 1940. Moriarty played for the Chicago Cubs, New York Highlanders, Detroit Tigers, and Chicago White Sox between 1903 and 1916.

Edwin Americus Rommel (September 13, 1897 – August 26, 1970) was an American right-handed pitcher and umpire in Major League Baseball. Rommel spent his entire playing career, from 1920 to 1932, with the Philadelphia Athletics. He is considered the "father" of the modern knuckleball.

Ronald Michael Luciano (June 28, 1937 – January 18, 1995) was an American Major League Baseball umpire in the American League from 1969 to 1979. Luciano was known for his flamboyant style, clever aphorisms, and published collections of anecdotes from his career.

Charles Barthell Moran (February 22, 1878 – June 14, 1949), nicknamed "Uncle Charley", was an American sportsman. He served as a catcher and umpire in Major League Baseball. Moran also coached American football at the collegiate and professional levels.

Lonnie Warneke (March 28, 1909 – June 23, 1976), nicknamed "The Arkansas Hummingbird", was a Major League Baseball player, umpire, county judge, and businessman from Montgomery County, Arkansas. As a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs (1930–36, 1942–43, 1945) and St. Louis Cardinals (1937–42), Warneke won 192 losses and 121 wins. Warneke pitched for the National League in the first Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 1933, hitting the first triple and scoring the first National League run in All-Star game history.

Albert Henry Soar (August 17, 1914 – December 24, 2001) was an American football running back and defensive back in the National Football League. Soar later had a long career as a Major League Baseball umpire. Soar played nine seasons for the New York Giants (1937–1944, 1946). He caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the 1938 NFL Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers at the Polo Grounds.

Robert Daniel Emslie (January 27, 1859 – April 26, 1943) was a Canadian pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who set numerous longevity records as an umpire. Emslie was born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He had a brief professional playing career with the Baltimore and Philadelphia clubs in the American Association. Emslie began his professional umpiring career in 1888. After spending time in the minor leagues, he was promoted to major league umpire in 1890. Emslie earned the nickname "Wig" because of premature receding hairline stress.

Ernest Cosmos Quigley (March 22, 1880 – December 10, 1960) was a Canadian-born American sports official. Quigley served as a basketball referee and an umpire in Major League Baseball. He also coached and officiated American football. Born in Canada and raised in Concordia, Kansas, Quigley attended college and law school at the University of Kansas. There, he played college basketball under James Naismith. Quigley became the head football coach at Kansas Wesleyan University and later served as athletic director at the University of Kansas.

Paul Warren Schrieber (born June 30, 1966) was an American former professional baseball umpire. Schrieber worked in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2015. His first game occurred on June 6, 1997. He wore uniform number 43. Schrieber umpired the MLB All-Star Game in 2000 and 2015. He also officiated the Division Series in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2014.

Harry Hunter Wendelstedt III was born June 22, 1971. He is a baseball umpire who worked in the National League during the 1998–1999 season and in both major leagues since 2000. His father, Harry Hunter Wendelstedt, Jr., served as an NL umpire from 1966 to 1998. Hunter Wendelstedt uses his middle name to avoid confusion with his father.

Edwin William Hickox was born July 31, 1962. He is a Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1990 to 1999 and across both major leagues starting in 2005. Hickox wears uniform number 15; he wore uniform number 39 during his American League tenure. Hickox officiated the 2007, 2010, and 2012 National League Division Series. He also officiated the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

James Michael "Jake" O'Donnell was born January 25, 1937, in Philadelphia. He worked as an NBA referee for 28 seasons, from 1967 to 1995. He also served as a Major League Baseball umpire for four seasons, 1968 to 1971. O'Donnell is the only person who officiated All-Star games in both MLB and the NBA.

Robert Allan Davidson was born August 3, 1952. He became known as "Balkin' Bob" and "Balk-a-Day Bob" for invoking baseball's balk rule. Davidson served on the National League staff from 1982 to 1999. From 2005 to 2016, he was part of the combined MLB umpiring staff. He worked one World Series in 1992 and several other postseason series. Davidson played baseball at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) and spent years umpiring in the minor leagues before joining the NL in 1982.

Joseph Henry West was born October 31, 1952. He is an American professional baseball umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). West was born in Asheville, North Carolina, and grew up in Greenville. He played football at East Carolina University (ECU) and Elon College. West entered the National League as an umpire in 1976. He joined the NL staff full-time in 1978. West wore uniform number 22 throughout his career. As a young umpire, West worked Nolan Ryan's fifth career no-hitter and was on the field for Willie McCovey's 500th home run. He was also involved in a 1983 pushing.

William Henry Dinneen (also spelled Dineen), born April 5, 1876, and January 13, 1955, was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played a 12-year career from 1898 to 1909, serving as an American League umpire from 1909 to 1937. Dinneen served as the plate umpire for baseball's first All-Star Game. He played for the Washington Senators and Boston Braves in the National League, and the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Browns in the American League. Dinneen recorded three wins for the Red Sox over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series in 190.

George Walter "Watch" Burnham (May 20, 1860 – November 18, 1902) was an American umpire and manager in Major League Baseball who was briefly in the National League in the 1880s. He was born in Albion, Michigan.

Jeremiah J. "Miah" Murray (January 1, 1865 – January 11, 1922) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball for four seasons, then umpired full-time for one season. In his career, he played with four different teams: the Providence Grays in 1884, the Louisville Colonels in 1885), the Washington Nationals in 1888, and the Washington Senators in 1891. His career totals include 34 games played, 120 at bats, and 17 hits for a .142 batting average.Later, he became a full-time umpire for the National League in 1895 when he officiated in 112 games. He also is credited with umpiring one game in 19

John Patrick McSherry (September 11, 1944 – April 1, 1996) was an American Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the National League from 1971 until his death. McSherry wore uniform number 9 when he joined the National League and number 10 from 1979 onward. He was a respected arbiter among umpires who were noticeably overweight. Official records list McSherry at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 328 pounds (149 kg). Some sources suggest his true weight reached 400 pounds (180 kg). This weight may have caused his sudden death.

Timothy Reid McClelland (born December 12, 1951) is an American former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1983 to 1999 and throughout both leagues from 2000 until his retirement prior to the 2015 season. He called many important games, from post-season games to the George Brett "Pine Tar" game in 1983. 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 wore uniform number 36 after his promotion to the AL, and kept the number when Major League Baseball merged t

Edwin Durwood Merrill (March 12, 1938 – January 11, 2003) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire. He worked in the American League for 23 seasons, from 1977 to 1999. Merrill was born in Cloud Chief, Oklahoma. In 1998, he published a collection of his experiences titled You're Out and You're Ugly, Too!

Rick Alan Reed (born March 3, 1950) is a former Major League Baseball umpire. He joined the American League staff in 1979 and worked across both major leagues from 2000 to 2009. Reed was named crew chief in 1999 and wore uniform number 23. His career began in the Appalachian League in 1973. While umpiring in the Appalachian League, he earned a B.A. in business administration from Eastern Michigan University. He advanced to the International League for the 1978 season. Reed played his first major league game near the end of the umpire's strike.

Charles N. "Pop" Snyder was an American catcher, manager, and umpire in Major League Baseball. He lived from October 6, 1854, to October 29, 1924.

Richard Higham (July 24, 1851 – March 18, 1905) was an American professional baseball player born in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. He is best known as the only umpire banned from baseball.

Malcolm Wayne (Mal) Eason (March 13, 1879 – April 16, 1970) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Eason played for the Chicago Orphans (1900–1902), Boston Beaneaters (1902), Detroit Tigers (1903), and Brooklyn Superbas (1905–1906). He batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Brookville, Pennsylvania.

Charles "Cy" Rigler (May 16, 1882 – December 21, 1935) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1906 to 1935. When he retired, his total of 4,144 games ranked fourth in major league history. As a plate umpire, he played 2,468 games, placing him third behind NL contemporaries Bill Klem (3,543) and Hank O'Day (2,710). Rigler tied with O'Day for the second most World Series as an umpire (10), trailing only Klem's 18. Rigler also started the practice of using arm signals for calling balls and strikes. He was born in Massillon.

John Henry "Herm" Doscher, Sr. (December 20, 1852 – March 20, 1934) was an American third baseman and umpire. Doscher played for five teams in the National Association and National League from 1872 through 1882. He served as a regular umpire in both early major leagues, the NL (1880–81) and the American Association (1887–88, 1890). His son Jack Doscher played as a major league pitcher for several years, mainly for the Brooklyn Superbas. Jack Doscher was the first son of a major leaguer to also play in the majors.

Albert Joseph Barlick (April 2, 1915 – December 27, 1995) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League for 28 seasons (1940–43, 1946–55, 1958–71). Barlick missed two seasons (1944–45) serving in the United States Coast Guard and two seasons (1956–57) due to heart problems. He umpired seven World Series and seven All-Star Games. Barlick was known for a strong voice and booming strike calls. After leaving active umpiring in 1971, Barlick became an umpire scout and supervisor. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.

Timothy Carroll Hurst (June 30, 1865 – June 4, 1915) was an American sports official who served as an umpire and manager in Major League Baseball. He also worked as a boxing referee in championship fights. His umpiring career lasted 16 seasons from 1891 to 1909. In 1898, he became the on-field manager of the St. Louis Browns, which had a record of 39–111 in 154 games. After managing the Browns, Hurst returned to umpiring. He umpired in the National League from 1891 through 1904 and finished his career in the American League. He was known for being pugnacious and comba

Gerald Sidney Davis, born February 22, 1953, is a Major League Baseball umpire. He worked in the National League from 1982 to 1999 and joined the unified umpiring staff for MLB in 2000. Davis became a crew chief in 1999. He officiated five World Series, nine League Championship Series, and eleven League Division Series. He also worked in the All-Star Game four times. Throughout his career, Davis wore uniform number 12. As of the 2019 season, Davis is MLB's second-most senior umpire, following Joe West.

William Scott Miller (born May 31, 1967) is a Major League Baseball umpire. He started his career in the American League in 1997 and wears number 26. Miller has been a crew chief since the 2014 season.

Derryl Cousins was born August 18, 1946. He is a former umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). Cousins worked in the American League (AL) from 1979 to 1999. He umpired in both leagues from 2000 until retirement after the 2012 season, ending his career as a crew chief. During the 1979 Major League Umpires Strike, Cousins was hired as a replacement umpire. He was the last 1979 replacement umpire to officiate in the league at the time of his retirement.

Thomas Henry Connolly (December 31, 1870 – April 28, 1961) was an English-American umpire in Major League Baseball. He officiated in the National League from 1898 to 1900. He then served 31 years in the American League from 1901 to 1931. As an American League umpire and supervisor for over fifty years, he established standards of integrity for umpires in the major leagues.

Ronald Clarence Kulpa (born October 5, 1968) is a Major League Baseball umpire. He wears uniform number 46.

William Jeremiah "Lord" Byron was a Major League Baseball umpire. Byron started umpiring in the Michigan State League in 1896. He worked in the South Atlantic League from 1905 to 1907. From 1908 to 1912, Byron officiated games for the Virginia League, Eastern League, Southern League, and the International League. Byron debuted in the major leagues on April 10, 1913, for the National League. He worked in the NL from 1913 to 1919, officiating 1,012 games and the 1914 World Series with Bill Dinneen, Bill Klem, and George Hildebrand. Byron returned to the minor leagues with the Pacific.

Harold Douglas Harvey (March 13, 1930 – January 13, 2018) umpired in Major League Baseball (MLB), working in the National League (NL) from 1962 to 1992. Players nicknamed him "God." He was one of the last major league umpires who never attended an umpiring school. Harvey officiated five World Series and seven All-Star Games. His career total of 4,673 games ranked third in major league history when he retired. In 2010, he became the ninth umpire inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Randall Gilbert Marsh (born April 8, 1949) was an American former Major League Baseball umpire. He worked in the National League from 1981 to 1999 and played in both major leagues from 2000 to 2009. Marsh wore uniform number 30.

Harry Hunter Wendelstedt, Jr. (July 27, 1938 – March 9, 2012) was a Major League Baseball umpire. He worked in the National League from 1966 to 1998 and was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Wendelstedt umpired in the World Series in 1973, 1980, 1986, 1991, and 1995. He served as crew chief in 1980 and 1995. He officiated in seven National League Championship Series (1970, 1972, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1990) and four All-Star games (1968, 1976, 1983, 1992). He called balls and strikes in 1976. Wendelstedt umpired in the National League Division Series in 1995, 1996, and 1997. He wore uniform number 21.

Gary Richard Darling (born October 9, 1957) is a former Major League Baseball umpire. Darling began his career in the National League from 1986 to 1999. He worked in both major leagues from 2002 until his retirement in 2014. Darling wore uniform number 37, though he wore number 35 during his National League tenure.

Todd Frederick Tichenor is an American professional baseball umpire. He became a Major League Baseball reserve umpire in 2007 and was promoted to the full-time MLB staff in 2012. Tichenor wore number 97 until the 2014 season, when he switched to number 13.

Mike G. Everitt is a Major League Baseball umpire wearing number 57. He worked in the American League from 1996 to 1999 and in both major leagues since 2000.