I went to a couple of card shows yesterday, and picked up some extra 1955 Bowman umpire cards for $2 each. As I was upgrading the cards in my set, I read the back of #313 A.J. Donatelli.
August "Augie" Donatelli enjoyed a 14 game minor league career as player. Flew 18 combat missions in a B-17 as a tail gunner and was shot down during the first daylight raid on Berlin. Suffered a broken ankle, and held 15 months as a POW. Noted for his dramatic ejection gestures. A primary force in creating the first umpires union in 1964, he immediately lost his crew chief position courtesy NL President Giles.
Augie Donatelli died in his sleep in 1990 age 75.
