Umpires

[oldjudge]

While reading Brian Martin’s wonderful book “The Detroit Wolverines-The Rise and Wreck of a National League Champion 1881-1888” I learned that Dick Hingham was the only National League umpire ever to be banished from baseball for life for his dishonesty (1882). Below is an image of Hingham (seated far left) when he was a player for the 1876 Hartford Blues. In honor of Dick, let’s post some umpire cards.

[kkkkandp]

Here's one...

[tiger8mush]

he'd later become an umpire ...

[Webster]

Photo Credit - Miller's School of Photography:

IMG_3529.jpg

[Cozumeleno]

Here's a more non-traditional one from the N86 Perilous Occupations set.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

George Moriarity

[brianp-beme]

Umpire as part of the backdrop. The umpire in the picture is 'Honest John' Gaffney, who was an umpire before and after this picture was taken, but probably at the time was serving as manager of the Washington team.

Brian

[toolman tj]

George Moriarity has a sinister look.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

he'd later become an umpire ...

... which got him elected into the HOF. I had all of these O'Days when he became a HOFer, but I have since sold/traded two of them.

[oldjudge]

Great group of O'Days Val. FYI, there is a numbering error on some of his 1887 cards. I'll post images later. Also, did you or do you have an O'Day Gypsy Queen or Player's League card?

[triwak]

Umps

[oldjudge]

Val-Here is what I was talking about. The batting pose, both on the Type A and the Type B 1887 cards, is known with two different numbers: 0164 and 0173.

[cubman1941]

Again, not a card but -

[Bill77]

The Ump Says No

[commishbob]

Some wonderful items posted here. Thanks to all for sharing these pieces.

[Kawika]

1928 World Series, don't have the names handy


Umpires Magerkurth, Van Graflan, Dineen and Klem 1932 WS



Out at the plate! The ump is Jim Boyer, the year is 1950, I think the stadium is Shibe. Personally I think this photo is seriously awesome - a close play at home - catcher's got the ball in his hand, the look on his face is awesomely serious - and a photog on top of it.


Yer Out!

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by Kawika

love it!!

[orator1]

After James O'Rourke's final full season of professional baseball in 1893, he was a National League umpire in 1894.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Great group of O'Days Val. FYI, there is a numbering error on some of his 1887 cards. I'll post images later. Also, did you or do you have an O'Day Gypsy Queen or Player's League card?

Jay, thanks for showing the O'Day batting pose with different numbers.

No, I've never had an O'Day GQ or PL - wish I did!

[Paul S]

Hilarious!

Originally Posted by Kawika

Yer Out!

[Eggoman]

Is a Trade Card OK???

[h2oya311]

how 'bout this one:

[seattlerainiers]

That McGowan PC is exceptional, Derek. So cool.

Here a photo of 19th century (should-be-HOF) star George Van Haltren, umpiring in the Northwestern League, circa 1912.

[h2oya311]

Thanks David -

Oh, and I meant to acknowledge all the other cool cards/photos in this thread. I love this sort of stuff...Paul, Val, Jay, Ken, David, etc...thanks for sharing! I didn't know that O'Rourke and Van Haltren would later umpire the game.

Here's another one from my collection. It's a 1907 Silver Gelatin Photo of HOF umpire Billy Evans:

[paul]

Derek, that minor league postcard of McGowan is amazing! Do you have any idea why it even exists? Minor league umpires aren't exactly a popular subject for baseball cards.

[h2oya311]

Thanks Paul (and David) -

The style of the postcard looks mildly familiar to me, but I couldn’t find any other examples of player postcards online with this style. Anyone have a player from this postcard “set”?

Without any other examples, I have to believe that this was custom made by McGowan because he was very proud of his accomplishments. You’ll see that it was sent by McGowan to his “girlfriend” in 1915. Perhaps he was simply trying to impress her.

[paul]

Wow, if you ever want to let it go ...

[FourStrikes]

1920s-1930s RPPC

[h2oya311]

FourStrikes - interestingly, I own one of those as well....mine has different staining than the one you shared. Is it yours? I believe it to also be from the mid- to late-teens (not 1920s) as my postcard was also addressed to Irene (same girl that was the object of Bill's affection from my other postcard). McGowan met and married his future wife in 1918 (not Irene), so my guess is that the postcard you just shared is also from around 1915-1918. Very cool to know that another exists! It has that same crummy handwriting on front, but different corner creases and stains.

[kdixon]

Umpires O'Day and Hart.

[uffda51]

[oldjudge]

Bob Caruthers: “The story of Bob Caruthers is one of peaking early before beginning a long, slow decline. He was one of the stalwarts of 19th century baseball, winning 40 games twice (1885 and 1889) and finishing off his nine-year career with a 218-99 record. He started 310 games and completed 298 of them. After his big league career was over, he played and managed in the minors. One of the least imposing umpires ever (he stood just 5-foot-7 and weighed 138 pounds), he became an AL umpire in 1902 and 1903. Apparently, he was not a particularly good umpire, so he was demoted to the minor leagues, slowly going downward in class till 1911, when he died at the age of 47.”

[oldjudge]

Here are the four Old Judge poses of Wallace Fessenden, a National League umpire:

[JLange]

1905-15 Postcard, "How would you like to be the Umpire!!!?

[Leon]

This ump has the moves while wearing a tophat!!...

[FourStrikes]

Originally Posted by h2oya311

FourStrikes - interestingly, I own one of those as well....mine has different staining than the one you shared. Is it yours? I believe it to also be from the mid- to late-teens (not 1920s) as my postcard was also addressed to Irene (same girl that was the object of Bill's affection from my other postcard). McGowan met and married his future wife in 1918 (not Irene), so my guess is that the postcard you just shared is also from around 1915-1918. Very cool to know that another exists! It has that same crummy handwriting on front, but different corner creases and stains.

Derek:

sorry it's taken me a while to reply - it was buried in a "need to re-file" box.

YES, it's mine, has not but mailed nor written upon, and has a patch of black paper residue from a scrapbook
on back, with "The Sanborn Studio, 404 Market St. Wilmington, Del." along the left edge on reverse.

great that you have the "to Irene" messages handwritten and sent by McGowan!

[FourStrikes]

unidentified "ump" looking dude, with 1904-18 AZO stamp box

[Leon]

Great cards, guys. Here is another....RPPC