Charles F. Daniels
Encyclopedia
Charles F. Daniels was an American
umpire
in Major League Baseball
for 25 seasons, 12 seasons at the "major league" level from to , if you count the National Association as a major league
. He was among the original umpires hired when the National League
(NL) was founded in , and was the last remaining umpire among that group when he retired after the 1889 season. His included service in the National Association
(1874-75), the National League
(1876, –, –), and the American Association
(AA) (–, 1889), as well as the Eastern League
and as a referee
in college baseball
. He is credited as discovering Connie Mack
, he called two no-hitter
s in his career, one was the first no-hitter in major league history, and the other was a perfect game
.
, Daniels began his professional umpire debut on September 7, in the National Association. He umpired the rest of that season and then the season. In 1875, he officially umpired 22 games, all but one as the lone arbiter in the field. When the Association dissolved, and was replaced by the National League, the first recognized "Major League", he was hired on as one of the original Major League umpires. That inaugural season, he called 45 games, one which was the first Major League no-hitter, when George Bradley
of St. Louis Brown Stockings
blanked the Hartford Dark Blues
on July 15, a 2–0 victory. He did not appear in the field on the Major League level for the , but did umpire nine games in and another 46 games in . He umpired just 28 games in , but one notable game on June 17, when John Montgomery Ward
threw the second perfect game in Major League history.
Daniels did not umpire any games in for the or seasons, but did make his return for the season for the American Association. When he started out he received from $5 to $10 per game. In his first year with the American Association, Daniels was selected to umpire the deciding game between the St. Louis Browns
and the Philadelphia Athletics
. His games totals increased significantly in the next few years after his return. He umpired 91 games that season, and stayed with the Association until the season, when in addition to his Association games, he called two games with the National League as well. He called a career high 110 games in then returned the Association for his last season, umpiring 19 games in . His career totals include 504 games, over the course of his 13 seasons.
Club of the Eastern League was out of funds and the league decided that for the team to remain, it had to raise what was owed and that the team hire a new, competent manager
. Daniels became the team's new manager for the 1886 season. He then, in a move to keep the team solvent, sold their two star players, catcher
Connie Mack
, and pitcher
Frank Gilmore
.
at the age of 83.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for 25 seasons, 12 seasons at the "major league" level from to , if you count the National Association as a major league
National Association as a major league
Whether to cover the National Association as a major league is a recurring and crucial matter of difference in historical work on American baseball—that is, among historians, encyclopedists, database builders, and others who work on the facts of baseball history on the playing field.- First...
. He was among the original umpires hired when the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
(NL) was founded in , and was the last remaining umpire among that group when he retired after the 1889 season. His included service in the National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
(1874-75), the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
(1876, –, –), and the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
(AA) (–, 1889), as well as the Eastern League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
and as a referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
in college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
. He is credited as discovering Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
, he called two no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s in his career, one was the first no-hitter in major league history, and the other was a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
.
Career
Born in Colchester, ConnecticutColchester, Connecticut
Colchester is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,551 at the 2000 census. In 2005 it was ranked 57th on the "100 Best Places to Live" in all of the United States, conducted by CNN...
, Daniels began his professional umpire debut on September 7, in the National Association. He umpired the rest of that season and then the season. In 1875, he officially umpired 22 games, all but one as the lone arbiter in the field. When the Association dissolved, and was replaced by the National League, the first recognized "Major League", he was hired on as one of the original Major League umpires. That inaugural season, he called 45 games, one which was the first Major League no-hitter, when George Bradley
George Bradley
George Washington Bradley , nicknamed "Grin", was an American Major League Baseball player who was a pitcher and infielder. He was 5'10.5" and weighed 175 lbs. Bradley was born in Reading, Pennsylvania.-Baseball career:...
of St. Louis Brown Stockings
St. Louis Brown Stockings
The St. Louis Brown Stockings were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri from 1875 to 1877.-History:Joining the National Association in the final season of that league, the Brown Stockings were the first team to represent St. Louis in a professional baseball association . The...
blanked the Hartford Dark Blues
Hartford Dark Blues
The Hartford Dark Blues were a 19th century baseball team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut.-History:They were a member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1874 and 1875 and the National League in 1876 and 1877...
on July 15, a 2–0 victory. He did not appear in the field on the Major League level for the , but did umpire nine games in and another 46 games in . He umpired just 28 games in , but one notable game on June 17, when John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward , known as Monte Ward, was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, shortstop and manager. Ward was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Renovo, Pennsylvania...
threw the second perfect game in Major League history.
Daniels did not umpire any games in for the or seasons, but did make his return for the season for the American Association. When he started out he received from $5 to $10 per game. In his first year with the American Association, Daniels was selected to umpire the deciding game between the St. Louis Browns
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and the Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Athletics (American Association)
The Philadelphia Athletics were a professional baseball team, one of six charter members of the American Association, a 19th-century major league, which began play in 1882 as a rival to the National League. The other teams were the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Red Stockings, Eclipse of...
. His games totals increased significantly in the next few years after his return. He umpired 91 games that season, and stayed with the Association until the season, when in addition to his Association games, he called two games with the National League as well. He called a career high 110 games in then returned the Association for his last season, umpiring 19 games in . His career totals include 504 games, over the course of his 13 seasons.
Other baseball capacities
The HartfordHartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
Club of the Eastern League was out of funds and the league decided that for the team to remain, it had to raise what was owed and that the team hire a new, competent manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
. Daniels became the team's new manager for the 1886 season. He then, in a move to keep the team solvent, sold their two star players, catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
, and pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Frank Gilmore
Frank Gilmore
Frank T. Gilmore , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Washington Nationals.-External links:...
.
Post-career
In the early 1930s he resided with his brother Eugene on a farm near Colchester which was somewhat isolated off the New London-Hartford Road. On March 21, 1932, Charles was found unconscious, lying in the snow in a country road where he had apparently fallen during a snowstorm, suffering from cuts and exposure. He died two days later in Norwich, ConnecticutNorwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
at the age of 83.