Silk O'Loughlin
Encyclopedia
Francis H. "Silk" O'Loughlin (1870 - December 20, 1918) was an American
umpire
in Major League Baseball
who worked in the American League
from 1902 to 1918. He umpired in the World Series
in 1906
, 1909
, 1912
, 1915
and 1917
, serving as crew chief for the last Series.
Born in Rochester, New York
, O'Loughlin acquired his nickname as a child when neighbors commented on the fine quality of his hair. He entered baseball with the help of pitcher Stump Wiedman
, a relative, and worked in the New York, Atlantic and Eastern Leagues from 1898 to 1901. His outstanding work brought him into the American League in 1902, and he proceeded to make his most lasting contribution to his profession by originating the loud exclamations signaling balls, strikes and outs; previously, umpires had simply informed the catcher or nearest defensive player of their call. He was particularly known for his booming call of "ball tuh" and his drawn-out strike calls, as well as his snappy calls of foul balls. O'Loughlin also used gestures to indicate the calls visually, and many observers recommended that the major leagues adopt them in the rules; the rules committee ultimately opted against formal adoption, but he continued to use his signals and to improve upon them.
O'Loughlin umpired in a record 10 no-hitter
s during his brief career, a mark not broken until 2001. He was the base umpire for Addie Joss
' perfect game
on October 2, 1908, and on July 29, 1911 he became the last major league umpire to work a no-hitter singlehandedly when he called Smoky Joe Wood's gem.
During offseasons, O'Loughlin worked for the Justice Department
in the Boston District.
O'Loughlin contracted influenza
during the 1918 epidemic, which also shortened the baseball season, and barely survived the illness; but it left him in a weakened condition, and he subsequently developed pneumonia
. He died at his Boston apartment at age 48.
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...
who worked in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
from 1902 to 1918. He umpired in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in 1906
1906 World Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 9, 1906 at West Side Grounds in Chicago, IllinoisCubs hurler Mordecai Brown was sent to continue the dominance against Nick Altrock. Both pitchers pitched a perfect game through three innings. The Cubs had a runner at second, but couldn't score in the fourth...
, 1909
1909 World Series
The 1909 World Series featured the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers. The Pirates won the Series in seven games to capture their first championship of the modern Major League Baseball era and the second championship in the club's history....
, 1912
1912 World Series
In the 1912 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Giants four games to three .This dramatic series showcased great pitching from Giant Christy Mathewson and from Boston fireballer Smoky Joe Wood. Wood won two of his three starts and pitched in relief in the final game...
, 1915
1915 World Series
In the 1915 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies four games to one.In their only World Series before , the Phillies won Game 1 before being swept the rest of the way. It was 65 years before the Phillies won their next Series game...
and 1917
1917 World Series
In the 1917 World Series, the Chicago White Sox beat the New York Giants four games to two. The Series was played against the backdrop of World War I, which dominated the American newspapers that year and next....
, serving as crew chief for the last Series.
Born in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, O'Loughlin acquired his nickname as a child when neighbors commented on the fine quality of his hair. He entered baseball with the help of pitcher Stump Wiedman
Stump Wiedman
George Edward "Stump" Wiedman was a Major League Baseball pitcher and outfielder for 9 years from 1880-1888.Born in Rochester, New York, Stump appeared in 279 games as a right-handed pitcher but also appeared in 122 games as an outfielder. He began his Major League career in 1881 with the Buffalo...
, a relative, and worked in the New York, Atlantic and Eastern Leagues from 1898 to 1901. His outstanding work brought him into the American League in 1902, and he proceeded to make his most lasting contribution to his profession by originating the loud exclamations signaling balls, strikes and outs; previously, umpires had simply informed the catcher or nearest defensive player of their call. He was particularly known for his booming call of "ball tuh" and his drawn-out strike calls, as well as his snappy calls of foul balls. O'Loughlin also used gestures to indicate the calls visually, and many observers recommended that the major leagues adopt them in the rules; the rules committee ultimately opted against formal adoption, but he continued to use his signals and to improve upon them.
O'Loughlin umpired in a record 10 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 during his brief career, a mark not broken until 2001. He was the base umpire for Addie Joss
Addie Joss
Adrian Joss was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched his entire nine-year baseball career for the Cleveland Bronchos/Naps .-Early life:...
' 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...
on October 2, 1908, and on July 29, 1911 he became the last major league umpire to work a no-hitter singlehandedly when he called Smoky Joe Wood's gem.
During offseasons, O'Loughlin worked for the Justice Department
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
in the Boston District.
O'Loughlin contracted influenza
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
during the 1918 epidemic, which also shortened the baseball season, and barely survived the illness; but it left him in a weakened condition, and he subsequently developed pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. He died at his Boston apartment at age 48.
External links
- Society for American Baseball Research
- BaseballLibrary.com - career highlights
- The Sporting News - photo and biography
- Retrosheet