Vic Delmore
Encyclopedia
Victor "Deacon" Delmore (Born: October 21, 1917 in Dunmore, Pennsylvania
- June 10, 1960 in Scranton, Pennsylvania
) was an umpire who worked in the National League
from 1956
to 1959
. His professional umpiring career began in 1948
in the KITTY League. He worked in the Southern Association
from 1949
to 1955
. From 1935
to 1942
, he pitched in the minor leagues.
Delmore was involved in a rather peculiar situation in a game on June 30, 1959
, between the St. Louis Cardinals
and Chicago Cubs
. Stan Musial
was at the plate, with a count of 3-1. Pitcher Bob Anderson
's next pitch was errant, evading catcher Sammy Taylor
and rolling all the way to the backstop. Delmore called ball four on the pitcher, however Anderson and Taylor contended that Musial foul tipped
the ball. Because the ball was still in play, and because Delmore was embroiled in an argument with the catcher and pitcher, Musial took it upon himself to try for second base. Seeing that Musial was trying for second, Alvin Dark
ran to the backstop to retrieve the ball. The ball wound up in the hands of field announcer Pat Pieper
, but Dark ended up getting it back anyway. Absentmindedly, however, Delmore pulled out a new ball and gave it to Taylor. Anderson finally noticed that Musial was trying for second, took the new ball, and threw it to second baseman Tony Taylor
. To Anderson's disappointment, the ball flew over Tony Taylor's head into the outfield. Dark, at the same time that Anderson threw the new ball, threw the original ball to shortstop Ernie Banks
. Musial, though, did not see Dark's throw and only noticed Anderson's ball fly over the second baseman's head, so he tried to go to third base. On his way there, he was tagged by Banks, and after a delay he was ruled out. Following the season, Delmore's contract was not renewed, undoubtedly in part because of this incident. http://books.google.com/books?id=QtX4CreRGNEC&pg=PT41&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22
Different versions of that story have slightly different details. For example, according to Alvin Dark, Anderson didn't throw the ball - Sammy Taylor did. http://books.google.com/books?id=vA4rtVacf-wC&pg=RA1-PA110&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22 One source says that the ball hit both Sammy Taylor and Delmore http://books.google.com/books?id=6NGwe135o5EC&pg=PA67&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22, while another says it just rolled to the backstop. http://books.google.com/books?id=QtX4CreRGNEC&pg=PT41&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22 How Pat Pieper wound up with the ball has different details among different stories. For example, Dark says that Pieper picked up the ball, and Dark yelled at him to drop it. http://books.google.com/books?id=vA4rtVacf-wC&pg=RA1-PA110&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22 Another version has it that a batboy picked up the ball and flipped it to Pieper. Surprised by the throw from the batboy, Pieper fumbled the ball and Dark recovered it.http://books.google.com/books?id=6NGwe135o5EC&pg=PA67&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22 The preceding were just a few examples of the inconsistencies in the aforementioned anecdote.
He died at Hahnemann Hospital in Scranton after a heart ailment (one source says it was a heart attack http://books.google.com/books?id=vA4rtVacf-wC&pg=RA1-PA110&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22&lr=).
Dunmore, Pennsylvania
Dunmore is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, adjoining Scranton. Dunmore was settled in 1835 and incorporated in 1862. Extensive anthracite coal, brick, stone, and silk interests had led to a rapid increase in the population to 8,315 in 1890, 12,583 in 1900, 17,615 in 1910, 20,250 in...
- June 10, 1960 in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
) was an umpire who worked in 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...
from 1956
1956 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers ; Don Larsen, MVP*All-Star Game, July 10 at Griffith Stadium: National League, 7-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cienfuegos *College World Series: Minnesota...
to 1959
1959 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago White Sox ; Larry Sherry, MVP*All-Star Game , July 7 at Forbes Field: National League, 5-4*All-Star Game , August 3 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: American League, 5-3...
. His professional umpiring career began in 1948
1948 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...
in the KITTY League. He worked in the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
from 1949
1949 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 12 at Ebbets Field: American League, 11-7-Caribbean leagues:*Cuba - Almendares Scorpions*Panama - Spur Cola*Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Indians...
to 1955
1955 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Brooklyn Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Johnny Podres, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at County Stadium: National League, 6-5 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce...
. From 1935
1935 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs *All-Star Game, July 8 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 4-1-Other champions:*Negro League Baseball All-Star Game, August 11 at Comiskey Park: West, 11-8...
to 1942
1942 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees *All-Star Game, July 6 at Polo Grounds: American League, 3-1-Other champions:*Negro Leagues World Series: Kansas City Monarchs over Homestead Grays...
, he pitched in the minor leagues.
Delmore was involved in a rather peculiar situation in a game on June 30, 1959
1959 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago White Sox ; Larry Sherry, MVP*All-Star Game , July 7 at Forbes Field: National League, 5-4*All-Star Game , August 3 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: American League, 5-3...
, between the St. Louis Cardinals
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 Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. Stan Musial
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
was at the plate, with a count of 3-1. Pitcher Bob Anderson
Bob Anderson (baseball)
Robert Carl Anderson , is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1957-1963. He would play for the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers....
's next pitch was errant, evading catcher Sammy Taylor
Sammy Taylor (baseball)
Samuel Douglas "Sammy" Taylor is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played from 1958 to 1963 for the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians....
and rolling all the way to the backstop. Delmore called ball four on the pitcher, however Anderson and Taylor contended that Musial foul tipped
Foul tip
In baseball, a foul tip is defined as "a batted ball that goes sharp directly from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play."...
the ball. Because the ball was still in play, and because Delmore was embroiled in an argument with the catcher and pitcher, Musial took it upon himself to try for second base. Seeing that Musial was trying for second, Alvin Dark
Alvin Dark
Alvin Ralph Dark , nicknamed "Blackie" and "The Swamp Fox", is a former shortstop and manager in Major League Baseball who played for five National League teams from 1946 to 1960. Named the major leagues' Rookie of the Year with the Boston Braves when he batted .322...
ran to the backstop to retrieve the ball. The ball wound up in the hands of field announcer Pat Pieper
Pat Pieper
Frank "Pat" Pieper served as the Chicago Cubs field announcer from to , a span of 59 years. Coincidentally, his first year as announcer was also the first season in which Wrigley Field was used as the home park of the Cubs...
, but Dark ended up getting it back anyway. Absentmindedly, however, Delmore pulled out a new ball and gave it to Taylor. Anderson finally noticed that Musial was trying for second, took the new ball, and threw it to second baseman Tony Taylor
Tony Taylor
Antonio Nemesio Taylor is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1958 through , Taylor played for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers...
. To Anderson's disappointment, the ball flew over Tony Taylor's head into the outfield. Dark, at the same time that Anderson threw the new ball, threw the original ball to shortstop Ernie Banks
Ernie Banks
Ernest "Ernie" Banks , nicknamed "Mr. Cub", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and first baseman. He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the Chicago Cubs . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.-High school years:Banks was a letterman and standout in football,...
. Musial, though, did not see Dark's throw and only noticed Anderson's ball fly over the second baseman's head, so he tried to go to third base. On his way there, he was tagged by Banks, and after a delay he was ruled out. Following the season, Delmore's contract was not renewed, undoubtedly in part because of this incident. http://books.google.com/books?id=QtX4CreRGNEC&pg=PT41&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22
Different versions of that story have slightly different details. For example, according to Alvin Dark, Anderson didn't throw the ball - Sammy Taylor did. http://books.google.com/books?id=vA4rtVacf-wC&pg=RA1-PA110&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22 One source says that the ball hit both Sammy Taylor and Delmore http://books.google.com/books?id=6NGwe135o5EC&pg=PA67&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22, while another says it just rolled to the backstop. http://books.google.com/books?id=QtX4CreRGNEC&pg=PT41&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22 How Pat Pieper wound up with the ball has different details among different stories. For example, Dark says that Pieper picked up the ball, and Dark yelled at him to drop it. http://books.google.com/books?id=vA4rtVacf-wC&pg=RA1-PA110&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22 Another version has it that a batboy picked up the ball and flipped it to Pieper. Surprised by the throw from the batboy, Pieper fumbled the ball and Dark recovered it.http://books.google.com/books?id=6NGwe135o5EC&pg=PA67&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22 The preceding were just a few examples of the inconsistencies in the aforementioned anecdote.
He died at Hahnemann Hospital in Scranton after a heart ailment (one source says it was a heart attack http://books.google.com/books?id=vA4rtVacf-wC&pg=RA1-PA110&dq=%22Vic+Delmore%22&lr=).