SILK O'LOUGHLIN 1910

Frank "Silk" O'Loughlin became an American League umpire in 1902, the infant league's second season. He was at the height of his career when he died in December 1918 during the severe flu epidemic that swept the nation. O'Loughlin always insisted he never missed a call. One story says that Silk responded to arguing batters by stating, "I have never missed one in my life and it's too late to start now. The Pope for religion, O'Loughlin for baseball. Both infallible."

Whether or not the story is true, Silk was a man of courage and firm convictions. On May 2, 1908 he became the first arbiter to toss the fiery Ty Cobb from a game. "The Georgia Peach" protested too sharply after Silk called him out at the plate trying to stretch a triple into a home run.

When Silk was a young minor league official, angry fans threw him into a river and said they wouldn't let him out until he reversed a decision made that day against their team. Standing neck deep in the water, he declared that the river would run dry before he would change his mind. He officiated in five World Series and called balls and strikes for a record six no-hitters, including two in 1905.

Next