Silk O'Loughlin

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-hitters 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.

External links

* [http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=1223&pid=16920 Society for American Baseball Research]
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/O/OLoughlin_Silk.stm BaseballLibrary.com] - career highlights
* [http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/conlon/umpires/photo1.html "The Sporting News"] - photo and biography
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/O/Polous901.htm Retrosheet]