Conlan joins rare company as Hall of Fame umpire
Jocko Conlan began his big league career as a light-hitting outfielder with the White Sox who didn’t debut until he was 34 years old.
He ended his days in the major leagues in Cooperstown after a remarkable 25-year run as a National League umpire.
Conlan was one of three candidates elected by the Veterans Committee on Jan. 28, 1974. Conlan, Jim Bottomley and Sam Thompson joined Baseball Writers’ Association of America electees Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle in the Class of 1974 and were soon joined by Cool Papa Bell, who was elected by the Committee on Negro Leagues.
Conlan, the only living member of the Veterans Committee trio, was overwhelmed by the news.
“I’ve received other awards,” Conlan told the Associated Press. “But to know that I’m in the Hall of Fame before I die is the tops of all.”
Conlan played in the minor leagues throughout the 1920s and early ’30s before retiring and returning back to his hometown of Chicago. But in 1934, the White Sox suffered a midseason spate of injuries and signed Conlan, who hit .249 in 63 games. The next year, Conlan served in a bench role and was sidelined by a thumb injury on July 28 in a doubleheader in St. Louis. Home plate umpire Red Ormsby was overcome by the oppressive heat during the first game, leaving only one umpire to work.
When Ormsby could not work the second game, the White Sox and Browns agreed to let Conlan and Browns infielder Ollie Bejma umpire in the nightcap. Conlan also umpired the following day as the two teams completed their series.
With his playing career over, Conlan decided to try umpiring and went to work in the minor leagues on the advice of American League president Will Harridge. After five years, he was hired by National League president Ford Frick for the 1941 season. Quickly becoming one of the most respected arbiters in the game, Conlan worked five World Series, four National League playoffs and six All-Star Games.
He was the fourth umpire elected to the Hall of Fame.
“I demand respect on the field from managers and players,” Conlan said. “To me, that’s 75 percent of umpiring. The real test of a big league umpire is whether he can take control and run the ball game.”
Bottomley, who passed away on Dec. 11, 1959, was one of the best hitters of his era and batted .310 over 16 seasons with the Cardinals, Reds and Browns – winning the 1928 National League Most Valuable Player Award.
A generation earlier, Thompson was one of the National League’s biggest stars with Detroit and Philadelphia, totaling at least 100 RBI in eight seasons while twice leading the league in home runs.
The Class of 1974 was inducted on Aug. 12 in Cooperstown, with Conlan among the 25 Hall of Famers on hand for the ceremony.
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
