George Hildebrand
Encyclopedia
George Albert Hildebrand (September 6, 1878 - May 30, 1960) was an American
left fielder
and umpire
in Major League Baseball
who played 11 games for the 1902 Brooklyn Superbas
and later umpired in the American League
from 1913 to 1934. He is often credited as having invented the spitball
while playing in the minor leagues. He was the umpire in four World Series
(1914
, 1918
, 1922
, 1926
), and his 3,331 games as an umpire ranked third in AL history when he retired.
Born in San Francisco, California
, Hildebrand began his playing career in 1898. He was playing for Providence in the Eastern League in the spring of 1902 when he discovered the effect moisture had on a pitched ball; he encouraged pitchers Frank Corridon
and Elmer Stricklett
to try the technique, and Stricklett was believed to be the first to use the pitch in a major league game in .
Hildebrand worked much of his umpiring career in a team with Brick Owens
. His most controversial decision came in Game 2 of the 1922 World Series, when he ended the game on account of darkness after 10 innings with the score tied 3-3, even though it did not begin to get dark until a half hour later; it was widely believed that the game could have continued for a few more innings. It was later reported that third base umpire Bill Klem
had expressed to Hildebrand his concern about a long game, recalling Game 2 of the 1914 Series, which had ended in almost complete darkness after 14 innings. There was such heavy criticism of Hildebrand's decision to end the game that commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
ordered the game proceeds ($120,000) to be donated to charity.
Hildebrand was behind the plate on June 21, , when Rube Foster
of the Boston Red Sox
pitched a 2-0 no-hitter
against the New York Yankees
. He was also behind the plate on July 10, when Johnny Burnett
of the Cleveland Indians
collected a record nine hits
in an 18-inning game against the Philadelphia Athletics
.
After retiring from baseball, Hildebrand ran a hotel in Brawley, California
, and then went into business in Los Angeles
. He died of heart failure at age 81 at Reseda Hospital in Reseda, California
, and was survived by his wife Sue and son Albert. He was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
and 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 played 11 games for the 1902 Brooklyn Superbas
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and later umpired 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 1913 to 1934. He is often credited as having invented the spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
while playing in the minor leagues. He was the umpire in four 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...
(1914
1914 World Series
In the 1914 World Series, the Boston Braves beat the Philadelphia Athletics in a four-game sweep.A contender for greatest upset of all time, the "Miracle Braves" were in last place on July 4, then roared on to win the National League pennant by games and sweep the stunned Athletics...
, 1918
1918 World Series
The 1918 World Series featured the Boston Red Sox, who defeated the Chicago Cubs four games to two. The Series victory for the Red Sox was their fifth in five tries, going back to . The Red Sox scored only nine runs in the entire Series; the fewest runs by the winning team in World Series history...
, 1922
1922 World Series
In the 1922 World Series, the New York Giants beat the New York Yankees in five games...
, 1926
1926 World Series
The 1926 World Series was the championship series of the 1926 Major League Baseball season, featuring the St. Louis Cardinals against the New York Yankees...
), and his 3,331 games as an umpire ranked third in AL history when he retired.
Born in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, Hildebrand began his playing career in 1898. He was playing for Providence in the Eastern League in the spring of 1902 when he discovered the effect moisture had on a pitched ball; he encouraged pitchers Frank Corridon
Frank Corridon
Frank Joseph Corridon [Fiddler] was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 0" 170 lb., Corridon was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island.The invention of the spitball has been credited...
and Elmer Stricklett
Elmer Stricklett
Elmer Griffin Stricklett , was a professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1904 through 1907. He is best known for being the first pitcher to master the spitball.-Career:...
to try the technique, and Stricklett was believed to be the first to use the pitch in a major league game in .
Hildebrand worked much of his umpiring career in a team with Brick Owens
Brick Owens
Clarence Bernard "Brick" Owens was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League in 1908 and 1912-1913, and in the American League from 1916 through 1937. He officiated in the World Series in 1918, 1922, 1925, 1928 and 1934, serving as crew chief for the last two...
. His most controversial decision came in Game 2 of the 1922 World Series, when he ended the game on account of darkness after 10 innings with the score tied 3-3, even though it did not begin to get dark until a half hour later; it was widely believed that the game could have continued for a few more innings. It was later reported that third base umpire Bill Klem
Bill Klem
William Joseph Klem, born William Joseph Klimm , known as the "father of baseball umpires", was a National League umpire in Major League Baseball from 1905 to 1941...
had expressed to Hildebrand his concern about a long game, recalling Game 2 of the 1914 Series, which had ended in almost complete darkness after 14 innings. There was such heavy criticism of Hildebrand's decision to end the game that commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
ordered the game proceeds ($120,000) to be donated to charity.
Hildebrand was behind the plate on June 21, , when Rube Foster
Rube Foster (AL pitcher)
George "Rube" Foster was a former Major League Baseball player. Foster was a right-handed pitcher with the Boston Red Sox from to and won two World Series championships with the team in and again in .Foster was picked up by the Boston Red Sox and made his major league debut for the team on...
of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
pitched a 2-0 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"...
against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He was also behind the plate on July 10, when Johnny Burnett
Johnny Burnett (baseball)
John Henderson "Johnny" Burnett was an American professional baseball player who was a utility infielder in Major League Baseball for nine seasons during the 1920s and 1930s. Burnett played second base, third base, shortstop, and outfielder for the Cleveland Indians and St...
of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
collected a record nine hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in an 18-inning game against the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
After retiring from baseball, Hildebrand ran a hotel in Brawley, California
Brawley, California
Brawley is a city in Imperial County, California, United States. Brawley is located north of El Centro. The population was 24,953 at the 2010 census, up from 22,052 at the 2000 census. The town has a significant cattle and feed industry, and hosts the annual Cattle Call Rodeo. Year-round...
, and then went into business in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He died of heart failure at age 81 at Reseda Hospital in Reseda, California
Reseda, Los Angeles, California
Reseda is a San Fernando Valley district in the city of Los Angeles, California.-History:The area now known as Reseda was originally inhabited by Native Americans of the Tongva tribe that lived close to the Los Angeles River....
, and was survived by his wife Sue and son Albert. He was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 10621 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood, California.The cemetery has a special section called the Portal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation that is the final resting place for a number of aviation pioneers — barnstormers, daredevils and...
.
External links
- Retrosheet
- BaseballLibrary - profile, career highlights and SABR bibliography