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Bill Summers began umpiring professionally in 1921 in the Eastern League. For the next ten seasons Summers worked in the minor leagues, before getting his shot in 1933 when the major leagues expanded umpiring crews to three men.

By 1936, Summers worked the first of his eight World Series. No American League arbiter ever umpired in more Fall Classics. Summers also set a record by calling balls and strikes in seven all star games. Only two other men, Hall of Famers Al Barlick and Doug Harvey, have umpired in seven mid-Summer Classics.

The singular call for which Summers is best remember was his “Safe!” call when Jackie Robinson attempted to steal home in the 1955 World Series. Yankee catcher Yogi Berra immediately removed his mask and began arguing with the 5’8″ 200 pound Summers.

Summers continued meaningful contributions to the game late in his career as a member of the Rules Committee. There he helped complete a major overhaul of the rulebook with rules being organized into logical subsections.

In 1955 Summers became the Major Leagues’ senior umpire in terms of service, a position he held until he retired after the 1959 World Series. At 63 years old, he was the oldest umpire ever to serve on an American League staff.

Shown here is Summers’ signature along with that of fellow arbiter Douglass “Scotty” Robb. Many believe Bill Summers deserves induction into Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Rumor has it that a grudge-holding Berra did everything in his power to keep Summers out of Cooperstown.

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Two years after he broke baseball’s color barrier, Jackie Robinson became one of a quartet of men to break the same barrier for the All Star Game. That 1949 contest featured Jackie as a starter at second base.

Dodger teammates catcher Roy Campanella and pitcher Don Newcombe also made the National League squad. The American League’s trailblazer was outfielder Larry Doby.

Doby’s Junior Circuit club prevailed in high-scoring 11-7 affair. Joe and Dom DiMaggio each had a double and a single while combining for four RBI and 3 runs scored.

For the losing side, Stan Musial and Ralph Kiner each hit homers in front of the Brooklyn faithful at Ebbets Field.

The AL victory was it’s 12th win in the first 16 All Star contests. Virgil Trucks got the victory despite giving up two runs on three hits in his two innings of work. Working the plate that day was Hall of Fame umpire Al Barlick. Bill Summers joined him as the arbiter at third base.

Shown here is a 14-karat gold wristwatch given to American League President William Harridge. The inscription on the back of the watch reads, “All Star Game Brooklyn, July 12, 1949”.

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Bill Summers was a distinguished figure in Major League Baseball, renowned for his exceptional career as an umpire. Notably, he set a record by officiating in seven All-Star Games, a milestone later matched by Hall of Famer Al Barlick. Summers achieved a remarkable feat by being the sole umpire to call balls and strikes in all seven of those games, an unmatched record in baseball history.

The pinnacle of an umpire’s career is the opportunity to officiate in the World Series, and Summers excelled in this arena as well. No American League umpire worked more World Series than he did, a testament to his skill and reliability. His last two Series were particularly memorable, with both culminating in victories for the Dodgers. In 1955, Summers officiated as Brooklyn triumphed over the New York Yankees in a historic showdown. Four years later, in 1959, he was on hand as the Dodgers, now in Los Angeles, secured a victory against the Chicago White Sox.

Summers’ legacy in baseball endures, not only through his impressive records but also through the respect he garnered as one of the game’s finest umpires. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the history of the sport.

Shown here is a ticket to Game 7 of the 1955 World Series, the only championship the city of Brooklyn knows. It is signed by Hall of Fame outfielder Duke Snider who hit .320 with 4 homers and 7 RBI in the Dodger championship run.

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During Bill Summers’ long and storied umpiring career, he witnessed many of baseball’s most unforgettable moments. One highlight came on June 10, 1959, when Rocky Colavito delivered a remarkable performance, hitting four home runs in four consecutive at-bats.

The achievement was particularly was the first four-homer game since Joe Adcock in 1954. Each swing sent the crowd into a frenzy, and Summers, standing behind the plate, had the unique privilege of calling the game while witnessing history in the making.

Two seasons later Willie Mays matched Colavito with four dingers in April 1961. In all, 18 players have achieved this rare feat, solidifying its place in baseball lore. Colavito’s unforgettable day left an indelible mark on Summers, who often recounted the electrifying atmosphere of that game. Such moments are what make baseball a tapestry of cherished memories, and Summers was fortunate to be a vital part of the game’s legacy.

In the collection is this government postcard signed by Colavito in 1959. The Cleveland postmark is dated April 25, 1959. That day Colavito hit his 90th career homer in a four-run 7th inning against the Chicago White Sox. Seven weeks later he joined Lou Gehrig as the only men in American League history to homer in four straight at bats in a nine-inning game. Colavito also hit a homer in the ’59 All Star game and led the junior circuit with 42 clouts.