Hank O’Day
| Birthdate | 7/8/1859 |
| Death Date | 7/2/1935 |
| Debut Year | 1890 |
| Year of Induction | 2013 |
| Teams | MLB, National League |
| Position | Umpire |
Hank O’Day was behind the plate for the 1st World Series game in 1903. He remains the oldest umpire in big league history at 68 years, 2 months.
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Hank O'Day played 7 big league seasons before embarking on a Hall of Fame umpiring career
Hank O'Day played 7 big league seasons before embarking on a Hall of Fame umpiring career
Hank O’Day go this start in big league baseball in 1884 as a pitcher with the American Association’s Toledo Blue Stockings. He played for 7 seasons, highlighted by his lone 20-win season in 1890. When his playing career was through, he had 73 wins, and 177 complete games. O’Day played three more season in the minors before retiring as a player.
O’Day returned to the NL as an umpire in 1895. So began a 30-year career that landed O’Day in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Along the way he officiated no-hitters in four different decades.
In 1920 he was part of the crew that worked the remarkable Game 5 of the World Series. The contest saw Elmer Smith slug the first grand slam in Series history and Bill Wambsganns complete the Fall Classic’s only unassisted triple play.
O’Day was the home plate umpire for no-hitters in four decades and also umpired the game in 1920 that featured the only unassisted triple play in World Series history – one of 10 World Series appearances.
One of the most respected men in the game, O’Day umpired a total of ten World Series – the second most in MLB history.
O’Day received baseball’s highest honor when he was inducted in 2013. Shown here is the Hall of Fame plaque featuring O’Day, one of nine umpires in Cooperstown.
O'Day worked home plate in the first World Series; Tommy Connolly was the base ump
O'Day worked home plate in the first World Series; Tommy Connolly was the base ump
When the first World Series was played in 1903, the leagues had to agree on who would umpire the contests. The choice from the National League was veteran Hank O’Day. The American League decided upon Tommy Connolly, a veteran of a dozen NL seasons and a member of the AL’s first staff.
There were two umpires on the field; O’Day called balls and strikes with Connolly as the base ump. Cooperstown class of ’53, Connolly umped the first game in American League history and the first contests at both Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park.
Shown here is an index card signed by Connolly.
Bill Klem sent this telegram about the inventor of the hot dog on behalf of Hank O'Day
Bill Klem sent this telegram about the inventor of the hot dog on behalf of Hank O'Day
Bill Klem teamed with Hank O’Day as umpires for the National League. Both would eventually gain induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In this telegram Klem expresses his condolences over the passing of baseball concessionaire and purported inventor of the hot dog, Harry M. Stevens. The telegram, addressed to Stevens’ son reads, “Please accept our heartfelt sympathy in this hour of your bereavement. Mr. Henry O’Day as well as my partner Mr. Stewart have asked me to include their names in this message. Mr. and Mrs. WJ Klem.”
A National League umpire from 1905-1941, Bill Klem worked a big league record 18 World Series. Another less glamorous record held by Klem is his 251 career ejections. No umpire had been elected to the Hall of Fame before Klem and Tom Connolly were inducted in 1953.
