---

One of the most respected umpires of his era, Harry Wendelstedt enjoyed a 33-year big league career. A lifetime National Leaguer, he officiated seven League Championship Series, five World Series, and four All Star games.

He also called balls and strikes for five no-hitters, including one each by Cardinals great Bob Gibson and Hall of Fame hurler Gaylord Perry. The five no-no’s behind the plate ties Hall of Fame umpire Bill Klem for the all-time NL record.

Wendelstedt’s most memorable call preserved Don Drysdale’s record-setting consecutive scoreless innings streak that would reach 58 2/3. On May 31, 1968 Drysdale faced off against the Giants. With the bases loaded, a 2-2 count, and no out in the 9th inning, a Drysdale pitch struck San Francisco batter Dick Dietz on the elbow.

Wendelstedt immediately ruled that Dietz failed to attempt to get out of the way, calling for Deitz to return to the box with a full count. Dietz flied out and Drysdale finished the inning to keep the streak in tact.

Wendelstedt’s most lasting contribution to the game might be the umpires’ school that bears his name. Founded by Hall of Fame ump Bill McGowan in 1938, the school has been known by the names of the umpires running it.

After McGowan sold the school to fellow arbiter Al Somers in the 1950s, Somers’ name appeared on the marquee. Wendelstedt worked as the chief instructor for Somers before purchasing the school himself in 1977. Since then the school has been synonymous with Wendelstedt, even after his passing in 2012. Today Wendelstedt’s son Hunter, himself an MLB ump since 1998, runs the school. While under the Wendelstedt family’s steady hand, the school has produced more than two dozen big league umpires.

In the collection is this letter from Harry Wendelstedt to Boston Red Sox announcer Dick Stockton. Wendelstedt is looking for a little free adversing from the broadcaster. “Each year it becomes more difficult to attract a quality individual into this profession. Your help would be greatly appreciated. If you could make your audiences aware that there is a need for officials and training for this exciting profession is available, it would be a great aid.”

Weldelstedt sings his own praises in detailing this: “Seventy-five percent of all umpires working in the Major Leagues went to this Dayton Beach school. This is a fact we are very proud of.”

The letter is written on beautiful letterhead from the school and signed boldly at the bottom by Harry Wendelstedt. Some believe that Wendelstedt is due consideration for a plaque in Cooperstown.

---

Umpire Harry Wendelstedt worked many memorable ball games in his 33-year career as a big league umpire. He worked five different World Series spanning three different decades in addition to the five no-hitters he called from behind the plate.

Perhaps the highlight of his career came in his final season in 1998. That year he worked alongside his son, Harry Hunter Wendelstedt III who goes by his middle name Hunter. Harry and Hunter are the only father/son umpire duo to work a big league game together.

For the entirety of his career Harry wore #21. When Harry retired, Hunter took his father’s number. The younger Wendelstedt because a solid umpire in his own right, working the 2015 World Series, Four Divisional Series, four League Championship Series, and the 2011 All Star game.

In the collection is this receipt for Hunter Wendelstedt’s All-Star ring signed by the man who followed his father’s footsteps and became a Major League umpire.