Hank O'Day

Born July 8, 1859, in Chicago, Illinois, was Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher/umpire/manager Hank O'Day. Hank worked as a National League (NL) umpire for 30 seasons between 1895 and 1927.This legend was the umpire in 10 World Series, second only to Bill Klem's total of 18 – including five of the first seven played, and was behind the plate for the first modern World Series game in 1903.. O'Day played on the 1889 World Series Champion New York Giants after a mid-season jump to the team from the Washington Nationals. O’Day made his major league baseball debut in 1884 as a pitcher for the Toledo Blue Stockings. In his seven-year career, O’Day went 73-110 with clubs like the Pittsburgh Alleghenys, Washington Nationals and New York Giants. He is largely known for his controversial decision in a pivotal 1908 game, a ruling that still causes debate today. He was working as the plate umpire in the game between the Cubs and the Giants, which ended when Al Bridwell's apparent walk-off single drove in the apparent winning run. However, baserunner Fred Merkle never advanced from first base to second, in keeping with the common practice of the era. When the Cubs produced a ball – not necessarily the game ball, which had been thrown into the crowd of fans walking across the field to exit the ballpark – and claimed a force play at second base, which would negate the run, the debate erupted.

Jocko Conlan MLB HOF Umpire

Born December 6, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois, was Baseball Hall of Fame Center Fielder Jocko Conlan. This legend played for his hometown Chicago White Sox for two seasons but made the Hall of Fame as an MLB Umpire. Conlan was behind the plate in six World Series and five All-Star games.