Bill Engeln

Bill Engeln
Born
William Raymond Engeln

(1898-09-09)September 9, 1898
DiedApril 17, 1968(1968-04-17) (aged 69)
OccupationUmpire
Years active1952-1956
EmployerNational League

William Raymond Engeln (September 9, 1898 – April 17, 1968) was a professional baseball umpire who worked in the National League from 1952 to 1956. Engeln was the right field umpire in the 1953 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. In his career, he umpired 749 major league games.[1]

Early life and career

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Engeln was born in St. Louis, Missouri and served as a bat boy for the St. Louis Browns when he was young.[2] As an umpire, he spent sixteen seasons (1936 through 1951) in the Pacific Coast League before being promoted to the majors. In 1945, Engeln was surrounded by angry fans after a ninth-inning third strike in a game between the Portland Beavers and Seattle Rainiers. He was attacked by two women who were then led away by police.[3]

Notable games

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Engeln also officiated on July 31, 1954, when Joe Adcock hit four home runs in one game.[4] He was behind the plate a day later when Adcock was hit in the head by a Clem Labine pitch. The pitch precipitated a near-physical confrontation between Jackie Robinson and Lew Burdette as Adcock was carried off the field by stretcher.[5]

Death

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Engeln died in Palo Alto, California on April 17, 1968.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Retrosheet
  2. ^ "No title". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Lewiston, Idaho. August 7, 1952. p. 8. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  3. ^ "Beavers Victors in Two Contests". Bend Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. United Press. June 16, 1945. p. 2. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  4. ^ The Official Major League Baseball Fact Book 2002. The Sporting News. 2002. p. 504. ISBN 0-89204-670-8.
  5. ^ "Adcock Beaned". Associated Press (wirephoto). August 2, 1954. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  6. ^ TSN Umpire Card: Bill Engeln, retrieved June 29, 2012
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