Arthur Matthew Passarella (December 23, 1909 â€" October 12, 1981) was
an American major league baseball umpire and actor. He worked in the
American League from 1941 to 1942, and again from 1945 to 1953. He
missed two years due to military service in World War II. Passarella
umpired 1,668 major league games in his career. He umpired in three
World Series (1945, 1949 and 1952) and two All-Star Games (1947 and
1951). He appeared in several television shows, including The Streets
of San Francisco, Home Run Derby, Ironside, and Sea Hunt, and in the
movie That Touch of Mink.Passarella's professional umpiring career
began in the 1930s with the Cotton States League. After that league
dissolved, Passarella moved on to the Texas League. He umpired there
for eight years before signing on to the American League.Passarella
joined the American League in 1941, then missed the 1943 and 1944
seasons due to service in the Army during World War II. He served as a
plans and training clerk for a medical training battalion during the
war, receiving a promotion from private first class to technician
fifth grade. Passarella ran what is thought to be the first military
umpire training school; it was conducted for members of his medical
unit. In January 1945, Passarella received an Army discharge. Holding
seniority over newer umpires in the American League, he regained his
umpiring job, which he held until his resignation in 1953.In Game 5 of
the 1952 World Series, Passarella called Johnny Sain out on a play at
first base. Photos of the play showed that Sain had beaten the throw
and first baseman Gil Hodges had taken his foot off the bag before the
ball arrived. Passarella was widely condemned for missing the call,
and was only partially supported by commissioner Ford Frick.
an American major league baseball umpire and actor. He worked in the
American League from 1941 to 1942, and again from 1945 to 1953. He
missed two years due to military service in World War II. Passarella
umpired 1,668 major league games in his career. He umpired in three
World Series (1945, 1949 and 1952) and two All-Star Games (1947 and
1951). He appeared in several television shows, including The Streets
of San Francisco, Home Run Derby, Ironside, and Sea Hunt, and in the
movie That Touch of Mink.Passarella's professional umpiring career
began in the 1930s with the Cotton States League. After that league
dissolved, Passarella moved on to the Texas League. He umpired there
for eight years before signing on to the American League.Passarella
joined the American League in 1941, then missed the 1943 and 1944
seasons due to service in the Army during World War II. He served as a
plans and training clerk for a medical training battalion during the
war, receiving a promotion from private first class to technician
fifth grade. Passarella ran what is thought to be the first military
umpire training school; it was conducted for members of his medical
unit. In January 1945, Passarella received an Army discharge. Holding
seniority over newer umpires in the American League, he regained his
umpiring job, which he held until his resignation in 1953.In Game 5 of
the 1952 World Series, Passarella called Johnny Sain out on a play at
first base. Photos of the play showed that Sain had beaten the throw
and first baseman Gil Hodges had taken his foot off the bag before the
ball arrived. Passarella was widely condemned for missing the call,
and was only partially supported by commissioner Ford Frick.
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