Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-05-13
FINE HAIR GIVES
| SILK NICKNAME
Brother Tackled Monicker on
Famous imp and He
Brought it Into Base
Ball With Him.

"Silk," as Umpire Frank H,
O'Loughlin OF the American league
is known throughout the entire base
ball world, is a native and resident Of
the city OF Rochester, N. Y.
Doubtless many wonder why it is
that O'Loughlin is known by the
nickname of silk" Some guessers
ascribe it to the high quality of his
work, but that is not how he secured
the title When he was young lad
he had long, silky hair which caused
his brother to call him silk" The
other boys were very quick to take
up this, and Silk" it has been from
that day to this.
Started as an Amateur.
silk" began his base ball career
as an amateur in his home city, where
he was connected with some Of the
best amateur teams of that city and
surrounding towns. He played anna
teur ball until the year 1894, when his
general technical knowledge Of the
game was recognized and he was
drafted into the ranks of umpiredom
in somewhat precipitous manner.
The city OF Rochester and vicinity
has always been noted for its SPLEEN
did amateur clubs, and the intense
rivalry that has existed between
teams of that city and the neighbour
ing towns and villages is probably
unsurpassed in any other section of
the country.
In the year Of 1894 the town of
Palmyra had a strong team of pro-
fessionals, among which were
Stump" Weidman, formerly one Of
the old Detroit team and brother
in-law of silk" by the way; Paul
Cook, who was connected with the
Brooklyn brotherhood; Mark Bald
win, Pete Sweeney, and other equally
as good but not as we'll known play
ers. The Palmyras had an important
game scheduled with one of its rivals.
Considerable difficulty had been ex-
perienced here before in procuring
the services OF competent umpire,
as the games were extremely excit-
ing and the rivalry was at fever heat
Made Good From Start.
One of Silks admirers suggested to
the management that he would be
Just the man to officiate as umpire
in this game. He was communicated
with and accepted the position He
gave his decisions clearly, distinctly
and fearlessly, with entire satisfac-
ton to all concerned. He umpired
the rest of the series in the same &C
ceptable manner, and it may be said
that this was the beginning of his
successful career. For the remainder
of that season and for the two sue
ceeding years "Silk" was in constant
| demand as umpire throughout the
state of New York.
In the year 1897 silk" entered
upon his duties as a professional UNI
pire in the Atlantic league, of which
Ed Barrow was president; in 1893 he
was engaged by the New York State
league, and from 1898 to 1902, in.
elusive, he was with the Eastern
league.
Ban Johnson Grabs Him.
| When the American league came
into existence President Johnson,
recognizing the record and career Of
"Silk" as an umpire, engaged him as
one of the first arbiters in that or
ganization and he has been with that
organization ever since. His record
in that organization in this difficult
position is known to every base ball
lover in the country.
Since his connection with that
league he has officiated in the same
fair, fearless and competent manner
which characterized the first game he
umpired in Palmyra heretofore re-
ferred to. On the diamond "Silk" has
a style which is peculiarly his own
His strike "t-u-h," by which he
designates two strikes, is trade.
mark of his own known throughout
J the country.