Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-20

Boston. Mass.. Dec. 20.
Francis (Silk) O'Loughlin. veteran
American League umpire, died here to-
Day at his home from influenza and
pneumonia
He was born in Rochester, N. Y,
forty-eight years ago, His entry into
baseball came through the assistance of
= relative. stump weldman, a former
league pitcher. After umpiring about
New York State he was assigned to the
Atlantic League by Ed Barrow. now
manag of the Boston Red Sox, who
was then President of that league, Later
OLoughlin was with the Eastern League
-four years and In 1901 was appointed
by Ban Johnson as an America League
umpire.
Since the close of the baseball season
last fall he had been in the service of
the Department of Justice and was as
signed to work In the Boston district.
His widow survives him. .
silk OLoughlin was one OF the most
picturesque figures of the baseball dia-
mond. He was one Of the best
umpires in the history of the anne, with
a comprehensive knowledge of the rules.
keen powers Of Interpretation and alb
solute courage in maintaining discipline.
One of the traditions of the diamond
is that no player ever won a bout at
repartee with O'Loughlin. He always
relished a wordy war, and as long as
The persifiage remained within the realm
OF reason seldom resorted' to the ex-
tremes of his. authority.
Joined League in 1901
o'Loughlin was appointed to the UNI
pire staff of the American League In
1901, M had served continuously since.
He has oficiated In many worlds Sc
rles. =
When still young in the league his
chief pride was In h owe of his vocal
chords He delighted In keeping the
countryside in close touch with the prog
ross of the game. His famous "Strik-
i-i-kc TUH" is one of the watchwords
OF the diamond. He had many tmita-
tors.
) silk always was a favorite with the
fans. His work was consistently good,
although there were times when he had
10 call upon the police to protect him
from the wrath of the fans. In st.
Louis, on one occasion. some sharp
shooting fan calculated the proper range
and DETECTION and SHE'D a pop bottle.
O'Loughlin fell under the blow and was
in a serious condition for a time.
Urged Reforms
He urged certain reforms in the play
ing code from time to time, n some
were adopted by the rules committee.
During the 1907 season, when the
Athletics and Detroit Tigers were run
ming neck and neck for the American
League championship, silk rendered a
decision In the memorable seventeen-in-
ming game staged between the Macks
and Tigers at bid Columbia Park, Phila-
delphIa, late In September. which the
Athletics claimed cost them the cham
pionship.
This game broke the Athletics back
and enabled the Tigers to go into first
place and they maintained that posi-
ton to the finish. That decision became
as famous as the 1908 verdict Hank
\ O'Day made overnight when Fred
Merile forgot to touch second in the
game between the Giants and Cubs at
the Polo Grounds.
Decided Title
That decision also swung a cham
pionship. for tho cubs won the title that
year from the Giants by beating then,
in an extra game. ordered by the Ma
tional League. O'Day's decision caused
the game to end in a tie.
W II was q long time after this incident
at Columbia Park before oLoughlin be-
ynnne popular again with the fans. al
though when he rendered his decision In
that game he was only giving the play
as no saw II. The Athletic Club tried
70 make It warm for o'Loughiin, but
failed to make any impression on Bar
johnson. who stuck to Silk to the finish.
Silk umpired his first worlds series
games in 1905. when tho Cubs and
White Sox FLASHED. He was In many
fnll classics after h