George Moriarty
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George Joseph Moriarty (June 7, 1884 – April 8, 1964) was an American third baseman, umpire and manager in Major League Baseball from 1903 to 1940. He played for the Chicago Cubs, New York Highlanders, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox from 1903 to 1916.
Moriarty was born in Chicago, Illinois, where he grew up near the Union Stock Yards.[1] He made his major league debut on September 7, 1903 at the age of 19 with the Cubs. His final game was on May 4, 1916 with the White Sox.
Afterward, he became an American League umpire from 1917 to 1940, interrupted only by a 2-year stint as manager of the Tigers in 1927-28. He was one of the AL's most highly regarded umpires in his era, officiating in the World Series in 1921, 1925, 1930, 1933 and 1935, serving as crew chief in 1930 and 1935, as well as the All-Star game in 1934.
On Memorial Day in 1932, Moriarty worked behind the plate for a Cleveland Indians home game against the White Sox; when several Chicago players took exception to his calls, he challenged them to settle the dispute under the stands after the game. Pitcher Milt Gaston took on the challenge, whereupon Moriarty knocked him flat, breaking his hand. Several White Sox, including manager Lew Fonseca and catcher and future AL umpire Charlie Berry, then proceeded to take on the official. The next day, AL president Will Harridge issued numerous fines, as well as a 10-day suspension for Gaston.[1]
It is reported that once while Moriarty was umpiring, Babe Ruth, who was at bat, stepped out of the batter's box and asked Moriarty to spell his last name. When he had spelled it out, Ruth reportedly replied, "Just as I thought; only one I."
Despite his combative field persona, off the field Moriarty could be more congenial, maintaining close friendships with Jesuit priests at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts. On the other hand, in 1944 divorce proceedings his wife stated that "His attitude toward the next-door neighbors was of intense hatred for no reason whatever. One time he heard the neighbor's radio. He was so angry he carried our radio to the open window next to the neighbor and turned it on full blast for about three hours." He joined the AL public relations staff after retiring from field duties, and later became a scout for the Tigers – helping to discover such players as Harvey Kuenn and Billy Hoeft – before retiring in December 1958. He died at the age of 79 in Miami, Florida.[1] He is also remembered today for being the grandfather of actor and former Law & Order star Michael Moriarty, who also played pitcher Henry Wiggen in the 1973 baseball movie Bang the Drum Slowly.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- Retrosheet
| Preceded by Ty Cobb |
Detroit Tigers Manager 1927–1928 |
Succeeded by Bucky Harris |
| Preceded by Bill Coughlin |
Detroit Tigers Third Basemen 1909-1911 1913-1914 |
Succeeded by Charlie Deal |
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