Robert Daniel Emslie was a Canadian pitcher in Major League Baseball who went on to set numerous records for longevity as an umpire.
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17 Facts About Bob Emslie
2.
When "Merkle's boner" occurred, Bob Emslie had already worked more major league games than any umpire in MLB history, then later served as the National League's chief of umpires upon retiring from active umpiring.
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3.
Bob Emslie retired to St Thomas, Ontario and died there on Monday, April 26,1943.
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4.
Bob Emslie began his professional career playing for several semi-professional teams in Ontario until signing on with the Camden, New Jersey team of an early version of the Interstate League for the 1882 season.
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5.
Bob Emslie pitched for them until middle of the 1883 season when he joined the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association.
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6.
Bob Emslie pitched in only four games for the Athletics; his major league playing career was over, and by 1887 his minor league career was through as well.
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7.
Bob Emslie umpired with the International League for the 1888 and 1889 seasons, then began his Major League Baseball career umpiring American Association games in 1890.
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8.
Bob Emslie began the 1891 season in the Western League, but was back in the majors by August 17, working for the National League.
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9.
Bob Emslie was involved in many of the game's highlights, including calling four no-hitters.
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10.
Bob Emslie officiated on July 13,1896, when Ed Delahanty become only the second player to hit four home runs in one game.
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11.
Bob Emslie claimed that he had to duck out of the way of Bridwell's line drive and did not see the play, and home plate umpire Hank O'Day declared Merkle out and the game a tie.
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12.
New York manager John McGraw, with whom Bob had a long and tempestuous history, bestowed upon Emslie his nickname "Blind Bob" after the controversy.
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13.
Later, Bob Emslie showed up at a Giants' practice with a rifle, placed a dime on the pitching mound and shot it from behind home plate, sending the coin spinning into the outfield.
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14.
Bob Emslie was president of the Canadian Grand International Trap Shoot, notably in charge of a large meet in St Thomas, Ontario in December 1916.
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15.
Bob Emslie retired to St Thomas, Ontario, where he coached youth baseball and enjoyed curling, bowling, and golf.
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16.
Bob Emslie died at age 84 in St Thomas, Ontario, and was interred at the St Thomas West Avenue Cemetery.
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17.
Bob Emslie was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.
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