Bob Emslie - Umpire Career

Umpire Career

After his playing career was over, he was attending an International League game, when he was asked to officiate when the assigned umpire fell ill. He then spent the next four years umpiring in three leagues. He was with the International League for the 1888 and 1889 seasons, then began his major league career when he umpired American Association games in 1890. He began the 1891 season in the Western League, but was soon back in the majors, working for the National League, debuting on August 17.

Emslie was involved in many of the game's highlights, including calling four no-hitters. The first one was on August 16, 1893, when Bill Hawke of the Orioles tossed his; the second was Deacon Phillippe's of the Louisville Colonels on May 25, 1899. The third no-hitter came on September 18, 1903 by Chick Fraser of the Philadelphia Phillies, and the fourth was tossed on May 8, 1907, by Francis "Big Jeff" Pfeffer of the Boston Doves.

He also officated on July 13, 1896 when Ed Delahanty become the second player to hit four home runs in one game. By the end of the 1909 season, he began to work the bases almost exclusively, instead of calling games from behind the plate. In all, Emslie served 33 years as an active-duty umpire before retiring at the end of the 1924 season. He then served as NL Chief of Umpires, with the responsibilities of inspecting, scouting, and coaching new umpires.