Early Career
In 1951, Ashford took a leave of absence from his post office job to umpire in the Southwestern International League, becoming the first black umpire in organized baseball. When he was offered a full-season umpiring job, Ashford resigned from the postal service.
After the Southwestern International League folded mid-season, Ashford joined the Arizona-Texas League. He moved on to the Western International League in 1953, and was promoted to the Pacific Coast League in 1954.
Ashford spent 12 years in the PCL, and became known for his exuberance, showmanship and energy, even interacting with the crowd between innings. During the off-seasons, Ashford refereed Pac-8 basketball games and college football. He also umpired in the Caribbean winter leagues, and ran several umpiring clinics. In 1963, Ashford was named the PCL's umpire-in-chief, making him responsible for training crews and advising the league on disputed games or rules.
Read more about this topic: Emmett Ashford
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