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6 unusual facts about Bill Klem


Al Barlick

In September 1940, National League umpire Bill Klem was unable to work, so Barlick was hired as a replacement.

Beans Reardon

Reardon had a difficult relationship with longtime NL umpire Bill Klem, the dean of the league staff; the younger umpire insisted upon wearing the outside chest protector used by American League umpires, rather than the inside protector favored by Klem.

Bill Klem

Of the 16 major league teams in existence during his career, all but one—the St. Louis Browns, who would not win a pennant until 1944—appeared in a World Series that he officiated; the only other teams which did not win a championship with Klem on the field were the Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies (neither of which won a title during Klem's lifetime) and the Detroit Tigers.

Klem also dismissed catcher Al Lopez from a game after Lopez pasted, onto home plate, a photo he clipped from a newspaper, which showed Klem clearly in error calling a play involving Lopez.

Butch Henline

After his playing career ended in the minor leagues in 1934, he became a motel operator in Florida, but took up umpiring soon afterward after recalling that Bill Klem had encouraged him to pursue the profession.

Nick Colosi

Colosi wore uniform number 1 for most of his career, the last NL umpire to wear number 1, as it was retired later for Hall-of-Fame umpire Bill Klem.



see also