Emmett Littleton Ashford (November 23, 1914 - March 1, 1980), nicknamed "Ash", was the first African American umpire in Major League Baseball, working in the American League from 1966 to 1970. November 23 is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 38 days remaining. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black), is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Home plate umpire Gary Darling signals that the last pitch was a strike In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and meting out discipline. ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in the world. ... American League The American League (or formally the American League of Professional Baseball Clubs) is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States of America and Canada. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Ashford was born in Los Angeles, California. On February 20, 1951 he became an umpire in the Southwestern International League, the first black professional umpire. He went on to umpire in the Pacific Coast League for many years before being hired by the American League in 1961, and on April 1, 1966 he became the first black Major League umpire. He was an outfield umpire for the 1967 All-Star game, and later worked in the 1970 World Series. He remained an umpire until mandatory retirement in 1970. Nickname: City of Angels Motto: Official website: http://www. ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... See also: 1950 in sports, other events of 1951, 1952 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing NASCAR Championship - Herb Thomas AAA Racing: Tony Bettenhausen won the series championship Lee Wallard won the Indianapolis 500 Formula One Championship - Juan Manuel Fangio of Argentina 24 hours of... The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a minor league baseball league operating in the West and Midwest of the United States. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the Midsummer Classic, is an annual exhibition baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by fan vote for the position players and by the manager for pitchers. ... The 1970 World Series was between the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Orioles winning in five games. ...

He brought a new style to being an umpire. He dressed impeccably, wore jewelry, including flashy cuff links, and exaggerated his calls with gestures. While some observers believed that his race prevented him from working in the majors earlier than he did, others maintained that his flashy style actually delayed his major league debut due to general disdain for umpires to draw attention to themselves. Jewelry (the American spelling; spelled jewellery in Commonwealth English) consists of ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. ...

Ashford was honored by a bunch of kids in Washington Heights, a neighborhood in New York City, in the late 1960's, when one of them, Charlie Friedman, took the nickname "Emmett", because of Friedman's spirited umpiring calls in the schoolyard. The honor was extended to the Slater family cat Charlie (Brown), who by extension was also nicknamed "Emmett".

Ashford died at age 65 in Venice, Los Angeles. Venice Beach and Boardwalk Venice, is a district in west Los Angeles, California. ...

References

• Umpiring Timeline. Major League Baseball. URL accessed on February 25, 2005.
• Emmett Ashford. Baseball Fever. URL accessed on February 25, 2005.

February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Further reading

• Adrienne Cherie Ashford (2004). Strrr-ike!!: Emmett Ashford, Major League Umpire, Author House. ISBN 141842790X.