Chosen at end on Walter Camp's last All-America team, Lafayette star Berry played
both baseball and football on a ML level. In 1925-26 he starred for Pottsville of
the NFL, leading the league in scoring in '25 with 74 points. His ML baseball career
was longer but less distinguished, mostly as a reserve. He became an AL umpire in
1942 and remained for 21 years. At the same time he was a head linesman for the NFL,
officiating in 12 championship games. In 1958, he umpired in the WS and later that
year served as head linesman for the famous "Sudden Death" championship game between
the Colts and Giants. His father, Charles Joseph Berry, played for three ML teams
in 1884.
(RTM)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»April 22, 1931:
Babe Ruth collides with Charlie Berry, Red Sox catcher
and former pro football player, while trying to score
on a sacrifice fly. Ruth is carried off
the field at Fenway Park and taken to a hospital.
»May 30, 1932:
At Cleveland, the Tribe takes a pair from the White Sox, 12–6 and 12–11. Afterwards, Chicago claims the umpire George Moriarty deliberately made wrong calls and the ump fights with Sox players under the stands. Moriarty breaks his fist knocking down pitcher Milt Gaston, but he is pummeled by manager Lew Fonseca and catchers Charlie Berry and Frank Grube. The ump ends up in the hospital while Fonseca and three players will receive fines for the fight. Will Harridge will suspend Gaston for 10 days, fine him $500, and rebuke Moriarty.
»December 12, 1933:
Connie Mack is still selling. First he sells Lefty Grove, the A's top winner in each of the past five seasons, along with Max Bishop, and George Walberg to the Boston Red Sox for $125,000 and two players, pitcher Bob Kline and infielder Rabbit Wartsler. Then George Earnshaw and recently acquired backstop Johnny Pasek go to the White Sox for $20,000 and catcher Charlie Berry. Berry once led the NFL in scoring and will become a ML umpire in the 1940's.
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