Books and articles about George Moriarty

Moriarty spent fifty years in baseball, making his most indelible contribution as a tough and colorful American League umpire for 22 years. As a player, he was a good fielder but only ordinary at bat. His strength was his baserunning. He accumulated 248 lifetime thefts, with a season high of 34 for the AL 1909 champion Tigers, and stole home 11 times in his career. He joined the AL umpiring staff two years after he retired. In 1927 he took time off to manage the Tigers, succeeding his former teammate Ty Cobb. He led Detroit to fourth place in his first season but after they dropped to sixth in 1928, he returned to umpiring.

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RELATED LINKS Book Excerpts » "When [Moriarty] was umpiring on third base... he coached me on how to take a lead so I could steal home": Hank Greenberg » "Moriarty took over as manager and he hated Cobb's guts ... but Moriarty was one guy [Cobb would] never challenge because Moriarty was a tough cookie": Charlie Gehringer

While wearing the blue, he was the object of one of Jimmy Dykes's most famous jibes. He called a third strike on Dykes, who then asked: "How do you spell your name?" Moriarty spelled it out. "That's what I thought," said Dykes. "Only one `i.' " When the White Sox disputed his decisions one day, Moriarty challenged them all to a fight under the stands. He decked the one player who dared step forward, breaking his hand on the player's jaw. He retired as an umpire in 1940 and joined the AL public relations staff. His final job in baseball was as a Tigers scout. His brother Bill was a Reds shortstop for six games in 1909. (RTM/JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 11, 1907: At Washington, a record crowd of 12,902 watch the Highlanders' Al Orth beat his old team, the Nationals, 3-2. Long Tom Hughes, one of the players New York traded for Orth, is the losing pitcher. Hal Chase skips the opener because of a salary disagreement, and George Moriarty plays 1B for New York. » May 17, 1909: Red Sox catcher Bill Carrigan and Detroit infielder George Moriarty earn a suspension by AL Prexy Ban Johnson for their fight in a game in Detroit. » July 22, 1912: Walter Johnson beats Detroit and strikes out the first five batters (Davy Jones, Donie Bush, Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Charlie Deal) in the game. He then gives up a double to George Moriarty before striking out Baldy Louden. » August 3, 1914: Against Detroit in the 2nd inning, Les Nunamaker, Yankees catcher, becomes the only man in the 20th century to throw out three would-be base stealers in an inning, nipping Donie Bush, George Moriarty and Hugh High. New York still loses to Detroit, 4–1. » November 3, 1926: Ty Cobb resigns as Tigers manager and announces his retirement from the game. American League umpire and former Tigers IF George Moriarty replaces him. Moriarty is the only man to hold baseball's four principal jobs: player, umpire, scout, and manager. » October 17, 1928: George Moriarty resigns as Tigers manager and is replaced by ousted Washington skipper Bucky Harris. Moriarty will return to the ranks of the AL umpires. » August 8, 1931: Washington's Bobby Burke, a little-known lefthander, throws a 5–0 no-hitter against Boston. Burke will finish the year eight and 3, the best mark of his 10-year career. "Burke didn't throw more than a half dozen curves all afternoon," said plate umpire George Moriarty. » 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. » October 4, 1935: AL umpire George Moriarty chases Chicago manager Charlie Grimm and SS Billy Jurges in the 3rd inning. After Chicago ties the game in the bottom of the 9th, Detroit scores an unearned run to win in 11. » December 13, 1940: Vet ump George Moriarty is removed from active staff and transferred to the American League promotional department.