Beans Reardon
Given Name: John
1897-1984
Umpire
One of baseball's most colorful umpires, Reardon acquired his nickname because he
was raised in Boston. He was famous for heavy language and heavy beer drinking. In
1946 Anheuser-Busch awarded him a lucrative franchise in Los Angeles.
One day Reardon
ejected Frankie Frisch from a game in Pittsburgh and ran into him later that evening
in a hotel pub. They had a few beers together, and Frisch told Reardon about his
new Packard automobile. Beans asked if he could take it for a spin. Frisch reluctantly
agreed. When Reardon got to the hotel garage, he found the Packard out of gas and
had the attendant call Frisch to replenish the supply. Reardon remembered, "That
day it cost him a $50 fine for the ejection, five rounds of beer, and a tank of gas."
Another of Reardon's friends was actress Mae West, and he appeared in many of her
movies. Reardon worked many important and historic games. He was behind the plate
when Babe Ruth hit his 714th and final home run.
(RTM)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
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| » April 15, 1936: The Giants Harry Gumbert defeats the Dodgers Van Lingle Mungo, 5–3, in a game the features a fine brawl between Mungo and Dick Bartell. On an unassisted ground out to 1B Buddy Hassett, Mungo comes over to cover the bag and gives a hard block to the batter Bartell, Rowdy Richard goes flying and comes up swinging. Umpire Beans Reardon races over and pries the two combatants apart, then tosses them. Tomorrow they get a fine from Frick.
» November 23, 1944: Five groups totaling 23 players, managers, umpires,
and writers visit war theaters as part of the USO
program. Included are Mel Ott, Dutch Leonard, Frankie Frisch, Bucky Walters, Harry Heilmann, Carl Hubbell,
Freddie Fitzsimmons, Bill Summers, Beans Reardon,
Johnny Lindell, Tuck Stainback, Steve O'Neill, Leo Durocher, Joe Medwick, Nick Etten, Dixie Walker, Paul
Waner, and Rip Sewell.
» July 20, 1947:
The choice rhubarb of the year occurs when umpire Beans Reardon signals that Ron Northey's long fly has gone into the stands. Northey jogs around the bases only to discover C Bruce Edwards awaiting him with the ball. The Cardinals protest is upheld, but the Dodgers will win the replay.
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