Nestor Chylak by Herb Wilson
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Nestor Chylak by Herb Wilson onsidered by many to be the nonpa- University of Scranton, but did not fnish his degree.10 “ reil umpire of the Post-War Era. A He wanted to play baseball, but a shoulder injury model of consistency with invariable prevented him from doing so. He decided to try Caccuracy both behind the plate and umpiring.11 In 1946 Chylak began umpiring amateur on the bases.” Tose words on Nestor Chylak’s baseball games in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Baseball Hall of Fame plaque describe him well. An League. He decided to pursue umpiring as a career, American League umpire from 1954 through 1978, beginning in the minor leagues in 1947. He began Chylak was highly respected by managers, players, in the Pony League (1947-1948), moved to the and league ofcials for his skills at keeping the game Canadian-American League (early 1949), the New moving and avoiding being the center of attention.1 England League (1949), and then the Triple-A His posthumous election to the Hall, the eighth International League in 1952-53. On April 13, 1954, umpire so honored, was a testament to his umpiring at Grifth Stadium in Washington, Chylak made accomplishments.2 his debut in the American League. He worked third Chylak was born on May 11, 1922, in Olyphant, base in the 10-inning game, the Senators prevailing Pennsylvania, near Scranton in the northeastern over the Yankees, 5-3.12 part of the state. His parents, of Ukrainian descent, Tus began a major-league career that spanned 25 were Nestor George Chylak Sr. and Nellie (Shipskie) years and 3,857 regular-season games. Chylak was a Chylak, both frst-generation Americans.3 His father home-plate umpire for 974 games.13 He was a crew operated a bar.4 chief for 14 years, mentoring rookie and younger Nestor was the oldest of fve children. He had two umpires.14 sisters, Mae and Julie, and two brothers, Gene and Chylak’s son Bob cited his father’s on-feld de- Joseph, who died at the age of 2.5 meanor as a key to his success. He was decisive, con- Chylak attended Rutgers University briefy in sistent, authoritative, and unfappable. He let players 1939-1940, but his studies were interrupted by mili- have their say and then moved on. Once a manager tary service in World War II.6 A sergeant in an Army or player stopped arguing, he let the dispute drop.15 Ranger battalion, Chylak served in the Army in the Chylak had the baseball rulebook memorized by European theater and was wounded on January 3, paragraph and by section, ensuring that he knew the 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge, when fragments rules cold. His preparation meant he never lost an of a tree hit by shrapnel smashed into his face.7 For argument, even to well-informed managers like Earl 10 days, he could not see, but eventually recovered Weaver.16 Chylak was proud of the fact that he never his eyesight. Chylak was awarded a Purple Heart for threw Weaver out of a game.17 In his 25 years as a his wound and a Silver Star for gallantry in action.8 major-league umpire, Chylak ejected only 24 players, Chylak almost never talked about the horrors of managers, and coaches, and ejection rate among the the battlefeld. His son Bill thought Nestor’s generos- lowest in major-league history.18 ity and kindness to people grew out of his loneliness Chylak’s sense of humor served him well as an on the road, but another son, Bob, said the friends umpire. He had a ready wit. He once said, “Te way their father lost in battle had something to do with I see it, an umpire must be perfect on the frst day it.9 of the season and then get better every day.”19 At Returning to the United States after the war, the Umpire Exhibit at the Hall of Fame, a plaque Chylak briefy resumed his college studies at the gives this Chylak quip: “Tis must be the only job in 11 THE SABR BOOK ON UMPIRES AND UMPIRING a ball a strike once in a while, but never the opposite because it slowed the game down. In a time when selection for postseason and All-Star Games was based on merit, Chylak was chosen to umpire in fve World Series, three League Championship Series, and six All-Star Games. His frst World Series was in 1957, when he worked the left- and right-feld lines for all seven games of the Yankees-Braves Series. Chylak also umpired in the 1960, 1966, 1971, and 1977 World Series, serving as crew chief in 1971 and 1977.26 Chylak umpired in the American League for his whole major-league career; he retired long before the umpiring stafs were consolidated. He was behind the plate for the frst major-league game in Toronto, in Exhibition Stadium in 1977, a contest made memo- rable by a snowstorm during the game. He called balls and strikes in Sandy Koufax’s last major-league contest, Gamne Two of the 1966 World Series.27 Chylak was the plate umpire when Bert Campaneris Nestor Chylak. threw his bat at pitcher Lerrin LaGrow during a 1972 America that everybody knows how to do better than playof game. Nestor ejected both players. the guy who’s doing it.”20 He was the third-base umpire for the 1974 “Ten When Chylak died in 1982, Commissioner Bowie Cent Beer Night” game between Cleveland and the 28 Kuhn said, “Few have ever been more respected in Texas Rangers on June 4, 1974. Te players were his feld. Everyone looked up to him, and I developed doused by beer by midgame. Hundreds of inebri- more respect every time I saw him in a World Series ated fans stormed the feld in the ninth inning. Both or All-Star Game.”21 When Chylak was inducted into teams fed the feld for their own safety. Te fans stole the Hall of Fame, Harmon Killebrew called him “one the bases and threw objects including bottles, rocks, of the best umpires in the American League for years cups, radio batteries and folding chairs. Chylak was and years,” and added, “I think he had a great rapport struck in the head and cut by part of a stadium chair with the players.”22 Jim Palmer said, “I think anybody and also hit in the hand by a rock. Te crew chief, he who ever played while Nestor umpired understood realized that order could not be restored and forfeited 29 how much he loved the game and how much he loved the game (tied at the time) to Texas. people.”23 Brooks Robinson called him “my favorite Chylak’s career ended in Toronto in July 1978 umpire.”24 when he became ill working a night game after a Yogi Berra called Chylak “an umpire’s umpire,” spell of difcult travel. His umpire colleagues asserted saying, “He kept the game under control, but he that he sufered a mild stroke, but family members 30 would also listen to you when you had a beef.”25 But said he was sufering from exhaustion. fellow umpire Don Denkinger said he was “a pitch- After retiring from the feld, Chylak became an er’s umpire.” Chylak’s philosophy was to never call a assistant supervisor of umpires for the American strike a ball. Former player and coach Dick Tracewski League. He was present in Chicago on Disco opined that Chylak thought it was acceptable to call Demolition night, July 12, 1979. Between games disco records were blown up on the feld. Ten thou- 12 THE SABR BOOK ON UMPIRES AND UMPIRING sands of spectators stormed the feld and a riot was 5 Ibid. on. Chylak informed Bill Veeck, the owner of the 6 Gary Bedingfeld, “Nestor Chylak,” http://www.baseballin- White Sox, that the second game could not be played. wartime.com/player_biographies/chylak_nestor.htm. Accessed October 5, 2016 Despite Veeck’s protest, the American League presi- dent Lee MacPhail upheld Chylak’s decision. Te 7 “A Tribute to Nestor Chylak.” next day MacPhail ordered the second game forfeited 8 Kashatus, 64. to Detroit rather than rescheduled. 9 “Te Right Call.” In retirement, Chylak became a member of the 10 Kashatus, 40. 31 Sports Illustrated Speakers’ Bureau, speaking about 11 “A Tribute to Nestor Chylak.” the intangible lessons he had learned from his years 12 Kashatus, 56-57. See Retrosheet.org for details on each game of umpiring baseball. His son Bill said that his father Chylak’s major-league career. was the biggest politician on behalf of baseball there 13 Sean Lahman, Te Baseball Archive, seanlahman.com/baseball- ever was. archive/statistics/. Accessed October 4, 2014. Chylak’s frst Chylak gave baseballs, bats, and other memorabilia assignment working the plate was in the frst game of a double- header at Fenway Park on April 18, 1954. to friends, family, and sometimes even total strangers. 14 “A Tribute to Nestor Chylak.” Chylak visited patients in the Veterans Hospital in Plains, Pennsylvania, each week. During the ofseason 15 Kashatus, 88. he spoke to Little Leaguers, Boy Scouts, and others 16 Krawczeniuk, “Brooks Says Nestor Was the Best,” Scranton Sunday Times, July 25, 1999. without charge.32 As evidenced by baseballs and cards signed by Chylak on auction on eBay, Chylak signed 17 Bob Chylak, text of Hall of Fame induction speech, July 25, 1999, chylak.maslar-online.com/. his autograph with the words “Play Hard and Fair.” 18 retrosheet.org/boxesetc/index.html#Umpires.