KLEM, William Joseph ("Bill")

(b. 22 February 1874 in Rochester, New York; d. 16 September 1951 in Coral Gables, Florida), National League umpire from 1905 until 1940, and one of eight umpires selected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His ingenuity and dedication shaped the profession more than any other individual.

Klem (originally "Klimm") was born to German parents, Michael Klimm, a cooper, and Elizabeth Ehrmentraut. He grew up in the town of Rochester, and in his teens, he played semiprofessional baseball around Rochester as a first baseman or a catcher. In 1898 arm trouble forced him to give up the game he so loved. He continued to play in the sandlots and took up umpiring. He moved up quickly and first umpired professionally in the Connecticut State League in 1902. He proceeded through the ranks in the New York State League (1903) and the American Association (1904). His friend, major league umpire Silk O'Loughlin, warned him, "Stay away from it. Umpiring is a lousy business." Bill was not discouraged and made his debut as a National League umpire in 1905.

Umpiring has always been a thankless profession. Since the inception of the first professional baseball league in 1876, umpires have been subjected to the taunts of fans, the abuse of managers, and the disrespect of players. Klem came into the profession at a dangerous time. It was not uncommon for umpires to be beaten on the field by angry managers or chased by enraged mobs of fans after the game. Hall of Famer John Ward was said to have gained great respect by "punching the face of the man who dared make a bad call." In 1907 the old adage, "Kill the umpire," almost came true when Billy Evans lay near death for several days as the result of a bottle being thrown by a fan. The constant abuse made for a difficult life for umpires, often leading to alcoholism and depression.

It is questionable whether the quality of umpiring was not deserving of the derision it received. Umpires were little more than ex-ballplayers or citizens who were down on their luck. They had little interest in improving their situation or doing a good job on the field. The low pay (as little as $5 per game) did not attract respectable people to the profession and often left them open to the persuasions of gamblers. Klem's tough-nosed nature and appreciation for the sport helped to change many of the problems with umpiring. His work resulted in better locker facilities and higher wages for all umpires. He was famous for "drawing a line" in the dirt that enraged players and managers were not to cross. Most importantly, his claim to have never missed a call in his heart added a dignity that had been missing in umpiring.

This is not to say he was never surrounded by controversy. Klem's confident nature often irritated those who were on the wrong side of his calls. One archenemy was the great New York Giant manager, John McGraw. After being tossed by Klem from a 1905 game, McGraw attempted to get Klem banished from the National League. Klem replied, "Mr. Manager, if it's possible for you to take my job away from me, I don't want the job." At times Klem's antics on the field bordered on egotism. He was given the nickname of "Catfish" due to some particular facial features. According to catcher Chief Meyers, "All you had to do was call him Catfish and out of the game you'd go. Maybe it was because he had rather prominent lips, and when he'd call a ball or a strike he'd let fly a rather fine spray from his mouth. Sort of gave the general impression of a catfish, you know."

Klem's ingenuity also developed many of the standards of the way umpiring is practiced today. He was the first umpire to institute hand signals so those outside of earshot knew exactly what his call was. He was also the first to use the inside chest protector. Klem said it gave him a better look at the strike zone because it allowed him to get closer to the catcher. The inside chest protector was the standard in the National League for most of the twentieth century and is now mandatory in both leagues.

Klem's record on the field is a testament to his supreme skill as an umpire and the respect he demanded around the league. He umpired strictly behind the plate for sixteen consecutive years due to his natural talent for judging balls and strikes and handling a game professionally. He also umpired in a record eighteen World Series, including five straight from 1911 to 1915. He worked the first All-Star game in 1933. His skill and respect earned him the nickname "The Old Arbitrator."

At a game in 1940, after a difficult call, Klem questioned his own ability. Not willing to continue on past his peak, Klem retired that afternoon. He was so valuable to baseball, however, that from 1941 until his death he served as the National League chief of umpires.

Klem married Marie Kranz in 1910. She traveled everywhere with her husband during his career in order to help banish the loneliness of the road. The two were childless, and they remained married until Klem died of a heart attack in 1951. He is buried in Graceland Memorial Park in Coral Gables.

Klem's hard work, honesty, and confidence helped to make baseball a better game for all involved. At a ceremony to honor Klem at New York's Polo Grounds on 2 September 1949, he professed, "Baseball to me is not a game; it is a religion."

No complete biography of Klem has been written. A great series of articles written by Klem with William J. Slocum appeared in Collier ' s Magazine in 1951. An excerpt is included in Charles Einstein, ed., The Fireside Book of Baseball (1956). A personal portrait of Klem and a reflection on how he was viewed by other umpires is evident in Jocko Conlan with Robert Creamer, Jocko (1967). Klem's clipping and photo files at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library in Cooperstown, New York, are valuable sources of information. Some motion picture clips of Klem are also available at the library. See Klem in action in a film entitled The Hall of Famers: Reel #2, produced by the Hall of Fame. An obituary is in the Sporting News (26 Sept. 1951).

Jeremy Jones