Nestor George Chylak Jr. (/ˈtʃaɪlæk/; May 11, 1922 – February 17, 1982) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1954 to 1978. He umpired in three ALCS (1969, 1972, 1973), serving as crew chief in 1969 and 1973. He also called five World Series (1957, 1960, 1966, 1971, 1977), serving as the crew chief in 1971 (in which he worked home plate in the decisive Game 7) and 1977. He also worked in six All-Star Games: 1957, 1960 (both games), 1964, 1973 and 1978, working home plate in the second 1960 game and in 1973.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in Europe. He suffered shrapnel injuries in Battle of the Bulge, which blinded him for several days and hospitalized him for eight weeks.[3] He earned both the Silver Star and Purple Heart during his service. After the war, he began umpiring amateur baseball in 1946, and returned briefly to college.[1]
Chylak worked the first American League Championship Series in 1969. On June 4, 1974, he was on the field in Cleveland for "Ten Cent Beer Night".[5] The Cleveland Indians had been struggling with low attendance figures, resulting in this promotion that attracted more than 25,000 fans to the game. Fans became unruly and incited fights with the players, sometimes pouring beer on them. Chylak declared the game a forfeit after he sustained a facial wound from being hit with a chair.[1]
Chylak at home plate during the inaugural game of the Toronto Blue Jays franchise. At bat is Ralph Garr of the Chicago White Sox, and catching for the Blue Jays is Rick Cerone.
After retiring from the field in 1978, he became an assistant league supervisor of umpires. Chylak was in the umpire's dressing room at Comiskey Park on Disco Demolition Night, a July 12, 1979, doubleheader between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox. Between the games of the doubleheader, unruly fans rioted. Because of damage to the field, the umpires refused to allow the second game to be played. When American League president Lee MacPhail decided the White Sox must forfeit the second game, Chylak was the one who informed White Sox owner Bill Veeck.[6]
According to family, his most memorable game was umpiring the 1960 World Series when on October 13, Bill Mazeroski hit a home run off reliever Ralph Terry at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. This was the only homer to end a World Series game 7 in major league history.
With a total of 31 career ejections he was also credited with never throwing Baltimore Manager Earl Weaver out of a game
Retirement
Following his retirement, he became a member of the Sports Illustrated Speakers' Bureau and addressed a wide variety of groups, "talking about the intangible lessons he learned during his years in baseball".[7] Chylak died in his sleep at age 59 in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, and was survived by his wife Sue, his sons Robert and William, and three siblings.[4]
Legacy
Upon his death, Bowie Kuhn said that "few have ever been more respected in his field than Mr. Chylak."[4] AL president Lee MacPhail said, "He was considered an outstanding teacher and certainly one of the finest umpires in major league baseball in modern times. We are sure he will be a candidate for eventual Hall of Fame recognition... Baseball has lost a wonderful friend and a great umpire."[4] He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1999.[8]
In 2013, the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award honored Chylak as one of 37 Baseball Hall of Fame members for his service in the United States Army during World War II.[9]
^Crowe, Jerry (November 10, 2010). "For these athletes, being a veteran was much more than just having experience". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
Kashatus, William C. (2002). Diamonds in the Coalfields: 21 Remarkable Baseball Players, Managers, and Umpires from Northeast Pennsylvania. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN978-0-7864-1176-4.
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Nestor George Chylak Jr ˈ tʃ aɪ l ae k May 11 1922 February 17 1982 was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1954 to 1978 He umpired in three ALCS 1969 1972 1973 serving as crew chief in 1969 and 1973 He also called five World Series 1957 1960 1966 1971 1977 serving as the crew chief in 1971 in which he worked home plate in the decisive Game 7 and 1977 He also worked in six All Star Games 1957 1960 both games 1964 1973 and 1978 working home plate in the second 1960 game and in 1973 Nestor ChylakUmpireBorn 1922 05 11 May 11 1922Olyphant Pennsylvania U S Died February 17 1982 1982 02 17 aged 59 Dunmore Pennsylvania U S debut1954Last appearance1978Career highlights and awardsSpecial Assignments All Star Game 1957 1960 1960 1964 1973 and 1978 ALCS 1969 1972 1973 World Series 1957 1960 1966 1971 1977 Member of the NationalBaseball Hall of FameInduction1999Election methodVeterans CommitteeMilitary careerPlace of burialSS Cyril and Methodius Catholic CemeteryPeckville Pennsylvania U S Allegiance United StatesService wbr branch United States ArmyYears of service1942 1945Battles warsWorld War II Battle of the Bulge 1944 45 AwardsSilver Star 1 Purple Heart 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Retirement 4 Legacy 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditChylak was born in Olyphant Pennsylvania His parents Nestor Sr and Nellie were of Ukrainian descent Chylak was the first of their five children 1 He attended the University of Scranton where he studied engineering 2 During World War II he served in the U S Army in Europe He suffered shrapnel injuries in Battle of the Bulge which blinded him for several days and hospitalized him for eight weeks 3 He earned both the Silver Star and Purple Heart during his service After the war he began umpiring amateur baseball in 1946 and returned briefly to college 1 Career EditAfter a year in amateur baseball Chylak moved into the minor leagues as a Pennsylvania Ontario New York League umpire He spent several more minor league seasons in the Canadian American League the New England League and the Eastern League He debuted in the major leagues in 1954 1 Chylak said that two of his greatest thrills occurred in the early to mid 1960s In the 1960 World Series he was umpiring when Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates hit the home run that allowed the Pirates to defeat the New York Yankees He worked Sandy Koufax s final game in the 1966 World Series in which Koufax and the Dodgers faced the Baltimore Orioles and Jim Palmer 4 Chylak worked the first American League Championship Series in 1969 On June 4 1974 he was on the field in Cleveland for Ten Cent Beer Night 5 The Cleveland Indians had been struggling with low attendance figures resulting in this promotion that attracted more than 25 000 fans to the game Fans became unruly and incited fights with the players sometimes pouring beer on them Chylak declared the game a forfeit after he sustained a facial wound from being hit with a chair 1 Chylak at home plate during the inaugural game of the Toronto Blue Jays franchise At bat is Ralph Garr of the Chicago White Sox and catching for the Blue Jays is Rick Cerone He was the home plate umpire for the first major league game played by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977 during a snowstorm at Exhibition Stadium against the Chicago White Sox After retiring from the field in 1978 he became an assistant league supervisor of umpires Chylak was in the umpire s dressing room at Comiskey Park on Disco Demolition Night a July 12 1979 doubleheader between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox Between the games of the doubleheader unruly fans rioted Because of damage to the field the umpires refused to allow the second game to be played When American League president Lee MacPhail decided the White Sox must forfeit the second game Chylak was the one who informed White Sox owner Bill Veeck 6 According to family his most memorable game was umpiring the 1960 World Series when on October 13 Bill Mazeroski hit a home run off reliever Ralph Terry at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh This was the only homer to end a World Series game 7 in major league history With a total of 31 career ejections he was also credited with never throwing Baltimore Manager Earl Weaver out of a gameRetirement EditFollowing his retirement he became a member of the Sports Illustrated Speakers Bureau and addressed a wide variety of groups talking about the intangible lessons he learned during his years in baseball 7 Chylak died in his sleep at age 59 in Dunmore Pennsylvania and was survived by his wife Sue his sons Robert and William and three siblings 4 Legacy EditUpon his death Bowie Kuhn said that few have ever been more respected in his field than Mr Chylak 4 AL president Lee MacPhail said He was considered an outstanding teacher and certainly one of the finest umpires in major league baseball in modern times We are sure he will be a candidate for eventual Hall of Fame recognition Baseball has lost a wonderful friend and a great umpire 4 He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1999 8 In 2013 the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award honored Chylak as one of 37 Baseball Hall of Fame members for his service in the United States Army during World War II 9 See also Edit Baseball portalList of Major League Baseball umpiresNotes Edit a b c d McIntyre Danielle Chylak Nestor George Jr Pennsylvania Center for the Book Archived from the original on May 15 2013 Retrieved November 27 2014 Kashatus 2002 p 40 Crowe Jerry November 10 2010 For these athletes being a veteran was much more than just having experience Los Angeles Times Retrieved January 21 2017 a b c d Chylak former ump dies Ellensburg Daily Record Ellensburg Wash February 18 1982 Retrieved November 27 2014 via Google News Archive Castrovince Anthony June 4 2014 Forty years ago 10 cent beer makes memories MLB com Major League Baseball Retrieved January 21 2017 Nestor Chylak National Baseball Hall of Fame National Baseball Hall of Fame Retrieved April 23 2017 Kashatus 2002 p 126 Kashatus 2002 p 88 WWII HOF Players Act of Valor Award References EditKashatus William C 2002 Diamonds in the Coalfields 21 Remarkable Baseball Players Managers and Umpires from Northeast Pennsylvania Jefferson North Carolina McFarland amp Company ISBN 978 0 7864 1176 4 External links EditNestor Chylak at the Baseball Hall of Fame Retrosheet Nestor Chylak at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nestor Chylak amp oldid 1136103372, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
