Chris Pelekoudas
Encyclopedia
Christos George Pelekoudas (January 23, 1918 - November 30, 1984) was an American
umpire
in Major League Baseball
who worked in the National League
from 1960 to 1975.
Born in Chicago, Illinois into a family of 14 children, Pelekoudas graduated from Crane Tech High School
. He had an unsuccessful tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals
as a player in 1934. He began umpiring while serving as an Army
Special Services
officer during World War II
, and eventually worked his way up to the NL after stops in the Eastern Shore
(1948), Interstate
(1949), Western
(1950–52) and Pacific Coast League
s (1953–59). He worked in the World Series
in 1966
and 1972
, serving as crew chief the second time, and in the All-Star Game
in 1961 (second game), 1967 and 1975. He also officiated in the National League Championship Series
in 1969
and 1973
. He is perhaps best remembered for ordering an apparent Hank Aaron home run
nullified on August 18, 1965 because Aaron stepped out of the batter's box when he made contact; the umpire had warned Aaron on the previous two pitches. As a result, Aaron's home run record eventually stood at 755, instead of 756.
Pelekoudas was also the first umpire to eject Gaylord Perry
from a game for using an illegal greasy substance on the ball. He was the home plate umpire when Willie Mays
hit four home runs
on April 30, 1961. He was the third base umpire when Sandy Koufax
pitched his second no-hitter
on May 11, 1963, and was the first base umpire for Koufax's perfect game
on September 9, 1965. Pelekoudas umpired in six no-hitters in all, but was never behind the plate for one. He was also an umpire for the first game ever held at Shea Stadium
on April 4, 1964.
Pelekoudas, who lived in Sunnyvale, California
for most of his career, died there of heart failure at age 66, three weeks after suffering a stroke
. He had married Jane Papangellin on April 28, 1946, and they had a daughter and a son; his brother Perry was also an umpire, working in the minor leagues, and his son Lee
worked in the Seattle Mariners
for 30 years. In the 1998 book Baseball's Golden Greeks by Diamantis Zervos
, Jim Campanis
describes a Greek moment in baseball when he was batting against Cincinnati Reds
pitcher Milt Pappas
, with Alex Grammas
the third base coach and Pelekoudas calling balls and strikes behind the plate.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who worked in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
from 1960 to 1975.
Born in Chicago, Illinois into a family of 14 children, Pelekoudas graduated from Crane Tech High School
Crane High School (Illinois)
Richard T. Crane Technical Preparatory High School, commonly known as Crane Tech Prep or Crane Tech High School, is a public high school in Chicago, Illinois. It is located at 2245 West Jackson Boulevard in Chicago's Near West Side community area....
. He had an unsuccessful tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
as a player in 1934. He began umpiring while serving as an Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Special Services
United States Special Operations Forces
United States Special Operations Forces under United States Special Operations Command are active and reserve component forces of U.S. Military...
officer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and eventually worked his way up to the NL after stops in the Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore Baseball League
The Eastern Shore Baseball League was a Class D minor league baseball league that operated on the Delmarva Peninsula for parts of three different decades. The league's first season was in 1922 and the last was in 1949, although the years were not consecutive, and featured teams from Maryland,...
(1948), Interstate
Interstate League
The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952. The longest tenured of these was the last incarnation, which played in the Middle Atlantic States from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor...
(1949), Western
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
(1950–52) and Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
s (1953–59). He worked in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in 1966
1966 World Series
The 1966 World Series matched the Baltimore Orioles against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Orioles sweeping the Series in four games to capture their first championship in franchise history...
and 1972
1972 World Series
The 1972 World Series matched the American League champion Oakland Athletics against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds, with the A's winning in seven games. These two teams would meet again in the fall classic eighteen years later...
, serving as crew chief the second time, and in the All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in 1961 (second game), 1967 and 1975. He also officiated in the National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
in 1969
1969 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 4, 1969 at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Mets struck first in the second off Phil Niekro when Jerry Grote singled in a run and Ken Boswell scored on a passed ball by Braves catcher Bob Didier...
and 1973
1973 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 6, 1973 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe starting pitchers, New York's Tom Seaver and Cincinnati's Jack Billingham, produced a classic pitcher's duel in Game 1. The Mets threatened in the first, loading the bases with one out, but Cleon Jones grounded into a...
. He is perhaps best remembered for ordering an apparent Hank Aaron home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
nullified on August 18, 1965 because Aaron stepped out of the batter's box when he made contact; the umpire had warned Aaron on the previous two pitches. As a result, Aaron's home run record eventually stood at 755, instead of 756.
Pelekoudas was also the first umpire to eject Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Jackson Perry is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1962-1983 for eight different teams in his career. During a 22-year baseball career, Perry compiled 314 wins, 3,534 strikeouts, and a 3.11 earned run average...
from a game for using an illegal greasy substance on the ball. He was the home plate umpire when Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
hit four home runs
MLB hitters with four home runs in one game
Writers of Sporting News described hitting four home runs in a single Major League Baseball game as "baseball's greatest single-game accomplishment". Fifteen players have accomplished the feat to date. No player has done this more than once in his career and no player has ever hit more than four...
on April 30, 1961. He was the third base umpire when Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
pitched his second no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
on May 11, 1963, and was the first base umpire for Koufax's perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
on September 9, 1965. Pelekoudas umpired in six no-hitters in all, but was never behind the plate for one. He was also an umpire for the first game ever held at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
on April 4, 1964.
Pelekoudas, who lived in Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is one of the major cities that make up the Silicon Valley located in the San Francisco Bay Area...
for most of his career, died there of heart failure at age 66, three weeks after suffering a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. He had married Jane Papangellin on April 28, 1946, and they had a daughter and a son; his brother Perry was also an umpire, working in the minor leagues, and his son Lee
Lee Pelekoudas
Lee Pelekoudas is a former executive with the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball club, most notable for serving as the club's interim general manager from June 16–October 21,...
worked in the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for 30 years. In the 1998 book Baseball's Golden Greeks by Diamantis Zervos
Diamantis Zervos
Diamantis Zervos was born in Athens, Greece, to Michael Zervos and Anastasia . Zervos is best known for writing the book "Baseball's Golden Greeks." Zervos came to the United States with his family in 1971. At the age of 15,...
, Jim Campanis
Jim Campanis
James Alexander Campanis , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a catcher from 1966–1970 and 1973...
describes a Greek moment in baseball when he was batting against Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
pitcher Milt Pappas
Milt Pappas
Milton Steven "Milt" Pappas is a former professional baseball pitcher...
, with Alex Grammas
Alex Grammas
Alexander Peter Grammas is a former Major League infielder and manager. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Grammas played in the National League for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs. He finished his career with a .969 overall fielding percentage...
the third base coach and Pelekoudas calling balls and strikes behind the plate.