Satch Davidson
Encyclopedia
David "Satch" Davidson was a National Major League Baseball
umpire
starting in 1969 until forced to retire in 1984 due to back problems. During his career, Davidson was behind the plate for Hank Aaron's 715th home run
which broke Babe Ruth
's career record and called the game in which Carlton Fisk
hit a game-winning home run in game 6 of the 1975 World Series
. Davidson wore uniform number 4 when the National League adopted umpire uniform numbers in 1970.
Davidson was born on January 18, 1936, in London, Ohio
and attended Wilmington College and Ohio State University
. His nickname came from his being a fan of the character "Sach" played by Huntz Hall
in the 1940s films featuring The Bowery Boys
.
He played professional football and was a catcher in the minor leagues for the Columbus Jets
in 1961 before becoming an umpire in the New York – Penn League in 1966 and in the Eastern League in the following two seasons. Promoted to the National League
in 1969 after only three years umpiring minor league baseball
, Davidson was the home plate umpire for the pair of no-hitter
s thrown on consecutive days during the first month of play that season at Crosley Field
when Jim Maloney
of the Cincinnati Reds
no-hit the Houston Astros
and on May 1 when Don Wilson pitched a no-hitter for the Astros against the Reds. He would be umpire for three other no-hitters during his career.
On April 8, 1974, in a game played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
, Davidson was the home plate umpire when Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run, making sure he touched home plate as teammates came out of the dugout to congratulate him. He recalled that the stadium, which had been packed at the start of the game, was half empty by the seventh inning after the record was broken and said he "respected Hank because of the way he played and conducted himself" and that "it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy".
Davidson was home plate umpire during Game 6 of the 1975 World Series
, with the Cincinnati Reds up three games to two over the Boston Red Sox
in a game played at Fenway Park
. The Reds had taken a 6–3 lead, but the Red Sox tied the game with a three-run home run by Bernie Carbo
in the bottom of the seventh inning. The game went into extra innings and remained tied until the 12th inning when Carlton Fisk
hit a pitch off of Pat Darcy
of the Reds. In one of baseball's most iconic moments, Fisk waved his arms as if trying to keep the ball fair, before the ball hit the foul pole and was called a home run, winning the game for Boston. Davidson was the one who called it a home run, saying he had a better view of the ball than the umpires at third base and in left field.
Davidson was also an umpire at the 1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
and for the 1982 World Series
, in addition to being part of the umpiring crew for the National League Championship Series
in 1971
, 1974
, 1978
and 1981
. He retired from baseball in 1985, citing back problems.
Davidson also officated on April 17, 1976 when Mike Schmidt
hit four home run
s in one game.
During the baseball off season, Davidson was a police officer in his home town of London, Ohio. Davidson also spent 21 years as a NCAA basketball referee. He was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
A resident of Houston for 27 years, Davidson died there at age 75 on August 21, 2010. he was survived by his wife, Lynn, as well as by three daughters, a son and five grandchildren.
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...
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...
starting in 1969 until forced to retire in 1984 due to back problems. During his career, Davidson was behind the plate for Hank Aaron's 715th 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...
which broke Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
's career record and called the game in which Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
hit a game-winning home run in game 6 of the 1975 World Series
1975 World Series
The 1975 World Series was played between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds . It has been ranked by ESPN as the second-greatest World Series ever played...
. Davidson wore uniform number 4 when the National League adopted umpire uniform numbers in 1970.
Davidson was born on January 18, 1936, in London, Ohio
London, Ohio
London is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Ohio, United States. Located about southwest of the Ohio capital of Columbus, London was established in 1811 to serve as the county seat. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,771, an increase from 7,807 in 1990. It is the...
and attended Wilmington College and Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. His nickname came from his being a fan of the character "Sach" played by Huntz Hall
Huntz Hall
Henry Richard "Huntz" Hall was an American radio, theatrical, and motion picture performer noted primarily for his roles in the "Dead End Kids" movies, such as Angels with Dirty Faces , which gave way to the "The Bowery Boys" movie franchise, a prolific and highly successful series of comedies in...
in the 1940s films featuring The Bowery Boys
The Bowery Boys
The Bowery Boys were fictional New York City characters who were the subject of feature films released by Monogram Pictures from 1946 through 1958....
.
He played professional football and was a catcher in the minor leagues for the Columbus Jets
Columbus Jets
The Columbus Jets were a Minor League baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio from 1955 to 1970. The team moved from Ottawa, Canada where they were known as the Ottawa Athletics. The Jets were a member of the International League. From 1955-56 they were the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City...
in 1961 before becoming an umpire in the New York – Penn League in 1966 and in the Eastern League in the following two seasons. Promoted to 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...
in 1969 after only three years umpiring minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, Davidson was the home plate umpire for the pair of 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"...
s thrown on consecutive days during the first month of play that season at Crosley Field
Crosley Field
Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1912 through June 24, 1970, and the original Cincinnati Bengals football team, members of the second and third American Football League...
when Jim Maloney
Jim Maloney
James William Maloney is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cincinnati Reds and California Angels...
of the 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....
no-hit the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and on May 1 when Don Wilson pitched a no-hitter for the Astros against the Reds. He would be umpire for three other no-hitters during his career.
On April 8, 1974, in a game played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...
, Davidson was the home plate umpire when Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run, making sure he touched home plate as teammates came out of the dugout to congratulate him. He recalled that the stadium, which had been packed at the start of the game, was half empty by the seventh inning after the record was broken and said he "respected Hank because of the way he played and conducted himself" and that "it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy".
Davidson was home plate umpire during Game 6 of the 1975 World Series
1975 World Series
The 1975 World Series was played between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds . It has been ranked by ESPN as the second-greatest World Series ever played...
, with the Cincinnati Reds up three games to two over the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in a game played at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. The Reds had taken a 6–3 lead, but the Red Sox tied the game with a three-run home run by Bernie Carbo
Bernie Carbo
Bernardo 'Bernie' Carbo is a former outfielder and designated hitter who played from through for the Cincinnati Reds , St. Louis Cardinals , Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Brewers , Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
in the bottom of the seventh inning. The game went into extra innings and remained tied until the 12th inning when Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
hit a pitch off of Pat Darcy
Pat Darcy
Patrick Leonard Darcy is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1974 to 1976....
of the Reds. In one of baseball's most iconic moments, Fisk waved his arms as if trying to keep the ball fair, before the ball hit the foul pole and was called a home run, winning the game for Boston. Davidson was the one who called it a home run, saying he had a better view of the ball than the umpires at third base and in left field.
Davidson was also an umpire at the 1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 47th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 13, 1976 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, home of...
and for the 1982 World Series
1982 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 12, 1982 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe Brewers' left-hander Mike Caldwell pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only three hits. The Brewers' offense was led by Paul Molitor, who had a World Series-record five hits and two RBIs...
, in addition to being part of the umpiring crew for 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 1971
1971 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 2, 1971 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CaliforniaWith aces Gaylord Perry and Steve Blass taking the mound for their respective teams, Game 1 looked to be a pitchers duel. It sort of was for four innings; the Pirates struck for two in the top of the third when Dave...
, 1974
1974 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 5, 1974 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThe Dodgers had been winless in six games played a Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium during the regular season but they remedied that situation in postseason play. In the opening game, Don Sutton was opposed to...
, 1978
1978 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 4, 1978 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaBecause of having to start an NL East-clinching game a few days earlier, Phillies ace Steve Carlton wasn't available for the start of the series, leaving the task to Larry Christenson...
and 1981
1981 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Montreal Expos:-Game 1, October 6:Astrodome in Houston, TexasFernando Valenzuela faced Nolan Ryan, a matchup worthy of a pitcher's duel. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. Tony Scott singled home Terry Puhl to score the game's first run, but Steve...
. He retired from baseball in 1985, citing back problems.
Davidson also officated on April 17, 1976 when Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Michael Jack Schmidt is a Hall of Fame third baseman popularly considered among the greatest third basemen in the history of Major League Baseball. He played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies....
hit four 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...
s in one game.
During the baseball off season, Davidson was a police officer in his home town of London, Ohio. Davidson also spent 21 years as a NCAA basketball referee. He was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
A resident of Houston for 27 years, Davidson died there at age 75 on August 21, 2010. he was survived by his wife, Lynn, as well as by three daughters, a son and five grandchildren.