Al Barlick
| Al Barlick | |
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| National League Umpire 1940–43, 1946–55, 1958–71 |
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Born: May 2, 1915 Springfield, Illinois |
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Died: December 27, 1995 (aged 80) Springfield, Illinois |
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| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame
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| Inducted | 1989 |
| Election Method | Veterans Committee |
Albert Joseph "Al" Barlick (April 2, 1915 – December 27, 1995) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League for 28 seasons (1940–43, 1946–55, 1958–71). Barlick missed two seasons (1944-45) due to service in the United States Coast Guard and two seasons (1956-57) due to heart problems. He umpired seven World Series and seven All-Star Games.
Barlick was known for a strong voice and for booming strike calls. After he left active umpiring in 1971, Barlick became an umpire scout and supervisor. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.
Barlick was born in Springfield, Illinois. His father, an Austrian immigrant, worked for 50 years at a Peabody coal mine. Barlick dropped out of high school after two years to support his family. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, and spent six months in Washington and six months in Wisconsin. When Barlick's brother died, he returned to the coal mine to assist his father.
Barlick said that he did not play much baseball as a youngster, but that he often watched the game. During a coal mine strike, a 19-year-old Barlick was offered $1 dollar ($18) to umpire his first game. He played outfield in semipro baseball, but he was described as "mediocre." In August 1936, the Class-D Northeast Arkansas League was in need of a replacement umpire, and hired Barlick for the last 4 weeks of the season. In 1937, Barlick was hired by the Class-B Piedmont League, moved to the Eastern League in 1939, and was promoted to the International League later that season.
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