Art Frantz

Arthur Frank Frantz (March 1, 1921 – January 24, 2008) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1977. He was crew chief for the 1975 World Series, and also officiated in the American League Championship Series in 1972 and 1976 as well as the 1974 All-Star Game.

Born in Chicago, Frantz was city champion in ice skating, roller skating, horseshoes and table tennis. He was a pitcher and shortstop in the minor leagues from 1940 to 1950, interrupted by service in the Army Air Forces during World War II. Playing in the St. Louis Cardinals' system, he briefly rose as high as the American Association with the Columbus Red Birds in 1944 and the International League with the Rochester Red Wings in 1945. He also played semi-pro football for four years in Rochester and Watertown, New York. He became an umpire in the New York–Penn League from 1958 to 1962 and the Pacific Coast League from 1963 to 1968 before moving up to the AL. In addition to his postseason and All-Star work, he was behind the plate on July 30, 1973 when Jim Bibby pitched the first no-hitter in Texas Rangers history, a 6-0 victory over the defending World Series champion Oakland Athletics.