Augie Donatelli
| Augie Donatelli was on the first issue of Sports Illustrated, with catcher Wes Westrum and batter Eddie Matthews, August 18, 1954 | |
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| Born |
August 14, 1914 Heilwood, Pennsylvania |
| Died | May 24, 1990 (aged 75) St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Resting place | Bay Pines National Cemetery |
| Occupation | National League umpire |
| Years active | 1950 – 1973 |
| Employer | National League |
| Height | 5' 9.5"/176 cm |
| Weight | 180lb./81 kg |
August Joseph "Augie" Donatelli (August 22, 1914 – May 24, 1990) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1950 to 1973. Highly regarded for his ability, he was also known for his inclination to eject players and managers quickly and dramatically.
Known as Gus to those close with him, Donatelli was born in Heilwood, Pennsylvania and raised in Bakerton. After enjoying a 14-game career as a minor league infielder in 1938, he served in the Army Air Forces' Eighth Air Force during World War II and spent 15 months as a German prisoner of war after flying 18 missions as a tailgunner on a B-17. His plane was shot down during the first daylight raid on Berlin, and he suffered a broken ankle upon parachuting. He began umpiring softball games while a POW before being freed when Soviet troops overran the area. After the war he opted for an umpiring career rather than return to the coal mines near his hometown, and after graduating from Bill McGowan's school in 1946 worked in the Pioneer League in 1946, the South Atlantic League in 1947, and the International League in 1948-49.
During his major league career, he umpired in the World Series in 1955 (outfield only), 1957, 1961, 1967 and 1973. He also officiated in the National League Championship Series in 1969 and 1972, serving as crew chief for the latter series, and in the 3-game playoff series to determine the NL champion in both 1959 and 1962. He umpired in the All-Star game in 1953, 1959 (first game), 1962 (first game) and 1969. When the National League umpires began wearing uniform numbers in 1970, Donatelli was assigned uniform number 7.
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