Brick Owens

Brick Owens
Owens in a 1922 issue of the New York Tribune
Born	(1885-03-31)March 31, 1885 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Died	November 11, 1949(1949-11-11) (aged 64) Chicago
Resting place	Fairmount-Willow Hills Memorial Park, Willow Springs, Illinois
Occupation	Umpire
Years active	1908, 1912–1913, 1916–1937
Employer	National League, American League
Height	5' 10
Weight	200 lb (91 kg).

Clarence Bernard "Brick" Owens (March 31, 1885 – November 11, 1949) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League in 1908 and 1912–1913, and in the American League from 1916 through 1937. He officiated in the World Series in 1918, 1922, 1925, 1928 and 1934, serving as crew chief for the last two Series. He also worked the All-Star Game in 1934, calling balls and strikes for the game's second half.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Owens hoped to pursue a baseball career, but accidentally shot himself in the left hand while celebrating the Fourth of July in 1901; instead of staying at home and resting, he went to the sandlot game in which he had intended to play, and replaced the umpire who quit after an early dispute in the game. His family moved to Chicago the following year, and he continued to umpire games for 50 cents each; he soon raised his rate to $1 a game, and upon being noticed by minor league executive Al Tearney, became an umpire in major local contests for $5 a game.

By age 17 he was offered a position on the staff of the Northern League at a monthly salary of $75, but minor league games proved more contentious than sandlot events, and he accumulated so many scars from various altercations that when he was hired by the NL, league president Harry Pulliam asked if Owens had been in a train wreck. In one instance, he called three straight strikes on a batter for Crookston to end a game when the team was mounting a comeback against visiting Winnipeg; the batter dropped his bat and got into a fight with Owens, whereupon a fan jumped from the stands, picked up the bat and hit Owens over the head. After local authorities began the process of bringing charges, the batter's father offered Owens $750 to drop the matter, and he agreed as the amount was double his annual salary. On another occasion, Owens was attacked at his hotel by a player who he had ejected in that day's game, after which the team had refused to replace him and forfeited to the local Fargo team; the player was arrested and suspended.