Quick Facts
Biography
William Raymond Engeln (September 9, 1898 – April 17, 1968) was a professional baseball umpire who worked in the National League from 1952 to 1956. Engeln was the right field umpire in the 1953 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. In his career, he umpired 749 Major League games.
Early life and career
Engeln was born in St. Louis, Missouri and served as a bat boy for the St. Louis Browns when he was young. As an umpire, he spent sixteen seasons (1936 through 1951) in the Pacific Coast League before being promoted to the majors. In 1945, Engeln was surrounded by angry fans after a ninth-inning third strike in a game between the Portland Beavers and Seattle Rainiers. He was attacked by two women who were then led away by police.
Notable games
Engeln also officated on July 31, 1954 when Joe Adcock hit four home runs in one game. He was behind the plate a day later when Adcock was hit in the head by a Clem Labine pitch. The pitch precipitated a near-physical confrontation between Jackie Robinson and Lew Burdette as Adcock was carried off the field by stretcher.
Death
Engeln died in Palo Alto, California on April 17, 1968.