August “Augie” Donatelli

Baseball Umpire, Class of 1967

Photo Gallery (click on a thumbnail for slideshow)

: Augie Donatelli 1964

: Augie Donatelli listens as New York Mets outfielder Willie Mays pleads his case after a call at home plate. Oakland catcher Ray Fosse is in the background.

: Inductees Fred Soisson, Duffy Daugherty and Augie Donatelli, left to right, enjoy 1967 banquet.

: Augie Donatelli at the 1967 hall of fame ceremony.

: Augie Donatelli 1954

: Augie Donatelli’s 1955 Bowman baseball card.

: Augie Donatelli

Accomplishments

Spent 24 years as a National League umpire before retiring in 1973.
Umpired in five World Series and four Major League All-Star games.
Helped found the Major League Umpires Association in 1964.
In the fourth game of the 1957 Series between the Milwaukee Braves and the New York Yankees, Donatelli awarded the Braves’ Nippy Jones first base after ruling that Jones had been hit on the foot by a pitch. Donatelli retrieved the ball and found shoe polish on it. An argument ensued, but Donatelli would not change his call. Milwaukee beat the Yankees in seven games.
In the 1973 Series, also in Game 4, Donatelli called New York Mets legend Willie Mays out at the plate, leading to an animated argument. The Oakland Athletics went on to win the Series.

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