Al Mannassau

Alfred S. Mannassau (1866 – October 13, 1933) was a professional baseball umpire, manager and player. Mannassau umpired in the National League in 1899, working 92 games. Mannassau then umpired 96 American League games in 1901. He returned to baseball in 1914, and umpired in 109 Federal League games.[1]

Al Mannassau
Born
Alfred S. Mannassau

1866
Michigan
DiedOctober 13, 1933
Detroit, Michigan
OccupationUmpire
Years active1899 (NL), 1901 (AL), 1914 (FL)
Employer(s)National League, American League, Federal League

Playing and managing career

Mannassau was a journeyman outfielder in several minor leagues from 1887 to 1895, including the Northern Michigan League, the Central Interstate League, the Pacific Northwest League, the Michigan State League, the Pacific Northwestern League, the California League, the Western League and the Virginia State League. He never played two full seasons in a row for the same team. In fact, during 1894 alone, Mannassau played for half of the eight teams in the Western League. Speed seems to have been a strength as a player, as he recorded 195 stolen bases in eight seasons. He had a brief stint as a manager in the Michigan State League in 1895.[2]

Umpiring career

In 1898, Sporting Life characterized Mannassau's umpiring work in the Western League as "grossly incompetent", saying that Mannassau had "feigned sickness and left the field" that day in response to persistent protests from fans.[3] A few weeks later, the same publication described Mannassau as "improving".[4]

In 1899, the National League was said to have purchased Mannassau from the Western League for $350. By midseason, J. Earle Wagner of the Washington team publicly criticized the umpiring of Mannassau and his partner. Wagner expressed a desire to return to the one-man umpiring system the following year.[5]

In late May 1901, Mannassau was heckled heavily by Baltimore fans. The local newspaper heavily criticized Mannassau's "ignorance of the national game" and said that "President Johnson was a spectator of the game and something is likely to drop."[6]

On August 8, 1901, Mannassau was punched in the jaw by Hugh Duffy of Milwaukee. Mannassau enraged Duffy, who would end up in the Hall of Fame, with a fair ball call that went against Milwaukee and resulted in the team's defeat.[7]

In 1914, Mannassau was one of eight umpires hired to work in the Federal League.[8]

References
  1. Retrosheet
  2. "Al Mannassau". Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  3. "Weird Goings-On". Sporting Life. June 18, 1898. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  4. "After the Sideshow". Sporting Life. July 2, 1898. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  5. "A New Wrinkle". Sporting Life. July 15, 1899. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  6. "Orioles are Demoralized". Baltimore American. May 28, 1901. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  7. Mayer, Ronald (2008). Christy Mathewson: A Game-By-Game Profile of a Legendary Pitcher. McFarland. p. 31. ISBN 978-0786441211.
  8. "Umps Signed for Federals". The Mansfield Shield. February 11, 1914. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
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