George Barr (umpire)

George Barr
Born(1892-07-19)July 19, 1892
Scammon, Kansas
DiedJuly 26, 1974(1974-07-26) (aged 82)
Sulphur, Oklahoma
OccupationUmpire
Years active1931–1949
EmployerNational League
Known for
  • Founded and Operated the first Umpire School (1935–1967)
  • Wrote first book on Umpiring (1952)
TitleMajor League Umpire
Spouse(s)Mary Elizabeth de Vaughn (d. 1958); Ardis Nott (m.1961)
Parent(s)Alexander Bundy Barr; Mary Jane (Reed) Barr[1]

George McKinley Barr (July 19, 1892 – July 26, 1974) was an American professional baseball umpire who was a pioneer in umpiring instruction. Barr worked in the National League from 1931 to 1949. Barr umpired 2,757 major league games in his 19-year career. He umpired in four World Series (1937, 1942, 1948, 1949) and two All-Star Games (1937 and 1944).[2] Barr was the founder of the George Barr Umpire School, the earliest umpire training school and author of the first book on umpiring. Barr was a pioneer in using the inside chest protector.[3]

  1. ^ David L. Porter (2000), Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: Greenwood Press, pp.73–74
  2. ^ "George Barr". www.retrosheet.org.
  3. ^ David L. Porter (2000), Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: Greenwood Press, p.73-74