Rest In Peace Bill Haller

“Officiating is the only occupation where you have to be perfect the first day and get better each day after.” ~ Unknown

William Edward Haller, a retired MLB umpire passed away this past Saturday, the 20th at the age of 87. I heard about it late Monday afternoon and immediately thought about a particular balk call and the ensuing argument with Baltimore Orioles manager, Earl Weaver. A classic confrontation. But first, let’s look at Bill’s life.

Haller was born in Joliet, Illinois on February 28, 1935. Raised in Lockport / Fairmont, Illinois, graduated from Lockport Township High School and then Joliet Junior College. While at J.J.C. he was a standout basketball and baseball player. He served in the US Army two years from 1955 through 1957, including 16 months in Korea. He married Sally Lee Bumber in 1964, they had two children Albert and Jenny, and six grandchildren. His younger brother Tom was a major league catcher who passed away in 1972.

Haller began umpiring in 1958 and in 1961 became an MLB umpire in the American League. His career lasted 3,068 games. He retired in 1982. He worked 15 American League Championship games in four series (1970, 1973, 12976 and 1980), 27 World Series games in four different seasons (1968, 1972, 1978 and 1982) and had the honour of working four All-Star games (1963, 1970, 1975 and 1981). Bill worked the plate on September 12, 1979, when Carl Yastrzemski recorded his 300th major league hit. He also combined with his brother Tom when he was with the Detroit Tigers as the only brother umpire / catcher duo to ever appear in a major league game together. Bill wore number 1 on his sleeve after the American League adopted numbers for their umpires from 1980-82. He retired after the 1982 World Series and was the last AL umpire to wear the “balloon-style” chest protector in the Series when he called game 2 behind the plate.

(Bill Haller. Found on the internet. Assuming Public Domain.)

After his retirement he worked as the assistant supervisor of umpires, then as a scout for the Chicago White Sox and later for the New York Yankees. He was also instrumental in the MLB umpire development program. He was considered a “no-nonsense” ump, was solid and respected.   

As I mentioned earlier, I remember Bill for an incident in a game from September 17, 1980, between the Detroit Tigers and the Baltimore Orioles. Haller was wearing a microphone as part of a documentary on umpires. Baltimore pitcher Mike Flannigan was on the mound, Haller was umpiring at first base, he called Flannigan for a balk in the first inning, and Earl Weaver came out to discuss the call. What ensued was a rather comical, obscenity laced, animated tirade from Weaver, at 5’7” tall directed at Bill, who stood 6’4” which led to Weaver’s ejection from the game. It continued for a couple minutes as each of them seemed to want to have the last word. It was a classic moment.

If you’d like to see this moment, please click here. As I mentioned, the discussion does have some obscenities, so if you are you are sensitive in this area, or get upset with vulgar language, you may want to just watch with the sound off.

It was my first thought, but to be fair, Bill Haller’s career and life were much more than this encounter. His was a life dedicate to his family and baseball. Baseball was better because of him and I’m quite sure so was his family.

Rest in Peace Bill and my sincere condolences to the Haller family.

~ Coach Mike

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