Bill Betts

William G. Betts
born as William G. Betz

• Born 1865 in Washington, DC USA
• Died September 9, 1936 in Washington, DC USA

Biographical Information

Bill Betts was a National League umpire on occasion from 1894 to 1896 and again in 1898-1899. He also briefly appeared in the American League in 1901 and 1903.

In the minors, he worked in the Virginia League and Atlantic League. A machinist, Betts invented a new umpiring indicator that was used in the National League starting in 1895. He also was the first umpire to use a whisk broom to clean home plate.

Sources

• Major League Baseball Profiles: 1871-1900 ed. by David Nemec
• Retrosheet page