Bits Bierhalter

William H. Bierhalter
(Two Bits)

• Height 5' 8", Weight 165 lb.

• Born May 22, 1869 in Frankfort, PA USA
• Died March 13, 1941 in Columbus, OH USA

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Bits Bierhalter was a long-time trainer for various professional teams. He had begun his career as an umpire in the New York State League in 1905 and 1906 and the Empire State League in 1907. In 1908, he moved up to the American Association. In 1910, he moved to the Ohio State League but was back in the A.A. in 1911-1912. In 1913, he was in the International League, then in the Central League in 1914.

He was apparently suspended from umpiring in 1915 and instead became the athletic trainer for the Columbus Senators of the American Association, keeping the job for three years. From 1918 to 1923, he worked for the St. Louis Browns and in 1924, he moved to the Boston Red Sox. In 1932, he became associated with a Columbus, OH medical firm and he died there in 1941.

On four occasions between 1918 and 1924, he was pressed into service as an umpire when the regular umpires either did not show up or were unavailable. This used to happen regularly in those years, and substitute players or coaches would usually be the ones asked to take over, but in Bits's case, his experience as a professional umpire meant that he was a lot more ready for the emergency work.

In 1898 Bierhalter had been under arrest due to the death of Milton Staudt during a prize fight with Oscar Gardner. Bierhalter was listed as one of Gardner's "seconds" [1].

Related Sites

• Bits Bierhalter at Retrosheet.org
• Sporting News umpire card