Bob Emslie

Robert Daniel Emslie

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut July 25, 1883
• Final Game July 16, 1885
• Born January 27, 1859 in Guelph, ON CAN
• Died April 26, 1943 in St. Thomas, ON CAN

BR page

Biographical Information

Bob Emslie, born in Canada, had a big year in 1884 when he won 32 games with the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association. His entire major league career was in the American Association. He had to give up pitching because of a sore arm.

After that he was a major league umpire for 35 years, starting in the A.A. in 1890 and including on the day when the famous Merkle Bonehead Play occurred. At one point, he held the record for most games umpired in major league history. In 1911, with the introduction of the two-umpire system, he stopped working behind the plate and was exclusively a base umpire until his retirement after the 1924 season. He then served as Chief of National League umpires for a spell.

He was nicknamed "Blind Bob", but in fact was an excellent marksman.

He was named to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

Notable Achievements

• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 30 Wins Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1883 & 1884)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1884)

Further Reading

• Larry R. Gerlach: Lion of the League: Bob Emslie and the Evolution of the Baseball Umpire, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, 2024. ISBN 978-1-4962-3765-1

Related Sites

• Bob Emslie at the SABR Bio Project
• Bob Emslie on Retrosheet.org