Cece Carlucci

Cesare Carlucci (Cece, Mr. Ump)

• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.

• Born December 30, 1917 in Cudahy, CA, USA
• Died September 18, 2008 in Wildomar, CA, USA

Biographical Information

Cesare "Cece" Carlucci was a minor league umpire in the Pacific Coast League for 12 years. He officiated in the league from 1950-1961.

Carlucci spent four years in the Army during World War II. When he returned to the states, he took a friend's advice to switch from trying to play ball to being an umpire. He got his first oppurtunity in the Mexican Pacific League in the 1945-1946 winter season. Following that year he moved up to spend four years in the then C-Class California League. In his four years there he called the All-Star Game each year. After the 1949 season he signed on with the Pacific Coast League. He was named most outstanding umpire during the 1954 season. During that season Carlucci became a crew chief and began tutoring a young Emmett Ashford, who would go on to become the major league's first African-American umpire. Carlucci never got to umpire in the major leagues. After his time in the PCL he umpired in world tournaments for 12 years before retiring. In 2003 he was elected to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame.

Carlucci was also well known for creating his own custom protective gear not only for himself but many other umpires.

Sources

Newspaper Story