Frederick Westervelt

Frederick Euphenia Westervelt

• Born February 18, 1878 in Hackensack, NJ USA
• Died May 4, 1955 in Drexel Hill, PA USA

Biographical Information

Frederick Westervelt was a major league umpire for five non-consecutive seasons. He began working professionally in the Virginia League in 1907, then was in the South Atlantic League, the Texas League, the Virginia League again, and the New York State League before being hired by the American League late in 1911 and continuing in 1912.

In 1913 and 1914, he was back in the minor leagues in the American Association, but in 1915 he was one of a number of umpires hired by the Federal League as it revamped its staff of officials following complaints about performance during its inaugural season. However, the league folded after that season, so Westervelt had to go to the minors back again, now in the International League. In 1920, he was back in the Virginia League for a third go and during that time returned to the majors, this time in the National League, for 20-game stints in both 1922 and 1923, presumably to replace some other umpire who was temporarily unavailable for duty.

In 1927 and 1928, he was in the Pacific Coast League, which gave him the rare distinction of having umpired in the three major leagues and three top minor leagues of the 20th Century, a claim that he is presumably the only person to be able to make. He completed his career back in the International League from 1929 to 1931.

Related Sites

• Frederick Westervelt on Retrosheet.org
• Sporting News umpire card