Tony Venzon

Anthony A. Venzon
(Pope)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2 ½", Weight 205 lb.
• School Muhlenberg College

• Born June 4, 1915 in Thurber, TX USA
• Died September 20, 1971 in Pittsburgh, PA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Tony Venzon was a major league umpire for 15 years.

He was a minor league outfielder from 1937 to 1940. He hit .295 with 1 HR and 13 RBI for the 1937 Mayfield Clothiers and also appeared with the Johnstown Johnnies. In 1938, Tony batted .260/~.392/.433 for the Beaver Falls Browns. The next season, Venzon hit .239 with 4 HR and 59 RBI for the Greensburg Senators before closing out his playing career with the 1940 Warren Redskins (.135, 2 HR, 5 RBI).

After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Venzon began his umpiring career in the Georgia State League in 1950. He worked the Provincial League in 1951, Eastern League in 1952-1954, and the American Association in 1955-1956. Venzon was an umpire in the National League from 1957 to 1971. He had to retire early in the 1971 season because of health problems, then died that September after undergoing open heart surgery.

Sources include 1939 Spalding Guide and Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database

Related Sites

• Tony Venzon at Retrosheet.org
• Sporting News umpire card