Ralph Frary

Ralph Frary (July 3, 1876 – November 9, 1925) was a professional baseball player and umpire. From 1895 to 1906, Frary played in the minor leagues with several teams as a catcher, outfielder, and first baseman.[1] Frary umpired 17 National League games in 1911, eight of them as the home plate umpire.[2]

Ralph Frary
Born
Ralph Frary

July 3, 1876
Washington
DiedNovember 9, 1925
Aberdeen, Washington
OccupationUmpire
Years active1911
EmployerNational League

Playing career

Frary played catcher and first base with Montana,[3] Spokane and Seattle of the Pacific Coast League and Pacific National League. He signed with Nashville of the Southern League in 1906, having had "trouble at Seattle."[4]

Umpiring career

In 1908, Frary umpired in the Northwestern League. That July, it was reported as "practically settled" that Frary would be promoted to the major leagues the following year.[5] The next month, Frary made headlines when President Charley Wolf of the Spokane club accused him of being crooked and connected to gamblers. Frary demanded that the National Board of Minor Leagues either expel Frary or Wolf.[6] In September, Aberdeen manager Bob Brown accused Frary of drunkenness on the field.[7] Frary remained in the Northwestern League through the 1910 season, after which he stated that he would not return to the league without a generous boost in pay.[8]

In June 1911, Frary was promoted to the National League umpiring staff.[9] In his debut, Frary was the base umpire for a Christy Mathewson shutout against the Boston Rustlers. In July, Frary took a foul ball to the leg and blood poisoning developed. Frary was able to return to the field briefly in mid-August, but he came home within a few games when he was bothered by leg trouble again. He umpired his last NL game on August 14, 1911.[10][11] Contrary to initial reports, Frary was not ultimately retained by the NL for the next season. Despite speculation that he might open a book at a local racetrack, he umpired in the Union Association in 1912 and 1913.[12][13]

In May 1914, Frary abruptly departed for a three-year contract in the Federal League.[14][15] By 1915, however, Frary was back in the Northwestern League.[16] In 1918, Frary ejected Salt Lake City pitcher Clarence "Popboy" Smith after an argument about which ball should be in play. After being tossed, Smith struck Frary with a punch that broke the umpire's nose. The pitcher received a suspension and $250 fine.[17] Before the 1920 season, Frary and two other umpires were fired from the Pacific Coast League staff by new league president William H. McCarthy.[18]

Personal life

Frary ran The Mecca, a Spokane saloon that served as a hangout for popular figures such as a young Jack Dempsey.[19] The saloon was ordered closed in 1911 for harboring unsavory characters and selling liquor on Sundays.[20] During the investigation of the saloon, Frary's wife was involved in a police chase. Mrs. Frary was wanted to testify before the commissioner's court, but she hurriedly jumped into a taxi to evade officers. Though the police car had mechanical problems, officers caught up to the cab and took Mrs. Frary into custody.[21]

Death

Frary died in Aberdeen, Washington in November 1925.[22]

References
  1. Baseball-Reference (Minors)
  2. Retrosheet
  3. "Helena Team Here". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 12, 1903. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  4. "Frary Leaves for Nashville". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 24, 1906. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  5. "Ralph Frary Will Go to One of the Big Leagues". Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 11, 1908. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  6. "Frary Asks Board for Charley Wolf's Head". Spokane Daily Chronicle. August 31, 1908. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  7. "Brown is After Frary". Spokane Daily Chronicle. September 23, 1908. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  8. "Van Haltren May Be N.W. Umpire". The Spokesman-Review. January 22, 1911. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  9. "Sporting Notes". Kettle River Journal. June 10, 1911. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  10. "Pirates Will Win, Says Ralph Frary". The Spokesman-Review. August 10, 1911. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  11. "Ralph Frary Due Home This Week". The Spokesman-Review. September 6, 1911. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  12. "Frary Back Next Spring". The Spokesman-Review. September 13, 1911. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  13. "Frary to Umpire for Boss Lucas". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 15, 1912. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  14. "New Umpire for Federal League" (PDF). New York Times. May 16, 1914. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  15. "Laroque to Handle Indicator". Eugene Register-Guard. March 29, 1913. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  16. "Montana Boosting Frary". Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 19, 1916. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  17. "Smashes Umpire's Nose and Must Pay". The Day. August 8, 1918.
  18. "What's Doing in League of Sports". The Evening News. January 29, 1920. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  19. "Old Building in New Garb for Chili Parlor Reopening". Spokane Daily Chronicle. January 17, 1950. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  20. "Partner in Mecca Bar Seeks Refund". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 10, 1911. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  21. "Detectives Chase Woman in Auto". The Spokesman-Review. October 21, 1911. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  22. "Ralph Frary Buried". The Spokesman-Review. November 12, 1925. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
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