Emmett Ashford

Emmett Littleton Ashford (November 23 1914 –  March 1 1980), nicknamed "Ash", was the first African American umpire in Major League Baseball, working in the American League from 1966 to 1970.Ashford was born in Los Angeles, California. On February 20, 1951 he became an umpire in the Southwestern International League, the first black professional umpire. He went on to umpire in the Pacific Coast League for many years before being hired by the American League in 1961, and on April 1 1966 he became the first black major league umpire. He was an outfield umpire for the 1967 All-Star game, and later worked in the 1970 World Series. He remained an umpire until mandatory retirement upon turning 56 in 1970.
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