Charlie Berry

Charles Francis (Charlie) Berry (October 18, 1902 - September 6, 1972) was a catcher and umpire in Major League Baseball and a National Football League player and official. He was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. His father, Charlie Sr., was an infielder who played in the Union Association (1884).

Berry was one of the few officials to work in the NFL and in the World Series. While in college, he was named to the final Walter Camp All-America football team as an end in 1924. He had been a star on the Lafayette team. In 1925-26 he starred for the Pottsville Maroons of the NFL, leading the league in scoring in '25 with 74 points.

Berry started his major league with the Philadelphia Athletics (1925). He also played in part of 10 seasons for the Boston Red Sox (1928-32), Chicago White Sox (1932-33) and again with the Athletics (1934-36, 1938). A right-handed hitter, he posted a .267 batting average with 23 home runs and 256 RBI in 709 major league games.

Following his playing career, Berry became an umpire in the American League in 1942. He appeared in five World Series, five All-Star games and one ALCS. At the same time, he was a head linesman for the NFL, officiating in 12 championship games, including the famous "Sudden Death" championship game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants in 1958. In fact, he is the only man to have officiated the World Series, the NFL Championship and the College All-Star game in one year.

After retiring from umpiring in 1962, Berry worked as an observer of NFL officials. Then in 1970 he came out of retirement to again ump during the MLB umpire's strike.

Berry died in Evanston, Illinois, at the age of 69.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Umpiring record

World Series

American League Championship Series

1970

All-Star Game

Fact

Berry is well remembered as the catcher who once ended-up Babe Ruth. In 1931, during a game between the Yankees and the Red Sox, Ruth collided with Berry in home plate while trying to score on a sacrifice fly. Ruth was carried off the field at Fenway Park and taken to a hospital.

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