In 1886 Thomas Jefferson “Tom” York retired after a fifteen-year career. As a 20-year-old he joined the Troy Haymakers in the National Association in 1871, he was with the Hartford Dark Blues for the National League’s inaugural season in 1876, and finished with the Baltimore Orioles in the American Association; he also served two brief stints as a player/manager with the Providence Grays.
York, who suffered from rheumatism, had considered retiring before the 1894 season after the Cleveland Blues sold him to the Orioles, but The Baltimore American said he was induced to continue playing with a $5000 salary and “the scorecard and cushion (concession)” at Oriole Park. After hitting just .233 in 1884, he was only able to play in 22 games the following season before calling it quits.
Tom York, middle row, far right, with the 1876 Hartford Dark Blues
Just before the beginning of the 1886 season York was hired as an American Association umpire. After the May 22 game in Baltimore which the Orioles lost 2-1 to the Louisville Colonels, The Baltimore Sun said:
“(York) received a dispatch yesterday ordering him to Brooklyn. Instead of going he telegraphed his resignation. His reason for doing so was the abuse he received from some of the spectators of Saturday’s game. In fact, he was nearly equal to that of John Kelly, ‘the king of umpires.’ He declared (Pete) Browning’s hit near the foul line a fair hit. He was in the best position to know, but, as it was made at a critical point, some of the audience objected, and York came in for pretty severe abuse.”
The paper said York also made a “questionable decision,” when he “evidently forgot that it was not necessary to touch a runner in a force,” and incorrectly called a runner safe at second:
“York became discouraged and the Association lost a good umpire.”
Within weeks York became a National League umpire; that didn’t last long either.
On June 30, the Kansas City Cowboys lost at home to the New York Giants 11-5, The Chicago Inter Ocean said York “was escorted from the grounds by the police on account of disapproval manifested over his umpiring.”
Less than a month later, after York was “roundly hissed” at the Polo Grounds after making “some very close decisions against the New Yorks,” in a July 22 game against the Philadelphia Quakers, he sent a telegram to National League President Nicholas Young resigning his position. York told The New York Times:
“I have been badly treated in the West, but to be hissed and hooted at in the East is too much. I have often heard that an umpire’s position was a thankless one, but I have never realized it before. It’s bad enough to be hissed and called a thief, but in the West when the local club loses an umpire in fortunate if he escapes with his life. Of all the cities in the league Kansas City is the worst.”
York said there was another incident Kansas City the day before he was escorted from the field by police:
“On June 29 when the New York men beat the Cowboys 3 to 2 (William “Mox”) McQuery hit a ball over the fence, but it was foul by 25 feet, and I declared it so. After the game Vice President (Americus) McKim, of the Kansas City club wanted to know how much money I would get from the New Yorks fir That decision. I remarked that I received my salary from the league and did not take a penny from the New Yorks or any other none. Then he grew furious, and said he would end my days. This in conjunction with other things incidental to the life of an umpire has made me tired of the business, and I intend to make room for some other victim.”
Despite quitting both leagues within two months, The Baltimore American said the American Association sent York a telegram in two months later “asking him if he wanted an appointment as umpire.” The paper said “York replied no, emphatically, as his past experience was sufficient to justify his remaining at home.”
York remained at home for the rest of the season and the next, but while he never worked as an umpire again he returned to baseball in 1888 as manager of the Albany Governors in the International Association. Over the next decade he was connected with several East Coast minor leagues, including the Connecticut State League, the New York State League and the Eastern Association, as a manager and executive.
York retired to New York where he became one of the many former players employed at the Polo Grounds at the behest of manager John McGraw. In 1922 The New York Telegraph described his position:
“York has the pleasant post of trying to keep the actors, tonsorial artists and plumbers out of the press stand. It is old tom who examines your pink paste board and decides whether you are eligible for a seat in the press cage.”
Tom York, 1922
In February of 1936, as preparations were being made for York, along with James “Deacon” White, George Wright, Tommy Bond, to be honored that summer at the All-Star Game as the last four surviving players from the National League’s first season, the former player, manager, executive and umpire died in New York.
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