1950–51 Volume 75 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Charlie Berry, TopOfficial in BothFootball, BaseballByHAYWARD S. BIGGERSLawrence'31, Editor*SOME YEARS AGO a fan was sympathizingwith a major league umpireof long standing on the difficult jobhe held, pointing out that he was subjectdaily to the howls of criticism from bothfans and players. The old ump agreedthat it was tough but averred that insome ways it wasn't such a bad job atthat. "After all, you can't beat thehours," he said.One might believe that Charlie Berry,Lafayette '25, read this statement, mulledit over for a while, and then took itseriously enough to adopt officiating intwo major American sports as his careerafter his playing days were over. Foreleven years Charlie has been on thestaff of officials of the National ProfessionalFootball League, and he is in histenth year as an umpire, eight of whichwere spent in the American League. Inserving both football and baseball in thetop brackets of the two sports. Berry isunique among American sports officials.It is putting it mildly to state thatBrother Berry prepared well for the interestingcareer that has become his lifework. As a young man he was one of thenation's finest athletes. After three yearsof football at Phillipsburg (N.J.) highschool, where he was named All-Stateend, Charlie entered Lafayette College.He held down a varsity end berth forthree years, built up a terrific reputa-" Most of the facts contained in this story weresupplied by Earl J. Hilligan, manager of the ServiceBureau of the American League of Professional BaseballClubs, and Joseph T. Labrum, assistant to theCommissioner of the National Football League. Weare grateful for their cooperation and also the helpof Claude M. Marriott. Syracuse 'oi, who contactedMr. Labrum.—^ED.CHARLIE BERRY, Lafayette '25Wearing American League Umpiring Regaliation, which was climaxed in 1924 by hisselection at end on Walter Camp's All-American team. It was the last All-America eleven to be named by Mr.Camp.As an undergraduate. Berry was bestknown for his football talents, but healso played a lot of baseball—as a catcher—for Lafayette, and when he was graduatedin 1925, scouts from the majorleagues of both football and baseballwere camped on his doorstep. He signedwith the Pottsville (Pa.) Maroons in theNational Football League, the franchisenow held by the Washington Redskins.Pottsville won the National Leaguechampionship that year, beating the ChicagoCardinals at Comiskey Park, andBerry was named All-League end. Herepeated in 1926, the last year he playedpro football.In baseball Charlie cast his lot withthe Philadelphia Athletics and wasfarmed out to Portland in the PacificCoast League during 1926. Here hiscareer was slowed down by a brokenwrist. In 1927 he served with Dallas inthe Texas League, but returned to theMajors the next year when he was traded[•3]