Baseball Hall Of Fame

He was already 51 when he made the major leagues in 1965, but in breaking the color barrier for umpires, American League showman Emmett Ashford proved home plate was his stage, baseball his love. Umpires call them as they see them. And Ashford, until he retired at 56, one year past the recommended retirement age, did that with a flourish. If a fly ball sailed toward foul territory, the L.A. native would barrel down the baseline to make the call, sometimes speeding by the outfielders.