Nestor Chylak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nestor Chylak
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| Born | May 11, 1922 Olyphant, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | February 17, 1982 (aged 59) Dunmore, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Resting place | SS. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Cemetery, Peckville, Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | American League Umpire |
| Years active | 1954–1978 |
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United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
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Baseball career |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
Special Assignments
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1999 |
| Election Method | Veterans Committee |
Nestor George Chylak Jr. (pronounced CHY-lack) was a famous American umpire in Major League Baseball. He worked in the American League from 1954 to 1978. Nestor was known for his fairness and skill on the field. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Nestor umpired in many important baseball games. He worked in three ALCS games. He was also the main umpire, called the crew chief, in 1969 and 1973. He called five World Series games, including the 1971 and 1977 series as crew chief. In 1971, he was behind home plate for the final, deciding Game 7. He also worked in six All-Star Games.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Nestor Chylak was born on May 11, 1922, in Olyphant, Pennsylvania. His parents, Nestor Sr. and Nellie, came from Ukraine. Nestor was the oldest of their five children. He later studied engineering at the University of Scranton.
During World War II, Nestor served in the U.S. Army in Europe. He was a brave soldier. He was injured during the Battle of the Bulge, a very important battle. The injuries caused him to be unable to see for several days. He had to stay in the hospital for eight weeks to recover. For his bravery and service, he received two special awards: the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
After the war, Nestor returned home. He started umpiring amateur baseball games in 1946. He also went back to college for a short time.
A Career in Baseball Umpiring
After just one year of umpiring amateur games, Nestor moved up to the minor leagues. He worked in several different minor leagues. These included the Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League, the Canadian–American League, the New England League, and the Eastern League. His hard work paid off, and he made his debut in the major leagues in 1954.
Nestor often spoke about two of his most exciting moments as an umpire. The first happened during the 1960 World Series. He was umpiring when Bill Mazeroski hit a game-winning home run. This home run helped the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Yankees in a thrilling finish. His second memorable moment was in the 1966 World Series. Nestor was the umpire during the final game played by the legendary pitcher Sandy Koufax. Koufax retired just a few weeks later.
Nestor was also part of history when he worked the very first American League Championship Series in 1969. He was also on the field for a very unusual game on June 4, 1974. This game was in Cleveland and was called "Ten Cent Beer Night." The Cleveland Indians offered cheap beer to attract fans. However, many fans became very rowdy. They started fights and even threw things onto the field. Nestor had to stop the game and declare it a forfeit after he was hit by an object.
In 1977, Nestor was the home plate umpire for another historic game. This was the first major league game ever played by the Toronto Blue Jays. It was a snowy day at Exhibition Stadium when the Blue Jays played against the Chicago White Sox.
After retiring from umpiring on the field in 1978, Nestor continued to work in baseball. He became an assistant supervisor for umpires in the American League. He was also present during another famous event called "Disco Demolition Night" on July 12, 1979. This happened at Comiskey Park between games of a doubleheader. Fans caused so much damage to the field that the umpires decided the second game could not be played. Nestor was the one who told the White Sox owner, Bill Veeck, that his team had to forfeit the game.
Nestor was known for his calm demeanor. He only ejected 31 players or managers during his entire career. Interestingly, he never once threw out the famous Baltimore manager Earl Weaver from a game.
Later Life and Legacy
Nestor Chylak passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 17, 1982. He was 59 years old and lived in Dunmore, Pennsylvania. He was survived by his wife, Sue, his sons, Robert and William, and his three siblings.
Many people in baseball spoke highly of Nestor after he passed away. Bowie Kuhn, who was the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, said that few people were as respected as Nestor. The American League president, Lee MacPhail, called him an "outstanding teacher" and "one of the finest umpires in major league baseball." He also said that Nestor would surely be considered for the Hall of Fame.
In 1999, Nestor Chylak was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This honor recognized his amazing career and contributions to the sport. In 2013, Nestor was also honored with the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award. This award recognized his brave service in the United States Army during World War II.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball umpires
