Charlie Williams

Life and work

The story behind the role.

American baseball umpire (1943-2005).

Charles Herman Williams (December 20, 1943 – September 10, 2005) was an American baseball umpire who officiated in the National League from 1978 to 1999, and in both leagues from 2000 to 2001. He was the fourth African American to serve as a full-time MLB umpire, and in 1985 became the first Black umpire of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. In 1993 he became the first African American umpire to work behind home plate in a World Series game. He wore uniform number 25.

Encyclopaedic excerpts from Charlie Williams (umpire); shortened for length and available under CC BY-SA 4.0.