Hank Soar

Hank Soar

No. 15
Position:	Running back/Defensive back
Personal information
Born:	(1914-08-17)August 17, 1914 Alton, Rhode Island,U.S.
Died:	December 24, 2001(2001-12-24)(aged 87) Pawtucket, Rhode Island,U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	Pawtucket (RI)
College:	Providence
Undrafted:	1937
Career history
Boston Shamrocks(1936) New York Giants(1937–1946)
Career highlights and awards
NFL champion(1938)
Player stats atPFR

Albert Henry Soar(August 17, 1914 – December 24, 2001) was anAmerican footballrunning backanddefensive backin theNational Football League(NFL) who went on to have a long career as anumpireinMajor League Baseball(MLB). Soar played nine seasons for theNew York Giants(1937–1944, 1946), and caught the game-winningtouchdownpass in the1938 NFL Championship Gameagainst theGreen Bay Packersat thePolo Grounds.

Early life and career

Born inAlton, Rhode Island,Soar later moved toPawtucket,attending Pawtucket Senior High School (currentlyWilliam E. Tolman High School) andProvidence College.After being named to theLittle All-Americanteam, he left college to play semi-pro baseball and pro football, playing for theBoston Shamrocksin 1936.He served in theArmyduring World War II, and his officiating in a baseball game drew the attention ofPhiladelphia AthleticsmanagerConnie Mack,who recommended him for an umpiring career. After the war, Soar coached theProvidence Steamrollersin theBasketball Association of America(now the NBA) in1947,but the team achieved only a 2–17 record before he was replaced byNat Hickey.He then became backfield coach for the football team atRhode Island State College(also known as theUniversity of Rhode Island) from 1947 to 1949.

Umpiring career

After working in theNew England Leaguefrom 1947 to 1949 and theAmerican Associationin 1949,Soar became anAmerican Leagueumpire from 1950 to 1972, and as a league supervisor continued to work occasional games as a substitute through 1975 and in 1977–78. He worked in fiveWorld Series(1953,1956,1962,1964and1969), serving as crew chief for the '69 Series between theNew York Metsand theBaltimore Orioles,one of the most famous of all time.

Notable games

Soar was also the first base umpire whenDon Larsenof theNew York Yankeespitched aperfect gamein Game 5 of the 1956 Series, and was again at first base on June 1, 1975, whenNolan Ryanof theCalifornia Angelspitched his fourthno-hitterto tieSandy Koufax's major league record. Soar also officiated in fourAll-Star Games(1952, 1955, second1959game, 1963), calling balls and strikes for the last contest, as well as the1971 American League Championship Series,when he again served as crew chief.

In1941,Soar made a bit of history as one of the first two players ever to be fined by the NFL's league office when commissionerElmer Laydenin August assessed $25 fines on Soar andGreen Bay PackersquarterbackLarry Craigfor fighting.

Death

Soar died at age 87 at a family home inPawtucket, Rhode Island,and was buried in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence. He has a memorial marker atSlater Parkin Pawtucket next to the tennis courts. The athletic complex on Prospect Street in Pawtucket is named after him.

Head coaching record

Legend

Regular season	G	Games coached	W	Games won	L	Games lost	W–L %	Win–loss %
Playoffs	PG	Playoff games	PW	Playoff wins	PL	Playoff losses	PW–L %	Playoff win–loss %

Team	Year	G	W	L	W–L%	Finish	PG	PW	PL	PW–L%	Result
Providence	1947–48	19	2	17	.105	(replaced)	—	—	—	—	—

Source

See also

• List of Major League Baseball umpires

External links

• Database Football
• Hank Soar Baseball Biography
• Retrosheet
• AP obituary
• Hank SoaratFind a Grave