John Bertrand 'Jocko' Conlan umpired in the National League for 25 years, starting in 1941. His trademarks were his quick grin, polka dot tie, and balloon chest protector. He was allowed to continue using the outside protector for five years after the NL adopted the inside protector for its umps because he was at risk from being hit in the throat by pitches.
  Conlan had a brief career as an American League outfielder but was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1974 as an umpire. His first stint of umpiring came by accident. When regular AL umpire Red Ormsby was overcome by heat during a 1935 Browns-White Sox game, Conlan, a Chicago reserve player, filled in. The next year, he launched his new career as an umpire.
  The spunky Irishman had many notable run-ins with National League managers, particularly firebrands Leo Durocher and Frankie Frisch, but he was also known for his honesty and integrity.  In a 1955 game he was suffering from an attack of arthritis and found it difficult to bend to see low pitches. When he called a strike on Jackie Robinson on a pitch nearly in the dirt, "Robinson seemed so honestly shocked over the call" Conlan said, "I figured I must have missed it. I didn't want any more like that." Rather than make another mistake, he left the field.
  Coaching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961, Leo Durocher stood watching the game with his foot on the top step of the dugout. Seated close by him was movie star Frank Sinatra, an avid Dodger fan. Imitating Durocher's voice, Sinatra argued one call after another--loud enough for the home place unpire to hear. Unnerved by all the complaints, Jocko Conlan wheeled around, pointed to Durocher, and said, "You're out of the game!"
  Durocher, who hadn't uttered a word, was furious. He stormed out of the dugout and confronted the umpire.Then he started to kick dirt on the umpire's uniform. One of the kicks missed the ground and landed a direct hit on Conlan's shins. Conlan kicked back and the two of them went at it like schoolboys--until Durocher realized he was getting the worst of it: the umpire was wearing shinguards! The National League subsequently disciplined both men.
  In 1941, Conlan called time in the middle of a Giants game at the Polo Grounds, and for 45 minutes the crowd listened to President Roosevelt's radio talk about World War II.
Jackie Robinson, Dodgers' second baseman, steals home plate successfully as Braves' catcher Bill Salkeld is thrown off-balance on pitcher Bill Voiselle's throw to the plate during the fifth inning of a Boston-Brooklyn game at Ebbets Field, New York, on August 22, 1948. On the play, Dodgers' shortstop Pee Wee Reese went from first to second and rightfielder Gene Hermanski took third for a triple steal. Third baseman Billy Cox, who was at bat, watches Jackie slide. The umpire is Jocko Conlan. Braves won, 4-3.
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