Klem, Bill

Klem, (William Joseph) Bill

(1874–1951) baseball umpire; born in Rochester, N.Y. He was a National League umpire (1905–41) and chief of the National League umpiring staff (1941–51). Considered by many the greatest umpire in baseball history, he was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1953. Known as "The Old Arbitrator," he has been credited with introducing the arm signals that indicate strikes and fair or foul balls.