Al Humphrey
{{short description|American baseball player (1886-1961)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Al Humphrey
|position=Outfielder
|image=
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1886|2|28}}
|birth_place=Ashtabula, Ohio
|death_date={{death date and age|1961|5|13|1886|2|28}}
|death_place=Ashtabula, Ohio
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate= September 1
|debutyear= 1911
|debutteam= Brooklyn Dodgers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 7
|finalyear=1911
|finalteam=Brooklyn Dodgers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=Batting average
|stat1value=.185
|stat2label=Home runs
|stat2value=0
|stat3label=Runs batted in
|stat3value=0
|teams=
- Brooklyn Dodgers (1911)
}}
Alfred Humphrey (February 28, 1886 – May 13, 1961) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played in eight games for the 1911 Brooklyn Dodgers. Later, he served as the chief of the enforcement division of the Ohio State Liquor Department from 1935 to 1939.
Biography
Humphrey was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, the son of Russell and May (nee Castle) Humphrey. He joined the Charlotte Hornets minor league baseball team for the 1909 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54342931/hornets-of-next-year/?xid=865 |title=Hornets of Next Year. |date=14 November 1908 |newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=30 June 2020|location=Charlotte |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} Initially a pitcher, by 1911 he had converted to an outfielder and was signed by the Youngstown Steelmen of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54342445/some-facts-about-ten-new-steelmen-who/?xid=865 |title=No title |date=13 March 1911 |newspaper=The Evening Review|access-date=30 June 2020|location=East Liverpool, Ohio |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} In August 1911, the Brooklyn Dodgers (then called the Superbas) purchased his rights.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54340626/alfred-humphrey-expected-to-report/?xid=637&_ga=2.52512488.1565341714.1593355160-1877948478.1575651447 |title=No title |date=26 August 1911 |newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=30 June 2020|location=New York |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}} Humphrey made his major league debut in the second game of a doubleheader against Boston on 1 September, in which he hit a single off the first pitch he received.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54338880/crowd-refuses-to-enthuse-over-this/?xid=637&_ga=2.17960441.1565341714.1593355160-1877948478.1575651447 |title=Crowd Refuses to Enthuse Over This Double-Header |date=2 September 1911 |newspaper=The Standard Union|access-date=30 June 2020|location=Brooklyn |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} However, his career in Brooklyn would be short-lived, playing only eight games. Before the end of the month, he was released to Toronto's minor league team.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54337841/still-another-pitcher-for-the-bisons/?xid=865 |title=Still Another Pitcher for the Bisons |date=25 September 1911 |newspaper=Buffalo Evening News|access-date=30 June 2020|location=Buffalo |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}} He announced the following February that he intended to give up baseball and would become a farmer, partly because he had recently gotten married. {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54340877/gets-married-quits-baseball/?xid=865 |title=Gets Married; Quits Baseball |date=28 February 1912 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|access-date=30 June 2020|location=Akron |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Farming apparently did not pan out, as by 1932 he was an inspector for Ohio's Prohibition agency.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54345338/nearly-half-of-ohio-dry-agents-are/?xid=637&_ga=2.7890290.1565341714.1593355160-1877948478.1575651447 |title=Nearly Half of Ohio Dry Agents Are Transferred |date=4 February 1932 |newspaper=The Tribune|access-date=30 June 2020|location=Coshocton, Ohio |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1935, he was promoted to head of the Ohio Liquor Department's enforcement division following the dismissal and death of his predecessor, Edmond G. Mathews.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54377496/ousted-liquor-chief-found-shot-to-death/?xid=865 |title=Ousted Liquor Chief Found Shot to Death |date=2 April 1935 |newspaper=Chillicothe Gazette|access-date=30 June 2020|location=Chillicothe, Ohio |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Beginning in 1937, a series of scandals shook the department. One inspector was found by an Ohio Senate investigation to have illegally sold liquor on commission while working for the department.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54353827/disclosures-promised-in-state-probe/?xid=865 |title=Disclosures Promised In State Probe |date=29 December 1937 |newspaper=Dayton Daily News|access-date=30 June 2020|location=Dayton, Ohio |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}} This was followed by a broader investigation into graft within the department, during which the investigating committee threatened to "level [Humphrey's] department to the ground and reduce it to ruins."{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54377256/senate-group-aiming-at-ouster-of-chief/?xid=865 |title=Senate Group Aiming at Ouster of Chief Enforcer for Ohio Liquor Bureau |date=14 January 1938 |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=30 June 2020|location=Cincinnati, Ohio |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54343289/graft-probe-guns-aimed-at-humphrey/?xid=865 |title=Graft Probe Guns Aimed at Humphrey |date=14 January 1938 |newspaper=The Akron Beacon Journal |access-date=30 June 2020|location=Akron, Ohio |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} This further expanded into inquiries of other state departments, until Governor Martin L. Davey requested it be halted.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54346272/davey-asks-house-to-halt-inquiry/?xid=865 |title=Davey Asks House to Halt Inquiry |date=1 March 1938 |newspaper=The Evening Independent |access-date=30 June 2020|location=Massillon, Ohio |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Humphrey was subsequently dismissed from his position in early 1939, and the staffing of the liquor enforcement division was cut in half.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54343130/alfred-humphrey-dismissed/?xid=637&_ga=2.110339525.1565341714.1593355160-1877948478.1575651447 |title=Alfred Humphrey Dismissed. |date=18 Jan 1939 |newspaper=The Newark Advocate |access-date=30 June 2020|location=Newark, Ohio |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}
References/Notes and references
{{reflist}}
Sources
{{Baseballstats|br=h/humphal01|brm=humphr001alb}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Humphrey, Al}}
Category:Major League Baseball outfielders
Category:Brooklyn Dodgers players
Category:Sportspeople from Ashtabula, Ohio
Category:Baseball players from Ashtabula County, Ohio
Category:Charlotte Hornets (baseball) players
Category:Youngstown Steelmen players
Category:New Castle Nocks players