Cheers for the umpire
As a youth and young adult, Ed Vargo spent many hours at Pullman Park.
Serving as a bat boy, he watched some of the best play there for Butler's New York Yankees minor league team. He honed his skills there as a player and his eye for the game that led him to become one of the best umpires in National League history.
It was fitting that on Friday before Butler took on Chillicothe (Ohio) in a Prospect League baseball game at Pullman Park, a showcase of pictures, World Series bats and a baseball signed by Vargo were unveiled at a ceremony for the Butler native, who died two years ago at 79.
"He was born right over here on 'Red Row,'" said Vargo's wife, Betty, referring to a part of Lyndora near the ballpark that featured a group of homes painted brick red. "He always told everybody, 'I was born on 'Red Row,' I grew up and I made it.' He was very proud of where he came from."
After his playing career in the St. Louis Cardinals organization fizzled, Vargo shifted gears and became an umpire.
He quickly rose through the ranks and made his major-league debut in 1960. For 23 years he was one of the most accomplished umpires in the game.
Vargo is the only major-league umpire to call a perfect game and another no-hitter by the same pitcher, Sandy Koufax.
He was the home plate umpire for eight no-hitters and his umpiring jacket is enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
But Vargo's heart always belonged to Butler and Pullman Park.
"This would have meant a lot to him because the Butler community meant more to him than anything," said Vargo's daughter, Karen Vargo-McClarnon.
Vargo's youngest grandson, Will McClarnon, threw out the first pitch before the game.
"He would have been thrilled," Vargo-McClarnon said. "My dad was watching from heaven."
