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Jake O'Donnell
James Michael "Jake" O'Donnell (born January 25, 1937, in Philadelphia) is a former sports official who worked as a National Basketball Association (NBA) referee for 28 seasons from 1967 to 1995, and also as an umpire in Major League Baseball for four seasons from 1968 to 1971. He is the only person to officiate All-Star games in both Major League Baseball and the NBA.
O'Donnell was born on January 25, 1937, in Philadelphia. He graduated from North Catholic High School, commuting from his home in Clifton Heights. He attended Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) for one year. He was not on any sports team at either school, but developed an interest in officiating in the early 1960s, beginning with local Delaware County, Pennsylvania youth basketball leagues. He attended Lou Bonder's school for college officials, but did not officiate in college basketball.
In 1963, he started umpiring for Len Heller in local softball and baseball games, and entered Al Summers umpiring school in Florida. He graduated second among 84 students in the six-week program, and received a job umpiring in the Single-A New York-Pennsylvania baseball league. After two years, he was promoted to umpiring in the Double-A Southern Association. After one-year there, he was given the opportunity to umpire American League (AL) spring training games, but was sent back to the Southern Association for more experience for the 1967 season, before joining the AL for the 1968 season.
From early on, O'Donnell's focus on officiating successfully in both sports was the need for consistency.
After five years of officiating youth basketball leagues in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, O'Donnell asked the NBA for a tryout as a referee. He was given the opportunity to referee NBA exhibition games in the summer of 1967, and was among four of 110 applicants the NBA hired as part-time referees. He began officiating in the 1967-68 season, and by January 1968, O'Donnell was assured he would be made a full-time referee for the following season. At the time, he was the second youngest official in NBA history.
As a referee, O'Donnell officiated in 2,134 NBA games (a record held until February 2006 that was broken by Dick Bavetta), 279 playoff games, and 40 NBA Finals games. O'Donnell was a respected official for his no-nonsense, flamboyant style. He described Hall of Fame coach and noted referee baiter Red Auerbach as a loudmouth who hated all referees, especially those from Philadelphia. O’Donnell was one of the many top referees coming out of Philadelphia.
O’Donnell was not inclined to be intimidated or swayed by the home crowds. According to Harvey Pollack, a long-time statistician for the Philadelphia 76ers, O'Donnell was the most even-handed referee in regards to percentage of wins by road teams in games he officiated compared to other referees. O'Donnell was also respected for making the correct call and admitting errors when they occurred. He once took a group of reporters in a rental car to a local TV station to review the game tapes following a controversial finish to a 1981 NBA Playoffs game in Philadelphia that involved the 24-second shot clock and a complaint by then-Milwaukee Bucks head coach Don Nelson.
O'Donnell announced his retirement as an official in the NBA on December 7, 1995, the same day the league's referees agreed to return to work following a lockout to start the 1995–96 NBA season. Commissioner David Stern said at the time "'Jake has been, without question, one of the greatest referees this league has ever had. ... Every fan and every person associated with the NBA owes him an enormous debt of gratitude for his work.'"
Jake O'Donnell
James Michael "Jake" O'Donnell (born January 25, 1937, in Philadelphia) is a former sports official who worked as a National Basketball Association (NBA) referee for 28 seasons from 1967 to 1995, and also as an umpire in Major League Baseball for four seasons from 1968 to 1971. He is the only person to officiate All-Star games in both Major League Baseball and the NBA.
O'Donnell was born on January 25, 1937, in Philadelphia. He graduated from North Catholic High School, commuting from his home in Clifton Heights. He attended Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) for one year. He was not on any sports team at either school, but developed an interest in officiating in the early 1960s, beginning with local Delaware County, Pennsylvania youth basketball leagues. He attended Lou Bonder's school for college officials, but did not officiate in college basketball.
In 1963, he started umpiring for Len Heller in local softball and baseball games, and entered Al Summers umpiring school in Florida. He graduated second among 84 students in the six-week program, and received a job umpiring in the Single-A New York-Pennsylvania baseball league. After two years, he was promoted to umpiring in the Double-A Southern Association. After one-year there, he was given the opportunity to umpire American League (AL) spring training games, but was sent back to the Southern Association for more experience for the 1967 season, before joining the AL for the 1968 season.
From early on, O'Donnell's focus on officiating successfully in both sports was the need for consistency.
After five years of officiating youth basketball leagues in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, O'Donnell asked the NBA for a tryout as a referee. He was given the opportunity to referee NBA exhibition games in the summer of 1967, and was among four of 110 applicants the NBA hired as part-time referees. He began officiating in the 1967-68 season, and by January 1968, O'Donnell was assured he would be made a full-time referee for the following season. At the time, he was the second youngest official in NBA history.
As a referee, O'Donnell officiated in 2,134 NBA games (a record held until February 2006 that was broken by Dick Bavetta), 279 playoff games, and 40 NBA Finals games. O'Donnell was a respected official for his no-nonsense, flamboyant style. He described Hall of Fame coach and noted referee baiter Red Auerbach as a loudmouth who hated all referees, especially those from Philadelphia. O’Donnell was one of the many top referees coming out of Philadelphia.
O’Donnell was not inclined to be intimidated or swayed by the home crowds. According to Harvey Pollack, a long-time statistician for the Philadelphia 76ers, O'Donnell was the most even-handed referee in regards to percentage of wins by road teams in games he officiated compared to other referees. O'Donnell was also respected for making the correct call and admitting errors when they occurred. He once took a group of reporters in a rental car to a local TV station to review the game tapes following a controversial finish to a 1981 NBA Playoffs game in Philadelphia that involved the 24-second shot clock and a complaint by then-Milwaukee Bucks head coach Don Nelson.
O'Donnell announced his retirement as an official in the NBA on December 7, 1995, the same day the league's referees agreed to return to work following a lockout to start the 1995–96 NBA season. Commissioner David Stern said at the time "'Jake has been, without question, one of the greatest referees this league has ever had. ... Every fan and every person associated with the NBA owes him an enormous debt of gratitude for his work.'"