W.W. “Billy” Donaldson  Negro League Umpire (c. 1920’s)

Billy Donaldson was an umpire in the Negro National League for fifteen years. His umpiring career started in 1923. He retired in 1937.

Donaldson witnessed some of the best baseball ever played from the best seat in the house. Over his career he called ball and strikes while great Negro League hitters like Josh Gibson, James “Cool Pappa” Bell, Oscar Charleston, Ray Dandridge, Walter “Buck” Leonard, John Henry “Pop” Lloyd, Raleigh “Biz” Mackey, George “ Mule” Suttles and Jud Wilson batted. On the other side of the coin, he called balls and strikes while great Negro League pitchers like Ray Brown, Andy Cooper, Leon Day, William Foster and Satchel Paige pitched.