- Photograph by
- Unidentified
- Subject of
- Ashford, Emmett Littleton, American, 1914 - 1980
- Ashford, Virginia
- Bowie Kuhn, American, 1926 - 2007
- Major League Baseball, American, founded 1869
- Los Angeles Dodgers, American, founded 1883
- Date
- 1969-1980
- Medium
- silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
- Dimensions
- H x W: 10 × 8 1/16 in. (25.4 × 20.5 cm)
- Caption
- Emmett Ashford was the first African American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ashford umped from 1966-1970 and was known for his animated calls and dress. After retiring as an umpire in 1970, Ashford continued his relationship with MLB and was hired by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn as a public relations advisor in 1971.
- Description
- A black and white photograph of Virginia Ashford, Bowie Kuhn and Emmett Ashford. All three are dressed in formal clothing with the men wearing tuxedos and corsages and Mrs. Ashford wearing a black dress and hat. All three are wearing nametags on their left side. Mrs. Ashford is on the left side of the photograph and is looking towards her husband, who is standing on the right side of the photograph. Bowie Kuhn is standing in the middle of the photograph. All three stand in front of a wall-papered interior and are seen from the waist up. The image is bordered in white. In the bottom right corner of the photograph printed in black text is [L.A. Dodgers]. The photograph is inscribed on the back in the upper right corner with [12389 W15].
- Classification
- Photographs and Still Images
- Type
- gelatin silver prints
- portraits
- Topic
- Baseball
- Photography
- Sports
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Frederick A. King and Family
- Object number
- 2014.16.3
- Restrictions & Rights
- Unknown - Restrictions Possible
- Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




