Professional baseball umpire, college football player, and author. Luciano played college football for Syracuse University, where he played in the 1957 Cotton Bowl, was named to the 1958 College Football All-America Team, and won the national championship in 1959. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 1959 NFL Draft and was immediately traded to the Detroit Lions but suffered an injury in the College All-Star Game. He was later a member of the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills, but injuries prevented him from ever playing in the regular season. Luciano became a baseball umpire in 1964 and worked in the Florida State League, International League, and Eastern League until he made his major league debut as a member of the American League umpiring staff on April 7, 1969. Over his 11-year career, he worked the 1971, 1975, and 1978 American League Championship Series, the 1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and the 1974 World Series between the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was known for his colorful, flamboyant calls and actions on the field. Luciano served as president of the Major League Umpires Association and helped organize the 1979 umpires strike. He worked his last games that season, and in retirement, he appeared as a sports commentator with NBC and wrote five books. He died in 1995 in his home in Endicott, New York in what was ruled a suicide due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Professional baseball umpire, college football player, and author. Luciano played college football for Syracuse University, where he played in the 1957 Cotton Bowl, was named to the 1958 College Football All-America Team, and won the national championship in 1959. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 1959 NFL Draft and was immediately traded to the Detroit Lions but suffered an injury in the College All-Star Game. He was later a member of the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills, but injuries prevented him from ever playing in the regular season. Luciano became a baseball umpire in 1964 and worked in the Florida State League, International League, and Eastern League until he made his major league debut as a member of the American League umpiring staff on April 7, 1969. Over his 11-year career, he worked the 1971, 1975, and 1978 American League Championship Series, the 1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and the 1974 World Series between the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was known for his colorful, flamboyant calls and actions on the field. Luciano served as president of the Major League Umpires Association and helped organize the 1979 umpires strike. He worked his last games that season, and in retirement, he appeared as a sports commentator with NBC and wrote five books. He died in 1995 in his home in Endicott, New York in what was ruled a suicide due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Bio by: Adam Penale
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