 umpires used to make a call and just whisper it to the nearest player next to him it wasn't until silk aloflin came around and brought his unique style with him originating loud exclamation singles balls strikes and outs previously umpires had simply informed the catcher or nearest defensive player and then that guy had to just yell at everyone else like he called it a strike catcher would just have to tell the pitcher what the ump called until silk aloflin came along balls of steel he was particularly known for his booming call of ball which i'm guessing is ball two and he would draw his strike calls he also was the first umpire to do hand signals though well known for his voice aloflin also began using dummy hoi's mute single code to indicate the calls visually so what did umpires used to do just whisper it to themselves what's that about thank god for silk aloflin