Oscar Charleston had a sense of humor, as this week’s clipping indicates. He evidently also knew that in his youth he had been too hotheaded.

Negro Leagues umpire Bob Motley wrote in his memoir that Oscar was always respectful toward him when he was managing late in his career — more respectful than anyone else. Everyone mellows.

By the way, this is one of any number of anecdotes from baseball history about umpires (and others) carrying guns onto the field (and in the clubhouse, on team buses, etc.). The subject is worth an article in and of itself.