Joseph Nicholas Linsalata (b. June 17, 1916 in Brooklyn, NY - d. January 25, 2000 in Hollywood, FL) was a professional baseball player and an American League umpire in 1961. He worked a full schedule of 166 games that year, but it was his only year in the majors.

He was a catcher in the minor leagues from 1938 to 1940, playing two years with the Sydney Steel Citians of the Cape Breton Colliery League. In 1940, he was with the Bluefield Blue-Grays of the Mountain State League. He hit .257 for his career. He then served in the U.S. Army field artillery during World War II.

He began umpiring in the Florida International League in 1948 and 1949 and in the International League from 1950 to 1960. When the expansion of 1961 added two teams to the American League, the circuit had to recruit some additional umpires, and he got the nod as a result.

In a freak occurrence, soon after Opening Day in 1961, first baseman Fred Hopke fell victim to a freak injury. As he slid into third, umpire Linsalata stepped on his hand and cut it open affecting Hopke's career.

Joe was back in the International League in 1962, staying until 1968.

(excerpted from Baseball Almanac, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)