Born in
San Francisco, California, Hildebrand began his playing career in 1898. He was playing for Providence in the
Eastern League in the spring of 1902 when he discovered the effect moisture had on a pitched ball; he encouraged pitchers
Frank Corridon and
Elmer Stricklett to try the technique, and Stricklett was believed to be the first to use the pitch in a major league game in . Hildebrand worked much of his umpiring career in a team with
Brick Owens. His most controversial decision came in Game 2 of the 1922 World Series, when he ended the game on account of darkness after 10 innings with the score tied 3–3, even though it did not begin to get dark until a half-hour later; it was widely believed that the game could have continued for a few more innings. It was later reported that third base umpire
Bill Klem had expressed to Hildebrand his concern about a long game, recalling Game 2 of the 1914 Series, which had ended in almost complete darkness after 14 innings. There was such heavy criticism of Hildebrand's decision to end the game that commissioner
Kenesaw Mountain Landis ordered the game proceeds ($120,000) to be donated to charity. He was also behind the plate on July 10, when
Johnny Burnett of the
Cleveland Indians collected a record nine
hits in
an 18-inning game against the
Philadelphia Athletics. ==Later life==