Ismet “Hum” Joseph, of Truro, Nova Scotia, had a colourful career on the baseball diamonds of Atlantic Canada that extended over a period of three decades. He packed his bags at the age of 17 for his first of many stops around the region to make his professional debut with the Halifax Navy teams of 1940. His playing days saw him perform in all the best leagues in the region while getting to play in every position.

From 1940 to 1968 he played on many of the great championship line-ups, including the Dartmouth Arrows, Hantsport Shamrocks, and the Bible Hill Dairymen. His major achievement was playing shortstop for the 1946 Truro Bearcats, in his hometown. Fourteen years of Halifax and District League action saw Joseph match strides with and surpass most of the import, many of whom went on to the major leagues.

When his playing days came to an end he remained with the sport as an umpire in both baseball and fastball, becoming umpire-in-chief for Nova Scotia. Just as he had changed baseball with his colourful approach to the game, the same can be said for his umpiring years. Ismet Joseph was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1992.