The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-08-05

4 sibints to umYicessp sfre~ths, pen Of til
Oldest of the base ball scribes, will b,
found servicesble, and should be vel
considered W those who desire tofa
| che position of umpire creditably,;a
| 1. Never call a ball on the first bal
delivered. ~ - Ia s@cE9 gS24t
2. Never call a ball until the pitche,
has been warned of the penalty inflicted
for calling balls.
3. After stating to the pitcher where
he is to pitch to the bat, call out the
words of warning; Ball to the bat,p or
the very. next unfair ball pitched. - : q
4. After having warned the pitcher
call the very next unfair bah delivered
and follew it up with successive calls n
unfair balls are pitched in succession
s. Never give two warnings while enc
striker is at the bat. aOae warning for
each striker are the words Of the rule
6. Never call q ball until the ball as
passed the striker. ur.lJIy-pF ?.
Z. Every ball pitched over the head
OF the batsman must be called pro
vided the pitcher has been previously
warned. on ---pE
8. Every ball pitched on the opposite
side of the striker, too, must be SINH.
larly called.
9. Every ball touching the ground be-
fore passing the home base must be SINH
larly called; likewise every ball pitched
beyond the reach of his bat.
10. The umpire must remember that
the intention of the pitcher must have
nothing to do with his dec oyon. He
must call balls whenever "unfair balls''
are pitched, whether the nnfair deliy-
cry arises from inability TO pitch other
wise or not.
The umpire should bear in mind that
it is not optional with him to be strict
or lenient; he must be strict at all times
in enforcing the rules, or he ia incompe-
tent for the position.
In regard to calling strikes the follow
ing rules should be observed:
l. Never call strike on the first ball
delivered-of course except the batsman
strikes at the Lall-as such call is pos
itively prohibited.
2. Never call strike until you have
first warned the batsman of the penalty
Of his refusal to strike at fair balls.
This warning can be given in some such
words as "a fair ball; / shall call the
next"
B. Never call strike on batsman
who, either in the early part of the
game OF when there are no players run
ming the bases, fails to strike promptly,
as in such cases there is an absence Of
the required motive-"to delay the
game" or "to give advantage to q
player"
A. When a player is at first base, how
ever, and the striker be at all over par
ticular in regard to selecting balls to
strike at, warn him at once, and call
strikes on him promptly when really
fair balls are delivered.
5. Also, when darkness or storm is
approaching, and it is to the advantage
OF the striker or the club he plays for to
delay the game, at once give warning,
and promptly call strikes on every fair
ball sent in and not struck at.
6. Should it, however, under similar
circumstances be to the strikers sdvan-
tage to hasten the game, and to the in
terest of his club for him to strike out,
do not call strikes on him even if he hit
at the ball, unless it be ball which he
can hit and would have selected in the
early part of the game, as the rules par
ticularly prohibit any wilfui striking
out.
7. Remember, too, that in calling
strikes, If the batsman is in the habit Of
striking at ball of any particular
height and yet calls for ball lower or
higher than he is in the habit of strik-
ing at, for any special purpose, yon must
call strikes on him if he fails TO hit at
the balls he calls for, whether they suit
him or not.
8. You can only call strikes on a
batsman for his refusal to hit at balls
within the legitimate reach of his bat.
When they are pitched to him out of
his legitimate reach or not within rea.
souable distance of the height he calls
for. YOU cannot call strikes on him.
9. Finally, remember to be very strict
in calling strikes whenever players are
running bases, and especially when
player is on the first base; and also be
strict when it is getting dark or storm
is approaching and delay is advanta-
geons to the striking party. But when
there is no apparent motive, either TO
delay the game, to give advantage to
the player or weary the pitcher, you
cannot fairly call strikes on a barsman
unless he becomes tediously or unneces-
sarily particular as to to the balls he
wants pitched to him.