Evening star., 1886-10-16
The base BAH Season.
From the New York Times

From the New York Tines
The close OF the championship season of base
Dali removes from q large part Of our popula.
tion the chief subject OF speculative thought
which they have had in common during the
last SIX months, and will cause them to look
sadly on the long half year that must elapse
before another season begins. It il significant
tnat the promptest CONGRATULATIONS on the
winding up Of the two principal championship
contests have been for the umpires. These func.
uonaries have been 1t objects of sympathy
through the season, and those Of their numb Der
who have lasted it out may well be looked
upon rs marvels.
Probably there is a general feeling that our
American game. although developed ALREADY
to q high degree of hnish. may still be improved
before reaching perfection. Every year sees
some changes in the rules, resulting from the
OF another II Is played, thus making Il neceS.
saiy 10 CONTINUALLY adjust the balance between
attack and defense. The pitchers have needed
from time TO time lest they should contrive to
give the batsmen few runs or none It All and
80 80 IN IN tarn with the batsmen, lest they should
have verything their way. Just now the sub
1ects which seem TO concern the ruie.ruakers
are those Of rendering the duties of the urn nirs
less trying and the game less a wranule md
display Of sharp practice.
1ne umpire has TO perform functions incom.
parably more incessant and important than in
matches are practically decided by him wners
his Judgment has oeen incorrect But accusa.
tions against him OF partiality or deliberute
nine cases out OF ten, the real ditiiculty befny
that OF seeing with precision all that is goins
on. Not ball is pitched on which he Is NOT
required TO give decision. and there are hnn.
dreds OF these whenever the full nine innings
are played. II a ball delivered by the niIci q.
ana crossing the home base at any height be-
tween the batSman's shoulder and his knee
should be iair ball, he might have less diff
cnity IN deciding. Butthis height is su bd vided.
ana the oatsman may require the ball 10 be de.
lvereo over the home plate at height either
between the shoulder and the belt or between
the belt and the knee, according to his call tor
l;ia, ngn 0aiis OF low ones Many of the decisions
the height OF the ball rather than 10 whether IL
passes over the plate or on one side Of it, Yet.
uOuotiess not one player in ten would he will,
Ing To foregO this privilege OF q choice in heiyht
Or would think 1t for the best interests OF The
game to thus increase the Pitchers chances of
delivering deceptive ball. Thus this difficn,tv
may he said to be inherent in the game itself AZ
played. ''0
Another prolific source OF wrangIIng is that of
determining whether player VINO attempts to
steal from first base to second is put ont nv The
oeider who nurries TO that point for the pur.
pose; ~ mas been suggested that the distance
between the bases was originally fixed 70 ns to
allow player to run from one base to anot,l er.
or still further. only when u succeeding bats.
else the opposite side IL inattentive or mnkes
IN error. Be this as it may there is now a
s.sa' as avasry ho an engaging as players very
0lStslnGQ
successfully, even when the pitcher is properly
W., watchial nue. ne delivers bali, which
the Catcher properly catches and throws accu.
ratey 70 the second base, where again il is nrnn.
eriy caught This stolen run tor q base Is often
accompli:hed In cloud of dust, caused by the
!rn. 1TEnero nnisnlng with slide on the ground
Inan tue ump re, from the opposite corner or
the diamond, has TO decide whether the figure
Giving on dry Land touches the bag first, or
whether WIN. the baseman reaching down touches
him hrst II may be the matter OF y fraction or
second, aud hOwls OF disapprobation 90 IN
whichever way the decision is. sun there
seems 70 be no desire yet 10 increase the dis.
prOcess II popular feature.
The umpire's difficulties are further Increased
by the prevailing doctrine that ali tricks are
fair In base ball, as In war, and that v game
S that csnnos "a a ee , Mon seuareiy may be won by
nook or crook. The ntues that come out at the
head IN u seasons work are generallv the fr,cE
lest and the greatest "kickers," US well AZ
among the best and often the very best plnyers,
hhoodw,nking h n,. ana ~ ,baiaozng the umpire thus
recall, no umpire. club or individual PLAYER or
either Of the two leading associations has bee n
Know 70 sell or "throw"a u game during the nast
season, and while that houoraIle record lasts
professional base ball will hold its sreat and
weiI-merited popularity.