The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-29
THE TWO-UMPIRES SYSTEM
President Brush Strongly Urges Its I'M
mediate Adoption by the League.
The Favorable Impression Made by Manager
Spence--Contracts Forwarded to the Hoo
sier Players Who Have Not Yet Signed.

President Brush is a strong advocate of the
double-umpire system and is anxious to see it
adopted by the League. When he was in Wash
ington recently he preached the subject to Pres
ident Young. and indeed endeavored to persuade
that official to his influence for the adoption
Of such a measure. Mr.. Young thought the idea
q good one, but expressed some doubts as to the
probability of its adoption by the League as 1t
would entail an expense about as heavy as the
Association had shouldered in securing the big
quartet-Gaffney. McQuade, Doescher and
Ferguson. The reason the League had allowed
Gafney and Dosscher TO get away
was because it considered the salaries
they ask as exorbitant. The quartet named.
it is supposed. receive salaries OF about s2.2
each, and if the League should secure eight um-
pires in order to operate the double system,
paying them salaries of 81 200 or 81, 900 eachs it
would mean an expense as heavy the Associ-
alton with it's four stars Then Mr.. Brush
made to the League president this suggestion
that the League engage four regular umpires as
hitherto, and that in addition Mr.. Young appoint
N staff OF three umpires in each League city, one
of whom should be chosen by the visiting cap
tain to act as assistant umpire in the game. The
regular umpire would oficiate behind the plate.
calling balls aud strikes, and the local umpire
would be at first or second-base to make the base
decisions. The four regular umpires would be
paid an annual salary, and the local appontees
should receive 81 or s. per game. This
would save the League about $4,000,
or even more. as contrasted with the
expense of a CORPS Of eight regular umpires
To Offset any tendency of a local umpire to show
Partially to the home club would be the fact
that there were three such appointees in each
city and the visiting captain would be privi-
legged to choose between them. The one who
made the best reputation for fairness would, OF
course, be chosen the most frequently, and
would make the most money out of the situa-
ton.
suggestion, and thought there was possibility
that such plan might be adopted Mr. Brush.
mt least, intends to push the matter IL the oppor
tunitY offers. He considers that the Indanapo-
lis club suffered not little last year from Door
umpring, and breads a repetition of it the COM
ing season. He thinks that il the double UNI
pro system were adopted, even with men on
the staff whose regulations were not SO great. 1t
would not be long until the League Is recog-
nized as having more satisfactory umpirine
than the Association with it's big Four"
In this idea Mr. Brush is energetcally sec
onded by Manager Spence, who said yesterday.
in speaking of the subject: II don't care how
s s1od .ys q Rs has Il. will aPs
shout not out when q second base
man almost breaks the back OF runner
ten feet from the base and AK ain, will motion
for a runner to come in when the second base
man has done nothing more than to make q
bluff of touching him. Ii is not dishonesty, nor
it is impossible to tell for q certainty whether
the man touched not. The only way
umpire can make ND his mind in regard to second
base decisions is by the manner in which the
mans arm swings, and so on. He is al
most never absol utely certain that he is
right about these plays. Then the umpire ex-
periences another difficulty. A base-runne is
on first, ready to dash for second the moment
the pitcher starts to deliver the ball. The UNI
pire has to remain behind the bat until the ball
crosses the plate, or reaches the catcher. before
he can run toward second in order to watch the
play which follows from the catcher's throw to
short distance away from the plate when the
play occurs at second. But now, suppose there
was another umpire down at second base. He
stands within few feet of the .baseman and
can tell without any effort whether the man was
touched or not, and whether he was on the base
or not. A man Of the most ordinary judgment
can fill such a position with satisfaction"
Mr. Spence gained his ideas of the double UNI
pire system from the late series for the worlds
championship between Detroit and st. Louis,
having witnessed the games ct Boston and New
York. In the series, is generally known,
Kelley and Gaffney both umpired one standing
behind the bat and the other making base de-
all ssn IS
there was not n kick against the umplring from
either players or audience.
There is question that The double-umpire
plan 10 far superior TO the old method, and so
far superior indeed, that it can only be q oues-
ton of time when it will be universally adopted.
1t would be natural and proper for the League
to take the initial step in this matter. the more
especially as some decided move will have to be
undertaken to counteract the bold action OF the
Association in securing the four leading UNI
pires. IL the League is afraid OF the expense of
eight full-fedged umpires, let IL adopt Mr..
Brush's suggestion. 1t is practicable aud full
of promise Moreover, the additional expense
will be Insignificant. considering the almost GER
tain benefit that is to result.