The Washington times., 1894-05-02
FORFEITED TO BROOKLYN.
Washington Threw Away Chance to Win
BY Refusing TO Play.

Washington Threw Away Chance to Win
BY Refusing to Play.
Recent troubles with umpires reached cli-
| max yesterday afternoon at the local ball park,
when the Washington team surrounded umpire
| Stage in the sixth inning and refused to con-
tinue the game. Stage pulled out his watch and
| on the expiration of the required time declared
the game forfeited to Brooklyn by the score
| of too This act created any amount Of excite
ment, but the 100 spectators refrained any
| violence, and those who did express their feel
ings kept within reasonable bounds, considering
the provocaton. All the trouble came about
through Foutz being declared safe at first base
when it appeared as If he was out.
Captain Joyce and nearly every member of
the local team crowded about the umpire and
they were soon Joined by most of the Brooklyns.
The slender Stage ordered the players to resume
| their positions, but the order was not obeyed.
AS a result the game was given to Brooklyn and
Stage SO notified Manager Schmelz, the two hav-
| ing a wordy argument The latter finally told
his men to take the field, but the umpire stuck
10 his ruling and protfered the balls used in the
game to SchmelZ, but they were refused. and
Stage walked over to the bench and placed them
there.
While all this was going on the Brooklyn play
ers were getting their bats and traps together.
and soon made their way of the ground. Sew
eral of them were surrounded by groups OF In
terested parties, who showered questions upon
them President Byrne quietly collected his
men into room under the grand stand where
they waited until the arrival of their coach, and
then drove off without any particular demonstra-
tion on the part of the crowd Umpire Stage
| subsequently withdrew from the park in good
order.
Opinions differ in every case where there is a
doubt, and II was an error OF Judgment, II an
error at all, of which Stage was guilty. Presi-
dent Young was present and stated that stage
had only carried out instructions to all the UNI
pires to give close decision in favor of the base
runner. Whether Foutz was really safe or out
will always remain n mooted question, but the
fact remains he was declared safe. Several
times during the earlier part OF the game Capt
Joyce had questioned Stages rulings, and the
Foutz decision was the last straw. Even Paul
Radford came in from right field to protest
something very unusual
Judging from the game as far as it had pro-
gressed il looked as If the locals would win, and
their refusal to continue play certainly robbed
them of probable victory. In the first inning
Joyce and Abbey scored on couple OF bases on
balls, missed throw by Corcoran, and Hassa-
maers safe bunt This was all the scoring on
either side up TO the sixth, both Stephens and
Sharrott pitching gilt-edged ball The Brooklyns
had gone first to the bat, and in the sixth inning
Sharrott opened with a sharp grass-cutter,
which got away from Selbach, and Tom Daily
followed with single down the left foul line.
Griffin's sacrifice moved both runners up base,
and Tredway was purposely given first on balls,
filling the bases
Dave Foutz drove a. grounder TO short, which
Selbach grabbed and, Touching second threw to
Cartwright. Tredway was called out at second.
but Foutz given safe at first, and this occasioned
the kick The Senators crowded about Stage and
vehemently objected to his decision, claiming he
willfully favored Brooklyn. Under the rule the
umpire has the privilege Of declaring the game
forfeited if either team should refuse to play at
the expiration of one minutes notice. In accord-
ance with this rule Stage gave the game to
Brooklyn.
Afterwards the Washington players claimed
Stage had not ordered them to take the field,
but he was emphatic In stating that he had done
so and notified the occupants of the press
box as well as others in the audience. Most Of
spectators remained for some time, as il unwill-
ing to leave until the players had gone, but no
disorder occurred
The local team was changed about yesterday,
Selbach going 10 short, Hassamaer to second,
Tebeau to center. and Radford TO right The
latter received round of applause on his ap-
pearGnce at the bat Selbach put up lively
game at short field and assisted in one double
play, as well accepting all but one of his eight
chances His only Sharrotts
grounder in the sixth inning Hassamaer had
but one chance at second, which he accepted in
good style Joyce had two brilliant assists and
stole three bases on Catcher La Chance. The