Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-31
AN EVENTFUL WEEK
What is Going on atBase Ball Head
quarters.
CONSTANT SHIFTING OF UMPlRES
Gossip of Interest to the Local
Patrons.
NOTES OF THE YERS

mis- mas been an eVentful week at league
headquarters. The magnates, after resist
ing the pressure in behalf Of Tim Hurst's
reappointment as member of the lea que
staff of umpires all season, finally yield I'd
to popular clamor. and Timothy is again
in the field. He put on the mask and ma
nipulated the indicator for the first time
since his reinstatement Wednesday last in
this city. There was just as much kicking
over his decisions as there was over men
less popular who have occupied similar 20
sitions thus demonstrating that 1t seems
almost impossible under the present condi-
ton of things to find man or set of men
who can fill the thankless position to the
entire satisfaction of the average ball
player.
1t Is therefore probable that an entirely
new system will have to be devised next
season to settle the umpire problem.
The frequent changes in the staff, and
the constant shifting of umpires from one
city to another at the demand of dissatis-
fed managers and magnates, has cost the
league a pretty penny, and when the rec
ords of the year are scrutniZed a the fall
meeting there may be some tall kicking at
The expense that has been incurred in the
vain attempt to please everybody inter-
ested.
The trouble all began with the protest
the New York mana cement made against
Lynch in the beginning of the season.
one of the most remarkable features CT
the week was the fact that the Washing
tons played four tie games-two with Chi
cf so and two with st. Louis. To this eX-
tent. at least. the Senators have established
d record. Next in order was the unusual
list of casualties in the senatorial team. 1t
is almost miracle that Selbach and Schei-
beck escaped fatal injury in their distress
collision We1DaSlav'S
pears that prior to the accident Joyce and
Scheibeck had been haunting Setback in q
good-natured way, for being slow in The
field. Now, everybody no has ever seen
the German Senator at work in left gar
den, knows that he is one of the fastest
helders in the league. However. when the
ball went out to short left field, Setback
went for 1t with all the speed at his COM
mand. and so eager was he to get 1t that
he did not notice that Scheibeck was also
after the same ball. Neither Capt. Cart
wright nor Assistant Capt Joyce called cut
who should take the ball; consequently two
very valuable and earnest players We're
badly injured.
Joe Corbett and Tom Brown promise to
strengthen the local team, for both of the
newcomers are full of ginger and are anx-
ious to secure a place on the salary list for
next season. Corbett, in the estimation of
the veteran Arson and Joe Quest, has
many good qualities, which need further
development before he is accepted to full
membership in the small army of winnin g
ball players. He handles himself in good
style, apparently has ample confidence,
and. with proper coaching, may become a
second Tommy Dowd.
Tom Brown plays now as though his
whole heart was in his work. 1t is well
known that he was not pleased with his
assignment to Louisville or st. Louis, and
while he is too honest ball player to
Soldier" at any stage of the game yet it
is but natural that he should encounter
some difficulty in doing full justice to him.
self and his club when Eis heart was not
in his work. He is a fast man; and the
wonderful Improvement in Charlie Abbey's
work, together with Selbachs recognized
ability. gives Earl Wagner one of the
swiftest outtields in the league With these
three men in good condition and playing up
to their limit there is but very small
opening for Outfielder Lush just now
1t Is well. however, to have good extra
fielder on tap, for Mercer and Maui are
not up to concert pitch in the outfield.
Tommy Dowd's Improvement in batting
and fielding is a source of qualification to
his many friends in this city. Those who
have watched his record during the past
two months are surprised at his remark
able stick work. He is one of the most
reliable hitters on the st. Louis team. In
speaking of Dowd, Honest Joe" Quinn re-
marked a few days ago: Il cannot under
stand why the Washington management
ever let Tommy Dowd get away from this
town. He IS one CT the coming Dall play
ers of the league. He Is getting better
every day, and in two years from now he
will be right up among the best in the bus
mess. He has worked hard and earnestly
to improve his batting, and now he goes up
day after day and hits as regularly as any
of the star sluggers. He is no longer
classed among the chance hftters, but he
is one of the reliables. and he will be even
better in another year or two. In addition
to his hitting, he Is one Of the cleverest
utility men i'll the league. and he is popu-
lar wherever he goes
In the same conversation Quinn said that
there is no longer a reluctance among ball
players to being assigned to Washington.
He says there was tina, not many years
ago. when ball players "shied" al propo-
sition to play with the Washington club.
Now it is the general comment among
ball players that the Washington newspa-
pers de more to encourage and sustain the
members of the team than the papers in
any other league city.
In the interest Of fair play. the board
of directors of the league should not per-
NIT that forfeited game Of Wednesday
between Baltimore and Pittsburg to stand
Every fair-mnded sportsman likes to see
the championship won on its merits, and
they do not believe that the Pittsburg
faa,, al Ito in Raltirnora last