Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-06
President Young Writes a Sharp
Letter to Umpires.
PLAYERS MUST Be KEPT QUIET
People Tired Of UnseemIy Argu-
ment.
A COMMENDABLE MOVE


hardest season he has ever experienced in
dealing with the umpire problem. Whom a
Star reporter called at league headquarters
yesterday Uncle Nick" was engaged in
writing letter to Umpire Mcdonald, the
California representative on the staff of
umpires. There is SO much good common
sense in the communication that Uncle
Nick" was finally prevailed upon TO permit
It's publication. There is considerable gin
ger scattered all through it, but here is
the text of the letter, and the readers may
Judge for themselves
Dear Mr. Mcdonald: After all our talk
Monday last, 1 did hope and expect that
you would go ahead and enforce the rules.
CReferrlng to Mondays Washington Balti-
more gameD You permitted players re-
peatedly to run in from the field and
wrangle and delay the game. l cannot
hold you as a league umpire with log
end chain unless you enforce the rules
drawn for the benefit of those interested
In the national game. You should have
imposed a fine upon five or six of the play
ers of the two clubs, and seated several of
them upon the bench, if it became neccs-
sary.
/ will sustain an umpire all the time in
doing his duty and enforcing the rules, but
] will not keep him If he disregards the
instructions given him. This running in
from the field to dispute an umpire's de-
Cisions, thereby causing great delay, is an
injury to the game. and disgusting to its
better class of patrons. If the rules are
wrong 1t is not your fault nor mine, but 1t
IS our duty to enforce them, regardless of
fear or favor. and l will not tolerate an
umpire who lacks the courage to perform
the duty so clearly laid before him. l am
repeatedly blamed for the shortcomings Of
the umpires in this regard. and l do not
know what better 1 can do than to keep on
changing the personnel of the staff until
can secure the services of men who will
carry out the Instructions given them to
the letter.
There never was a time in the history of
the game when the umpire could be so
completely master of the situation as at
present. Empires should not permit any
player other than the captains of the COM
peting teams to approach or address him
Mt all during the progress of the game. l
write this not only for your personal in
formation and guidance, but for all of the
members of The staff, and shall send each
of them a copy.
I would suggest that you give both cap
tains fair notice before the game of what
N E. YOUNG.
UrseemIy Arguments by Players.
Mr.. Young says the people do not turn
out by the thousands to listen to the un-
seemly arguments that almost daily take
place on the ball field between the umpire
fectly plain on the subject. and there is no
excuse for the umpire allowing every MEM
Der of the team to question his decisions
and string out the game to the discomfit-
of the people who pay their money to
see ball playing. Intelligent players should
know that an umpire cannot reverse his
decision unless he finds that he has violated
the rules.
Errors of judgment by an umpire cannot
be corrected. The rule is so plain that
-. ~ no., f1,
Here are few extracts from the rules.
as applied to umpires, which are frequent
ly ignored:
THE umpire is master of the field from
the commencement to the termination of
the game.
THE umpire must keep the contesting
mines playing constantly from the COM
merccment of the game to its termination.
allowing such delays only as are rendered
unavoidable by accident. injury or rain.
The umpire must require the players of
each side to promptly take their positions
In the field as soon as the third man is
out.
THE batsman is out if he fails to take
his position within minute after the
umpire has called for the batsman."
a Trying Task.
The selection of the umpires is one of
the most trying duties Uncle Nick has
to perform. 1t frequently occurs that the
very men who recommend the appointment
of certain umpires are the first to protest
him and urge his removal There are now
on file at league headquarters over fifty
applications for appointment to the staff.
For five years certain gentlemen promi-
nently connected with the league have been
urging the appoin tment of Jimmy Calvin.
He Is now on trial, without much prospect
OF success. Mr.. Redheffer, who made such
a farcical exhibition here Wednesday, was
well Endorsed by men who are supposed to
IA n q n Ia INV, Two
Mr.. Mcdonald was considered the grea test
umpire the Pacific coast. and his APP
pointment was pressed by men who have
the best interests of the national game at
factory for ali concerned if Uncle Nick
instituted training school for umpires in
the minor leagues and made his selections
upon merit alone. without regard to in
fuential Endorsements.
VIII Not Sell Mercer.
Again the rumor is afloat that Earl Wag-
ner might be induced to part with his
clever little pitcher and general utility
man. Win Mercer. Upon the authority of
Mr.. Wagner the statement is denied. Mer-
Ger is one of the most valuable members
of the Senatorial combination. He has been
pitching in hard luck recently, but he goes
right ahead and plays good ball wherever
he is stationed. He promises to develop
into iirst-class inlielder, in addition to his
pitching ability.
Hoffer OF Baltimore comes near being one
of the best pitchers IN the league. He has
none Of the preliminary motions that so re-
tard the work of other pitchers. He makes
a greater number of deliveries in a given
time than any other twirler in the business.
He has good command and he keeps fir
ing the ball at the batsman without the
usual dilatory tactics of Esper, Lampe,
Hawley and a long string of others.
Arthur Irwin says the Phillies are in a
better position to win the pennant than
they have been for many years past. His
men are all getting into form again, and
after turning from their western trip
they will have nearly two months of steady
playing on their own grounds.
Base Ball Notes.
Outfelder Abner Dalrymple has been re
leased by Evansville at his own request
Stafford. brother of Jim of New
York, is undoubtedly THE find Of the
New Orleans team this year. His batting