Evening star., 1896-03-26
THE LEAGUE UMPIRES
Appointment of the staff Announced
by MIR. Young.
EARL WAGNER TALKS ABOUT THE TEAM
Opening tho Local College Base
Ball Season.
GENERAL SPORTING NOTES

President N. E. Young has appointed the
following gentlemen On his staff of UNI
pires for this season, all of whom are un-
der contract:
Sheridan, Lynch, Hurst, Emslie, Keefe,
Weidmaa and Henderson, with Dan Camp
bell as substitute.
With the exception of Weidman and Hen
derson, IL ese men are well known as able
and competent Lynch is a severe diScip-
linarian, and somewhat imperious in man
ner in his intercourse with players, which
seriously detfacts from his popularity. At
the same time he is thoroughly conversant
with the rules governing the game, and be-
1eVed to be entirely honest and impartial
in his DECISIONS. He has the courage Of
Ills convictions, and the nerve to express
them.
Bob Emslie understands the game in all
its lntrlcacies, maintains good order on
the field, is quick in his decisions, decides
plays as he sees them. and maintains his
He has been upon President Young's staff
Tor years, and Is highly esteemed by that
gentlems n.
Tim Hurst, whose name is a household
word among base ball admirers keeps the
Toys playing ball from the time the gong
sounds, and will not brook bulldozing or
Eack talk. He understands mis- business
IN an It's departments. The patrons of the
matters
VIII run along smoothly when Tim Hurst
Is doing the umpiring.
Inn keefe, who got through the season
iast year SO successfully, is competent
self valuable man upon Mr. Young's
staf. He Is known all over the country.
1is Work as umpire has been of the high
est order. AID has been stamped with the
approval Of Pre- sident Young
Hardy Henderson, one of the new an
pointees, is an old ball player, and was
upon Mr.. Young's staff of umpires a short
u sime last season. His work was SO salts
MIN fixture upon his staff He is delib-
crate in his judgment, firm in his dec:s-
ions, and said to be thoroughly unpreiu-
diced and impartial.
Geo. E. Weidman has during tho sbor+
time he has been umpiring won golden
OPINIONS for honest, faithful and comDe-
tent work. and gives unm:stakable promise
OF orllhant future in the field he has
CHOSEN. he won fame on the diamond as
a pitcher of the Detroit world CHAMPION
nine.
Dan Campbell of PHILADELPHIA. who did
sucn satisfactory work last season, while
iSpor1ns under the shadow of a cloud of
uoinestic misfortune, has been selected as
substitute, and the appointment gives en-
Hre satisfaction to clubs who witnessed
mis- work last season.
President Young believes that tho nres-
enI corps of umpires is strong one
Ihese gentlemen said he, will be in
structed to be vigilant and attentive in
every detail of their duties. and To he Of
all times impartial and unpreiudiced to
closeiy watch every play, and make their
uecisson upon the facts as thew believe
tnem 10 nave occurred l had rather a
thousand times have an incompetent nm
pfre than one upon whom the least ta;nt of
suspicion of dishonesty should attach
htefbody knows that it is matter of
phxsical impossibility for an umpire to give
entlre satisfaction upon ball field. For in
stance, a decision is frequently critizad
and the umpire denounced by people in the
srand stand or on the bleachers occupyinp
a position from which it would be impossi-
Die Tor them to know anything about the
correctness Of the decision. The s:mpla
lact that some player had made kick was
10 them proof that the umpire was irving
10 10 TOD ss their club out of the game. Where
as II they had witnessed the play from the
nmplres standpoint, the chances are that
IN IN thelr dlspassionate AMI honest Judgment
they ley would have decided as he did.
y, uo hot Wlsn TO be understood as say
ing, or believing that ump.res do not MAKE
mistakes They all do. There is no human
being who is or could be infallibie on inde
ment upon any question. Yet in this con
nect1on do claim that an umpire, whose
business is to continually notice plays as
they occur, Is better qualified to judge cor
fectly than persons occupying seats in the
aueitorium. whose attention is not especial
~ directed III that direction, and as long as
| believe the umpire is acting conscientions
ly will indorse his work When / believe
that he Is actuated by other than motives
OF the str1ctest integrity, 1 will put the
stamp OF my condemnation upon his ac-
tiCns by an immediate dismissal Umpires
VIII also be instructed that the PLAYING
rules as adopted by the league, are to be
the guide of their conduct and actions and
must be obeyed in letter and spirit
If the owners and mana gers Will co-on-
crate with the umpire to this end-and 7
oeleve they w!ll-harmony and order will
prevail upon the ball field. If a refractory
or turbulent player is fined and put ont Of
the game and field at a period when the
success or the team absolutely depends
upon mis- services, the injury to his club is
for the time being irreparable Therefore
an additional application of a fine bv the
manager would he wholesome and neces-
sary for the clubs own protection. and in
my opinion would prevent recurrence
Bali players are not in the business alto
sether for their health, and when a fine is
ihf;cted they will see that it is a condition
ana not theory that confronts them
Inls great national sport has been kent
from all entangling associations with the
worst element Of society, and for this rea
son the honor and integrity of the eana
has been maintained
Ihe attendance upon our games nv the
very best element of society-both ladies'
ana gentlemen-is sufficient guarantee that
the sport-in moral sense-is wholesome
and free from immoral tendencies and ca
long as 1t is kept upon this high plane of
popular approval it will be indorsed bv ail
gccd citizens" ~ "A