The sun., 1897-10-10
SPALDING ON UMPIRING.
says Club Omciais Arc TO Blame for the Present
Evils.

SPALDIHG ON UMPIRIN9.
says Club Omciais Are TO Blame for the Present
Evils.
With baseball on tho diamond practically at
an end tho wire pulling and political man@u-
vring OF the magnates begins. At the coming
fall meeting of the National League to be held
in Philadelphia the most important question to
be considered ia a remedy for rowdyism by
players on the field, and the consequent abuse
of umpircs. From time to time THE SUN dur
ing the past two months has published inter
views with various baseball men who have en-
dcavorcd to show the reasons why all this turs
moil on the diamond has been permitted to go
on. Nobody, however, has struck at the root
of the evil more forcibly than A. G. Spalding,
exPrcsident OF the Chicago Club MIR. Spal-
ding has been out of the affairs OF the League and
the Chicago Club for some time, but he is an ar
dent enthusiast and watches the various Incl
dents in baseball with unboundcd interest.
When asked for solution OF the present
problems which confront the League. Mr.. Spald-
ing said:
Tho Governor Of New York State is elected
to enforce the laws as he finds them. II he
does so he receives the loyal support Of the
people. II he wavers or is any way lenient.
then ne wcakens his own position. The UNI
pires, who arc supposed to be governors Of
tho field. are appointed by the League to en-
force the rules Us they nnd them. II they do.
they are entitled TO the support and commcnda-
ton OF the League, public, ami press. II they do
not, there must be an excellent reason for IL.
II happened TO meet a National League um.
p!re not long ago, and asked HIM why he and
the other umpIres didn't put u stop TO rowdy-
ism inasmuch as the rules gave to him plenty
OF power. He said to me:
MIR. Spalding. you have been n ball player,
and you certainly know what excitement pro
walls on the ball field during game. We are
Onlt tnn Ntanl ~. Et.lsVt but Na
officials Of the clubs are III our way. II we fine
ana put player out OF the game, make cost
ly decision against either team, WE are prompt
ly protested, and request IS sent 10 the Prcsi-
dent OF the League TO remove us to some other
city; In short, there is SO much for US TO con,
tend with that we are afraid OF losing our bread
and butter.
AS / understand H." continued Mr.. spal-
ding, that is the source OF all the trouble. The
club officials are not willing to stand by the
rules which they have framed to make the game
free from existing evils. 1t is probably unin-
territorial on their part, but it ID nevertheless
the cause of all the trouble.
The umpire should be upheld by the League
at any cost, even though his decisions may be
wrong. He should 80 upon the field as the
official representative OF the National League,
the cost OF falling off in attendance. II a
player insults him, ii is an insult TO the League,
/ and the offender should be promptly lned and
| put of the field in disgrace. II an umpire
fails to enforce the rules as they are printed, l
League staff But under no. circumstances
| should an umpire be removed for lining disor-
derly players or for making poor decisions.
crooked or deliberately showed Partially 10 u
certain club. it would then be necessary 10 nail
him TO the wall by forever biacklisling him.
1T 10 easy to realize how club official hnds
fault with an umpire. 1o may be the Prcsi.
dent. director, manager, or secretary of a ball
team. He sits in the grand stand surrounded
! by friends and followers of the team. II is a
| close game, and the umpire Is called upon TO
| make a close decision. II happens to be
against the home team. The crowd raises a
! by his friends to have the umpire removed.
The game Is finally won by the visitors. who
Se % of S x
lore to the President Of the League, who Is lit
| orally forced to take the umpire away, although
rectly and with commendable fairness;
"The League men and club officials should
dent Of the League II / occupied lie place and
had the handling OF the umpires, ] would ALSO
to Which he had been assigned m BY me. in spite Of
umpire to be honest ! would compel The yari.
attendance fell OF or not. When ! was Presi.
dent OF the Chicago Club there were many 90
casions when people came to me after game
us sG1 paSyS yOq obsTo hsys t thss pSps S1 o
ing and so out at second base
Well. he is the Judge Of play was my an.
ever, and he Is sent sent here re- BY the League
That was the only way to aot, and the people
of Chicago soon came TO realize that the uIn.
pirc's word was law. 1t, Is therefore. a ques-
tlon which all club officials can settle Ifthey
will back the unpircs up and turn deaf ears to
s hs 81 srss sst' vdoy SG
most popular, because cloan ball has been
tho account OF the first Boston Baltimore game
in THE SUN and found that the teams had re-
Trained from rowdyism, ! Immediately wired
been in that series In Baltimore felt II NY
| duty as lover OF clean sport TO commend the
| managers and players for their good boha vior
| and their evident desire to do the national game
| no harm.
"If at the coming League meeting the club
officials will get together and change their
| policy In regard to the umpire question, base
ball will boom. for tho paying patrons of the
game like fair play at all times
| League umpire. before leaving for his home in
| New Britain, Conn, called at TIE Sun office
and expressed himself as folows:
"In behalf OF the unpires OF the National
League deem Il my ,duty. to heartily thank THE
! sun for what 1t has done for us this season. Tho
fairness with which II has reported tho games at
both the Polo grounds and Eastern Park. and its
| fenrlessness in showing up the methods Of kick.
ers on the ball field, has al last made the work of
| the umpires here n pleasure. There was time
| when the lot OF an umpire was Just az hard in
| Greater New York as In some other League
cities, but, thenks to THE Sun. things have
! changed.
II wish you would say for me that have no
| idea OF preferrng charges against Doyle OF tho
| Rnltimores for his assault upon mo In Boston.
| 1t has been currently reported that ! would do
! 30 at the coming League meeting In Philadel.
! phia but there Is nothing In 1t. Doyle should
/ receive a reprmand no doubt, for his behavior,
, hut that is an affair which does not interest
| me"