The times., 1897-07-18
The Home Umpire's Ruling

You talk about your home umpiresH
says George Decker. Il had an expert
enCe with one of them one time that
was a home umpire and no mistake. l
guess pretLy-near every indicator handler
on Uncle Nick's staff has been accused
this yeaI Of being home umpire, but IL
youd seen the boy that l was against
perform, you'd admit right there and then
that he was the only perfect specimen
Of home umpire in the world
1T was three years ago this coming
fail that l ran across this chap that 1 m
telling You about 1t was just after the
close of the League season, and a certain
Hoosier team had sent up to Chicago for
a battery with which they could go over
and trip, team of deadly rivals that
were located in Lafayette, Ind. Abbey had
been pitching for Anson that summer, and
he and l heard about the request for
battery, and soon fixed up matters
whereby we were to don the uniforms
OF the HoOsier team and lead them to
the much-desired victory over Lafayette
foTour expenses and consideration. Wei,
down into Indiana we went, and after
Abbey and 1 arranged our signs I put
on mask, and the game started, with
ilOLG III balt l-didst 1dnb SuSltGllIB
where We hailed from.
The man who had been agreed upon
to umpire the game was an old fellow
with "a set of gray whiskers and a checked
suit Of clothes that even a boy from The
BoweIy would blush to wear He was
supposed TO. be the boss fan of the town, l
believe, aud as no outsider could be Sc
cured, the captain of the team we were
with agreed TO the old fellow after Abbey
had called MIN off to one side and assured
him there was no chance fer Us to lose
an nyhow. That umpire was peach! He
evidently realized that he was there to
60 with the home team on every possible
occasion, and some of his decisions we've
certainly corkers. Abbey was in pretty
good form that day aud the Lafayette team
couldn't do very much with him, while
| our team found the'other pitcher easy. and
by Dangin : the ball out where there wasno
| chance for an argument with the umpire
managed to get well off in the lead
In the last couple Of inning the home tcam
| and the umpire grew desperate and after
nilihg one of the Lafayette players 10
|, first On balls tnat Were strikes, he called
another one safe when he was out by
| ten feet There is when he made the star
| decision of the day. One Of the home
| batters hit little easy bounder down 20
| Abbey, and he snatched it and sent 1t
| fast to the first baseman in order to beat
| the runner out SO far that there would be
| no chance for any argument on the out.
| The runner was only half way to the base
| when the ball got there, but that lidn t
make much difference to the umpire.
] The old fellow scratched his head for {.
minute aud then motioned the batter, who
had stopped and started back TO the bench,
| tc go on to his base.
What's the natter" asked Abbey
| Hes safe!' said Mr.. Umpire.
Safe? How do you make that out?'
=" Look at your rules replied his
| whiSkers
Wen, what's in the rules that ma kes
him safe?' asked Abbey.
WHY, Just this, said his nobs In the
checkered suit, as he dug up a copy OF the
| rules and shook 1T in the faces of all the
team, who had oy this time gathered -ound
him; these rules say that the ball must be
throH Hn to first TO put the runner outi
'''weli. what did I do-kick 1t there?'
| roared Abbey.
We'll yon didn't throw it,, said Mr..
| Umpire as he pulled out his watch You
pitched lsi I'll give you five minutes "a
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