The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-08
FREEDMAN ON UMPIRES.
SAYS SOME ARE IvooMP ETBNT AND
GIVES HIS REASONS.

N
Andrew Freedman. President of the New York
Baseball Club. arrived hero from q months
vacation abroad yesterday. He saw tho two
games at the Polo Grounds In the afternoon and
was extremely pleased with tho fine showing
Of his team.
The men have done their duty and I really
believe they will figure In the Temple Cup So
ries,'' said Mr.. Freedman to II Sun reporter.
They have been playing great ball and / am
moro than satisfied with them. Joyce's han
ding Of the team has been entirely satisfactory.
and he will continue at the head OF tho nine. No
changes arc contemplated Just now. for we are
winning. and that is all anybody can ask.
You can state emphaticully for me, though. we
would now DO in frat place II we had received
any kind Of a fair deal from the umplres in tho
West. We lost game after game on both trips
West through the incompetency Of the I'M
pires. who were afraid to give US our rights be-
cause they were either incompetent or lacked
the courage OF their convictions.
"When / blame the umpires / do not moan all
OF them. Some arc nrst-clnss officials who give
entire satisfaction, and who are fair to all
teams. There are others, though, who are not
only ignorant OF the rudiments OF baseball. but
who have no business on a ball field from a
moral point of view. The appointment of such
umpires is and has been in every case duo TO
lno TebiutnJ VI tnO ENhIiOlhl LcRkuC, n. E.
Young. He has selected men TO umpire games on
hearsay recommendations, and they have gone
out upon the diamond and Numbered until they
precipitated riots. He has deliberately placed
these same incompetents in the path Of the New
York club away from home, SO that we have
suffered. 1t Is my idea that his methods have
been Intentionally in opposition to the New
York clubs interests, for at home here we have
had the strictest umpiros on the staff. who gave
us none the best OF their rulings.
Incompetent umpires are easily intimidatcd.
and that has been the case in several cities we
have visited where these officials have presided
over the games. Here in New York one never
hears about umpires being threatened with
bodily harm II they do not give every decision
In favor of the home club. Tho crowds here are
very fair. and umpires. whether competent or
not, are not afraid to give q fair show to a visit
ing team"
why 10 1t that the League clubs do not insist
upon their players %obeying, the rules against
Kicking J. the reporter asked.
some. OF. them do" was the reply. The
New York club has never been an advocate OF
taSiaP IN Of Fn rSwd of "Ies ON or %ao oiI s she ilelq As H Pfes +
dent Of the club l condemn such tactics as have
disgraced the ball Held this year. The New
no serious kicking except in Louisville and Gin
cinnatt, where they were not only deliberately
robbed by incompetent and dishonest umpires,
THE Boston. Philadelphia. and Chicago
clubs. like this club. are. and always have been,
opposed to dirty ball. The teams represented
by these clubs are not composed of rowdies., and
the records show 1t. The Baltimorcs may kick
some. but the owner OF the club. Harry Won der
Horst. Is a true sportsman and wants to win by
fair means. / am sure that these clubs | men
ton. therefore. do not countenancc kicking on
the held and will Join any movement to sup
kicking has been going on for such a length
OF time in baseball that it has come TO be regard
cd as part OF the game. The players are human.
prived OF their rights they are bound to rebel.
But In a game like these two here to-day kicking
ie an impossibility. O'Day calling balls behind
the bat and Carpenter judging the base de-
cisions are in the best positions to see all the
PP HIM are nee s,s asg u NOM .n hpeesf dc sna t., tni he
fair. Their work beautifully illustrates whGtI
have advocated for three years, the double
does that make when the reputation OF the game
it, arc better than one. They can see all the
plays. and are able to back each other up:
know how hard it is to keep account OF balls
and strikes and at the same time watch the de-
elsions on the bases. The motion to adopt the
double umpire system will come up at the next
meeting OF the League and 1t will receive strong
DO you attribute. then. all the trouble on tho
held this year to incompetent umpires = was
mot all Of It. Serious trouble. which has be-
como Infectious, has beer bred by the Cincinnati
Club through its officials, players. hangers on,
and the public Of that city. The methods in
vogue in Cincinnati in order to win games are
who controls the club. II some OF the things
they, would bring the blush OF shame to the
cheeks Of every American sportsman The New
Philadelphias. and other teams have been cub
jected to treatment tina. is almost incredible.
wh hMh 1Ss1 kind nsr% of pfE2 vSier run tb the m Cincinnati and Gl hio
players TO put a drug into the water TO be drunk
by the New York players. as was the case during
but I Is true just the same. as Joyce and all OF
the New York PLAYERS can attest: which shows
how much they try to promote the best interests
''The treatment accorded not only the New
Yorks but also other League teams in CinCin-
natl has caused no end Of trouble. Whenever
the New Yorks arrived in town they found
we're intended to turn popular opinion against
them, When they got to the, grounds they were
OF the sport, who used language in the hearing OF
women that was unhtto print. During the game
e ero 1% and By VS." supp sS"sdIIsn resspe eeihe1 pers oS sf IN
the grand stand that unless no robbed the New
Yorks he would be slugged. Good plays by the
called the vilest Of names whenever they came
within earshot OF the spectators.
a tho hotcls even our team was insulted
and persons looking for fight were continually
hanging about: As result Of al these unfair
tactics, which are always ,y prevalent. the Cincin'
most OF them by one run. They were also en-.
abl9d to stay up At the top OF the League race
until very recently.
ITO persons who knew nothing OF the doings
at CINCINNATI, the slump OF the Reds when
ever they played away from their own
grounds was In the nature OF a sur
prise. But the reason Is very plain.
Without unfair umpires who were afraid of
their lives. without partisan crowds, and with
a square deal on strange grounds. they have
been unable to win. and are now fourth. Ewing,
Bancroft, and others at the head OF the Cincln.
natl Club admitted. / am told. last week. that
during the series at the Polo Grounds they never
received better or more fair treatment from the
umpires and the public In any League city, and
yet they could win only one game out OF Ave.
1t has been said that they played clean ball
here, and that they did not Kick or otherwise
miBbehaye. Very true. But there WAS a reason
for IT. Their dirty tactics at homo had been
made known. and they were afraid Of the news.
papers and the public here. They know that
dirty ball would not be tolerated. SO they played
clean ball and were beaten ON their merits.
with these things In view. therefore. I do
not believe anybody will fail to see that tho
Cincinnati Club officials have fostered rowdy-
ism in its worst form. BY a single word from
Brush, Ewing. Bancroft, or any body In author
ity. these evils could be stopped. But they are
allowed to 20 on Just the same. and what ID tho
RESULT Visiting teams have to fight for their
rights, and In that way the players get into
the habit of resorting to similar methods to win
when they get on their own grounds, The New