San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-04-25

says: Two great surprises of Sat-
urday's games were the defeat of Dali
las and San Antonio by Fort Worth
and Austin respectively"
-
Milochi Kittridge, the famous catch
er of the Chicagos, tells funny story
in the following manner: About the
funniest decision 1 ever heard of was
made by an umpire down Brockton
way in "a. The game was between
Brockton and Lynn, and for fourteen
innings the teams played hard ball
The rivalry between the towns was in
tense, and a dozen times it seemed as
if the umpires lift was in danger
Finally the score was to 2, with Lynn
at the bat, two men out, and darkness
coming fast A big fellow named
Hastings was at the bat and he hit
the ball hard. They had been playing
with a ball that had the cover torn,
and Hastings hit ripped the seams
open. Old Ed. Purdy was playing left
and went back fast after the ball.
He reached it with two fingers, held
the cover, but the ball went on, and
Hastings went around. There was a
big wrangle, and the umpire gave
Lynn the game by a score of 212 to 2.
That is the only time on record where
a half run won the game"
Paris was defeated yesterday be-
caused they have no hitters. Her men
are fine fielders-the chances are that
there are none better in the leagu-
but there are only two or three even
average hitters in the lot-Dallas
News.
Il don't understand the San Antonio
Austin games" remarked a fan to the
writer last Wednesday night. Aus
tin wonthe first game, San Antonio
the second Austin the third, San An
tonic the fourth and Austin the fifth"
he continued. 1T seems to me that
these games are arranged in that man
ner in order to create excitement"
This fan was lonesome the balance of
the night and finally took a sneak.
Allison Jack has not yet proven him
self a shining success as an umpire,
but he has one thing down to admir-
able shape-he gives the spectators, as
we'll as the players to understand that
he is master of the field. This is half
of the umpire's success alone. He does
not argue with anyone, but merely
tells them what to do, and they gen.
orally do it. There may be better UNI
pires than AL. Jack, but there are also
many worse ones. President Heuer-
mann has therefore wisely overlooked
a number of complaints that he re-
ceived during the Austin series for the
removal of Jack to some other town,
requesting that Jack Brennan be
transferred to San Antonio. If the
desires of the tickle baseball cranks
were adhered to regarding the trans
fer of umpires, these officials would
have to spend all their salaries in rail-
road fares. The writer admits that he
has severely criticised and comment
ed on several of Umpire Jacks decis-
ions in the Austin series, but that is
no reason that he shall be transferred.
The next umpire that would come
along would probably do we'll for one
or two games, but as soon as his first
error would be noticed, Mr.. Heuer-
mann would have to get another UNI
piTe to satisfy the Cranks. An UNI
pire is like a ball player and a ball
player is like any other ordinary hui
man, apt to mistakes. But the crank
does not look at it in that light, and
this may be one of the attractive
charms Of the game. Speaking about
umpires, Ed. Clark has had all kinds
of trouble over at Galveston in the
opening games. Everybody in San
Antonio last year pronounced Clark
the finest umpire that has ever been
here. That's so, too, for Clark can
umpire in splendid style if he wants
to- He gets all over the field and his
decisions are clear and accurate.
Wonder what got into him over in
Galveston. The Tribune of April 10,
handles him thusly: "A person named
Clark went through the motions of
umpiring the games of baseball at
Beach park Saturday and yesterday
Mr.. Clark is perhaps a real nice per-
son, but he is no more justified to UNI
pire a professional game of baseball
Jndn Is q BLACKSMITH 10 make u WAUGH.
AS Galveston won the two games, it
can be understood that it is no case
of sour grapes that brings out this
criticism of Mr. Clark. There is no
question about the umpire's perfect in
tegrity and effort to do right, but he
is about as poor judge of balls and
strikes as has ever been inflicted upon
the public, and his ideas about the
rules are peculiar to himself.
Ford Dix sends the Light the follow
ing dates for the Topo Chico team:
At Memphis, with the Cliffords, April
20 and q; at Jackson, with the South
eastern Baptist University team, APP
ril %; at Nashville, with Billy Works
Central league team, April % and "a.
Houston opened the baseball season,
at home last Tuesday by defeating
Galveston. A large crowd was present
and Mayor Rice, Of Houston. tossed