Evening star., 1899-04-10
AN ODD PROFESSION
Impressions of a Base Ball Umpire
in His Peculiar Vocation.
PLUCK and ENERGY REQUIRED
How to Get an Appointment and
What to Expect Afterward.
LYNCH'S CHEERING LETTER

Young man. you complain of the profess
sicns being overcrowded-of the lack of op-
pOrtuniiy TO display your pluck and en-
eIgy? Have You ever thought of umpiring
Peculiar business. to be sure. but not with
out it's attractive side. Take an imaginary
dash over the field with the writer, who has
traversed it in reality, and see if you will
like it, The hard, exactng work the
diamond-the protesting players and fren-
zied spectators-will hardly harmonic with
your ideas of a peaceful vocation. Still.
two hours a day will see this unpleasant
task done: so that allowing eight hours for
rest. you have fourteen remaining for sight
seeing, travel or study. And when you re-
call that in the last decade seventy millions
of people have produced less than dozen
successful arbiters of the national game
you have proof that the field is not over
worked. 1t may be encouraging. also. to
remember that the umpiring has had little
share in the development of base ball
science to its present status; so men of
real merit are always sought There has
been Improvement of course, over those
ante-bellum times when the umpire, safely
enscouced on a stool some distance in rear
of the batsman. felt himself capable not
only TO render decisions, but to hold a
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But as a whole the progress has been 50
slight that umpiring remains to this day
the most unsatisfactory element of the ma
tional game.
Qualifications and EInOIuments.
As in all other professions. you cannot
jump into that of umpiring minus certain
qualifications and preliminary training.
You will need to be quick of eye and fleet
of foot your bump of discretion and judg-
II IL ha 90
of your convictions and the nerve to face
angry crowds. Then. if you know the game
and its rules-haye Umpired amateur and
seTni-professiOnal contests-you may feel
warranted to try for appointment in one
of the big professional leagues. Aim for
the highest-the National League-of course
If you're the right man you will succeed
there as readily as in mfnor organization.
The work is all the same; the boys on the
lots will stand for no more mistakes than
the higheSt-Salaried professionals.
Let us suppose you have obtained the in
dorsement of some well-known club owner
or manager. and the president of the
league. Nick" Young. has appointed you
on trial You may feel somewhat disap-
pointed with the pay offered you. Most
applicants are of the impression an UNI
o. pire's salary is on par with that of a
congressman. The fact is the average ball
player is better paid than "the master of
the field You may expect about 81 .C4J for the
six months as a starter; if you have made
Il minor league reputation. add S2JD more
The highest salary paid is between 81, 100
and 81. $40, and the few umpires who receive
II have been in harness for years In addi
tion to your salary, however. you will be
allowed S2.jn day for hotel expenses, and
mileage books Will be furnished, good over
NEST railroads. All sleeping car and other
transportation extras you charge to the
league. Bills for hack hire and laundry are
barred-as one umpire learned tohis sorrow.
a confidential schedule will be furnished
You covering the first half of the season.
If lucky. you may follow this for a month.
Then comes corrected copy. and, if you
are of discerning turn of mind. YOU will
notice certain advance dates altered. This
means YOU have become unpopular in some
community and cannot return until the
robbery you perpetrated has been partly
forgotten.
One Tnpire's Start.
Much depends. Of course. on the start you
make. Compelling the players to respect
You is half the battle. Give them an inch
they take a yard-and you are lost. For
tune may favor You and offer chance to
show your nerve, and thereby win a repu-
tation- Remember, it was peculiar Incl
dent that brought Tom Lynch the pres
ent "Czar of the diamond into renown.
In the latter eighties he was called from
his post in a minor league to Washington
TO show his prowess in the way of running
National League contests. He was up
against it,. 50 to speak. from the first.
everything seeming to go wrong the first
two days. When Lynch stepped on the
field of old Capitol Park for the third game
he was an unpopular man. In the course of
the afternoon one of his decisions again
put the crowd edge and started a
demonstration During its progress a big
St Bernard-massive enough to sport a
small keg on its collar ornament
jumped over into the playing field. The cat
calls and Kisses of the displeased spectators
at once excited the animal. which began
n mad rush around the field driving most
of the players into the stands. The umpire
in his blue uniform. finally became a mark
the frenZied dog making straight for
Lynch. who stood near the plate. In less
time than il takes TO tell it the brute had
Jumped upon and planted its paws on the
umpire's chest. 1t was critical moment
during which the clam0r of the crowd sub
sided Lynch. however. was equal to the
occasion. and. firmly grasping the dogs
collar. he quietly led the dangerous intruder
off the field. When the umpire returned
bareheaded. and his blouse torn he was
given an ovation. That was how one um-
pire won fame for courage.
The principal advice you receive at league