Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-07-25
WATERFOWL, 9; JEFFERSON, O.
Ball Game Sunday Awarded to Water
town Dy the Umpire-Jefferson
Refused to Finish the Game.

|
Much to everybody's dissatisfaction
and to the discredit of the Jefferson
club, the first game of the series be-
! tween Watertown and Jefferson,
played at Washington park Sunday
! afternoon, terminated in controversy
! which compelled the umpire-Mr.
! Umbreit, of Beaver Dam-to declare
Watertown the winner, 9 to @. 1t is
unfortunate for the good of the sport
that such heated wrangling as was
had over this game is allowed to oc-
cur. 1t detracts from the true in
terest OF the ordinary spectator and
tends to keep him away from future
games. Ii only the players and
managers could comprehend this fact
| it would mean money in their pockets.
The weather Sunday was of the
ideal sort fer ball playing and the
park contained large crowd of
''cranks," about 800 of whom were
labeled jefferson. .'Adonisn Terry, for
merly Of the Chicago and Milwaukee
league teams, was in the box for the
home team, and opposing him was
Eddie Heimerl, the puzzling sOuthpaw.
Jefferson presented strong front
with the addition of two Oshkosh
players, Hanford and Metzler, while
Watertown had its regular team out
side of FERRY. Under these favorable
conditions the sweltering enthusiasts
were primed for battle royal and
such it was up to the time Of the un-
fortunate disagreement.
1t all happened in this way: The
last half of the eighth inning was
being played; Jefferson at bat.
Snap Roessler led off with clean
single. L. Heimerl followed with
grounder to Krebs, who made neat
pickup, but threw low to Kronitz, the
ball being dropped. Heimerl was
safe, but in returning to the bag after
overrunning it he turned to the left
instead Of to the right and was prompt
ly put out by Kronitz. The umpire
called the runner out, and then the
row began. The entire Jefferson
team surrounded the umpire and en-
deavored to have him change his de-
~ ordered Heimerl to the bench.
The latter refused to leave first base
and the umpire. after giving due
warning, awarded the game to Water
town by q score of to O.
In pursuing the course they did.
the Jeffersons certainly acted very
childish and sportsmanlike, but it
was only repetition Of former
actions on their part and perhaps
could not have been otherwise expect
ed. Granting that Mr.. Umbrelt made
very poor record as umpire (and he
certainly was way off at times), the
Jefersons ought to be sufficiently versed
in baseball knowledge to know that
he could not under any circumstances
change d decision of the sort he rem
dered on Heimerl. If he was wrong.
it was simply an error of judgment
and not q misinterpretation of the
rules. The JeffersOns should have
continued TO play ball, as their chances
OF winning out were excellent. The
score was only 4 to against them;
they were hitting the ball hard; Roess-
Ter was on third and sacrifice hit
would have scored him. The other
necessary runs to win might have
been forthcoming, but in refusing to
accept the umpire's ruling they re-
linquished all their chances.
The game was an exciting one and
witnessed some pretty work. Terry
pitched strong ball in tight places,
although he did not try for a strike
out record. The Jefersons hit his
delivery quite hard, but could not
place their hits safely. On the other
side Heimerl had only one bad inning
tho second-when he gave two bases
on balls, hit a batsman, and allowed
single and double to be made at
opportune times. During all the rest
Of the game he was extremely effec-
tive and received perfect support.
Aside from the wrangle above re-
corded, another lengthy dispute oc-
CURED in the seventh inning, when
Bienfang in running to second base
collided with Schaetzke, making the
latter drop Kleinow's perfect throw
to head off the runner. At first the
| umpire decided that oienfang was out
| for interference but he afterward
changed the decision upon reference
being made to the rules affecting the
case. In notable contrast to effer-
sons baby act over the subsequent
decision was Watertown's manly course
in abiding by This decision, although
it resulted in giving Jefferson two
runs.
| The details Of the game are told in
| the tabulated score:
WATERTOWN. Alb r 1B PO ]