The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-10-16
JACK sHERrDAN's RETIREMENT.
Hero Of Many Diamond Battles II
Now an UndsrtahsA


known as the Human Foghorn. After
twenty years continuous service In
seven different leagues, lodging
bricks, bottles and epithsts, the vet
eran Is about to retire to the simple
life among the collins.
There is expert testimony on tap,
north, east, south and west, to prove
that I'm a bank robber, hod carrier,
horse thief, second story worker and
murderer. could work at any OF
those trades and make good money;
but undertaking will hold me for
while"
Thus 1t appears that Jack has not
missed any Of the tips handed out
in twenty busy years. No better or
squarer umpire than Sheridan ever
travelled the circuit, and the Ameri-
tinuous performance Of twenty years
is sufficient recommendation for any
man, when you consider the nature
Of the business In which he was en-
gagged. Some of the umpires do not
last twenty minutes.
We were about to say Sheridan Is
as good as any man who ever wore
the pad and indicator, but he uses
neither. A twenty-five cent necktie
is the only armor hung upon his
broad chest, and sometimes for
bluff he peeked into his empty hand.
Jack has been long enough In the
business to count three strikes and
four balls without the aid of me-
chanical appliances. This Is not a
rap at the other umpires.
A saving sense Of humor pulled
Sheridan through many a tight cam
paign. He saw the funny side Of the
tumults and riots, and adverse criti-
cisms never touched him. 1t was to
laugh. He is man Of intelligence
and education, with a well shaped
head and cleanly cut features like
those of the early Romans.
Here is a sample Of Jacks sunny
humor that stung the fanatics from
Detroit After announcing the bat
teries In the final game Of the set,
the umpire turned his solemn visage
once more to the crowd and let off
this little valedictory:
Ladies and gentlemen: This is
the farewell appearance in Detroit of
Jack Sheridan as an umpire. Be-
fore departing forever, wish to
thank one and all for the many cor
dial receptions given me here.
Never will / forget your generous
treatment. / leave Detroit with but
one sincere regret, and that is the
rules of the game would not permit
me to accept your thousand and one
kindly invitations to come under the
grand stand and get my block
knocked off,"
That anti-climax, worked up with
much tender feeling and sentiment,
Jared the fanatics off their balance.
A dumb, deathly silence followed
the last five words OF the speech.
Then came great roar of laughter,
and Jack got a tremendous burst Of
applause They never did esteem
him In Detroit. In the third round
he gave a ruling the home team did
mt like, and voice in the bleachers
howled:
I'VE don't care II you never come
back!"
However, the umpire had handed
the crowd one, and his soul was at
peace.
Sheridan was born at Decatur, ILL.,,
how many years ago he didn't state.
At the age of one year he went to
California, with others in the party,
and there developed the robust
physique and voice that enabled him
to stand the gaff as an umpire. For
time he played ball on the coast,
and then set forth on his travels.
Some of the things that happened to
the future undertaken are herewith
related.
Umpires OF to-day imagine they
have troubles. Forget 1t! Arbitrat-
ing at the present era Is like picking
cherries or drinking pink tea with
the ladies. st. Louis used to be
gantlet kept him in condition.
"In 1895 and 1897 Won der Ahe's
combination ball park and race track
was In operation. From the home
plate the umpire passed through a
picket fence, crossed an open space
or paddock seventy-f1ve yards in
width. and popped under the stand,
Well. 1t was crossing this open
stretch after the game that gave the
umpire the time of his life. / never
made the dash without thinking of
Munroe's dime novels, where the In
dians stuck burning arrows into the
fleeing white man.
"The minute the game ended the
rooters poured into the open space.
and formed two solid lines from the
gate in the fence to the hole undSr
the stand. That vas the gantlet the
poor ump had to run. The space be-
tween the living lines was about six
feet. If the umpire escaped the
canes, umbrellas and beer bottles on
that seVenty-five yard sprint, he
stood a chance of having a beer keg