The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-04-07
TRIALS OF BALL UMPIRES
SAME OLD ABUSE HEATED ON THEM BY PLAYERS AND FANS.

'HOnest John" Kelly. John Gafney
 and Bob Ferguson Former Kings
 A Judge of Play Who was Driven
 Insane-NIngistrate Still Winking
 at the Rowdles.
 It has often been said that the task of umpiring professional baseball games is a thankless one, and that only man of iron nerve can stand the constant strain caused by the abuse heaped on him by the players and the more un- sportsmanlike patrons of the game, Some of those unfortunate individuals have been driven into retirement, suf- fering from shattered nerves and brok- en hearts, but there are a few, now in retirement, who look back with some pleasure to their experience With the indicator.
 The average ball player is loath to admit that there is really a first class umpire in the profession. At some time or another the best judges of play make errors in their rulings which cause marrow minded players to be their life long enemies There are men who have withdrawn from active baseball play ing who consistently declare that they never got a square deal from an umpire and who cannot be convinced that the handlers of the ball and strike indlca- tor were men on the level Yet In the history of baseball nos umpire has eyer been charged with dishonesty, although many have been accused of incompe- tency.
 Honest John" Kelly, now ( sporting man of this city, who refereed several glove fights, including the Corbett- Mitchell and the Corhett-Sharkey af- fairs was probably one of the best um- pires that ever worked for the National League. Kelly, six-footer and man Io of cold nerve, was a ezar on the ball field. He was quick Witted, keen eyed and determined to suppress the row dies. His word was law, and he com manded general respect. But there wa just one incident in his career that he will probably never forget, and that was a run-in with Dude Esterbrook which was short and sweet.
 Kelly called Esterbrook down one day, and the latter showed fight. Kelly had a reputation as a rough and tuni- hIe artist, and when he agreed to meet Esterbrook in the dressing room after the game the players expected to see the Dude quickly done up. But the moment Kelly put up his hands Ester brook began to put the punches all over l him. and he kept 1t up until Honest 1 John" cried enough.
 John Gaffney was another star um- pire in his day. He was king amone 1 the players and ruled them with rod of iron. But toward the close of hls career his habits were not exactly good, and he lost his grip until one day In l Harlem Pat Tebeau deaed him and so grossly insulted him that Gaffney left the field in tears, with policemen all around him.
 | Bob Ferguson also was a competent l judge of play in the old days. Always firm in his decisions, he stood no non sense and was popular even with the most evacting fans. When Tom Lynch, an artist in his line first became Na- tional League umpire he was generally ridiculed because of his method of call- ing out decisions. He was also dubbed "The Postman," for the reason that he persisted in wearing 8 uniform Of pray flannel, with cap that had straight leather visor. Lynch soon convinced AL. Ataat |, tpa tbn Gtpr Of the situation. He absolutely refused to indulge in arguments and quickly pun ished kickers either with fines or expul- sion from the game. It did not take him long to become the best umpire in the business. and though an autocrat of the diamond he enjoyed the conti- dence of the public and a majority of the players.
 Lynch resigned from the league staff in 1895, however. He declared that the New York club had tried to intimidate him. He had fined Doyle and Davis ono hundred dollars each for disorderly conduct at the Polo Grounds and was ouicl1ly called to account by Andrew Freedman. Because of this interfer- ence with his authority Lynch got out of the game and devoted his time to a theatre he owned in Connecticut Still he was induced to return to duty after 1 a while and continued to do excellent work unt'l he decided to retire perma- nently,
 Robert Emslie, once a crack pitcher, and Hank O'Day, who twirled for the Brotherhood team of this city in 1890, are the best known umpires on the Ma tional League staff nowadays. Emslie has been on the job for nearly fifteen years, if not longer. and has worn well l with the public, He is fair minded even tempered, but firm, although he had more trouble last year with the kickers than ever before ODay is cool. deliberate and level headed He Is more inclined to argue with the player than is Emslie but he does mol waste much time in putting on the fines when a rowdy oversteps the bounds oi propriety.
 In the American League Jack Sheri- 1 dan is the star. In fact, many experts say he is the best umpire in the coun-
 try. He knows baseball, is not easily Tuffled. and deals with the players in no mild manner when they deserve re- bukes. Silk O'Laughlln Is anothe splendid judge of play, and so is tht
 witty Tim Hurst, who probably nevel
 allowed a fresh player to get ava,
 with a call-down without receiving {
 eaustic reply These men stand tn,
 wear and tear year in and year out
 and appear to thrive on it. But count