Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23
WINTER GOSSIP OF
THE NATIONAL GAME
President Johnson's Efforts to
Suppress the Betting Evil
on Ball Grounds.
Appointment of. Umpires Be-
coming a More important
Question.
By ]. c. Morse.

ny ~. 1AOASc.
President Ban johnson will have a good
sized contract on his hands If he under
takes to put a stop to the betting business
on the various grounds the coming season.
Johnson has expressed himself very forcibly
on this matter again and again, and there
is not the least doubt he is perfectly SIN
cere in his stand, but there isn't chance
for him to carry out his intention. If peo-
pie desire to wager it is safe to say they
will so SO. and If they cannot do so in one
way they will in another. Spasmodic at
tempts to check the practice have been
| made In Boston. but with each attempt
there was a new outbreak, and one did
not have to have such a very exquisite
sense of hearing while in the grand stand
to catch on to what was going on in the
bleachers, and as for the players. 1t was
very perceptible indeed to them.
1t would not be nearly so bad If the par
Elephants kept quiet while laying their
wagers but they talked so loud as to in
terfere with the comfort and pleasure of
those who came to see the game. Conse-
quently complaints were the usual thing.
but nothing was done to stop the betting.
President Dewey of the Boston National
League club has already had his attention
does not intend to stand for it If he can
help it, and prefers to do without that kind
of patronage rather than have it and have
the peace and enjoyment of others dis
turbed.
Betting is prohibited according to the
constitution of both major leagues, but in
Boston at least simply nothing has been
done by the management Of the local teams
to put a stop to the betting.
Criticism was made of the scoring in
Pittsburg not so long ago. and it was de-
clared that the showing of Honus Wagner
was made to appear as better than it really
was because the scorers in that city -howed
favoritism toward that batsman. There is
absolutely no truth at all In this structure.
Things being even, nothing is more likely
to happen than that a scorer should give
a local player the benefit of doubt on
close play, but to stretch that point so as
to give him more than actually belongs to
him is unfair charge. AS a rule the
scoring Is remarkably fair and unbiased,
and the only exception is in city where
those who are sent to score the games have
little conception of the fine points of the
game and are not fit to prepare a score.
The figures published at close of season
are remarkably close to the official figures
published by the secretaries of the leagues,
and besides vast amount of Information
is impaired by unofficial writer's that is
never given by the official compilers. 1t
is a fact that the game has grown to that
extent that there should be not only in
the National and American leagues but in
every minor league of any standing, an
official scorer. who should be intruSted with
the care and publication of the work of
the PLAYERS. Then the work would be more
carefully and reliably performed than is
the case at present. and more attention
would be paid to the details than is done
at the present time.
The rules committees of the two ma jor
leagues ought to take into consideration
the plan proposed by President Murphy
of the Chicago National League club of
numbering his players. There is nothing
particularly new in this suggestion. Such
an idea was preached years ago. Clubs
carry so many players nowadays that it
is a difficult matter to tell who is in the
field and who is not. Often, in fact, alto
gether too often, change is made in the
batting order from that printed on the
score cards. and the patron is kept in ig-
norance for an entire game that some
other player than the one placarded has
been in the game. If this Is permitted
at all, it should be done by all Of the clubs,
not by one or two.
Again, every club ought to have posted on
its ground the names of the batteries and
the umpire, and on this board changes
made during the game should be chronicled.
1t often happens that patron of the game
Is unable to be on hand at the beginning of
the contest. and he can hereby see at
glance the batteries that are in the game.
Another great advantage would be to give
the umpire rest. That unfortunate would
no longer be burdened with the impossible
task of attempting to make several thou
sand people hear what he is trying to say.
Very seldom indeed is it that the untutored
can gather what the umpire is trying
to say. AS rule, these gentlemen are ut
terly unable to make themselves Ineligible
and they might as well give up the at
tempt entirely.
The idea OF Umpire O'Day to make the
batsmans lines visible ut all times by con-
structing them Of white rubber Is very
good one. On many grounds these lines
are wholly obliterated. owing to the fact
that the players run over them in the bat
ting practice they attempt before the game
The suggestion that the coaching rules
be more strictly enforced is very timely.
These rules are transgressed all the time.
Very little coaching Of the runner Is done
| Coaching Is merely an attempt to rattle the
pitcher and confuse the other SIDE The
SOeaNh StoiuS opQooitc anu Lnlfu nOlQ~
| ing their hands to their mouth, look toward
the pitcher and below at him, and never
give as much as glance at the base rum
ner. II the pitcher is youngster the out
cry Is all the worse. There is nothing
| sportsmanlike to this sort of thing. It 10
but barefaced attempt to run a youngster
out OF the game. and the young player is
| entitled to all the protection the rules win
| allow.
| 1t is very apparent that there is dire need
| of the appointment of an inspector of UNI.
| pires. The presidents of the leagues now
| inspect the umpires. and they see precious
few games during season. II any depart
ment of the game requires proper super
| vision 1t Is the department of umpires
| The umpire problem leaves very much tc
be desired In both leagues There is alb.
| solutely no excuse for the continuation In
| service of umpires VINO have shown them.
| selves to be incompetent, who have in.