The Washington times., 1906-08-02
LEESBURG ANSWERS
WATERFORD STORY
Spicy Words From Manager
Thompson About Game
That Was Forfeited.

To the Sporting Editor Of The Times:
Ny attention has been called 10 an
article appearing In your issue Of July
81, in which a Waterford. IA, writer
undertakes TO criticize the work of I'm
pire Handibue in game played here
Ju Saturday last between teams repre-
sentlng Waterford and Leesburg.
L. justice 20 Mr. HaudibOe. of your
city, and 10 correct some statements
made iu :Lc article referred 10. ask yoI
30 kindly let this article appear ia your
columns
That Mr.. Handiboe is the best umpire
ever seen ON oar local diamond is the
unanimous opinion Of uL those who saw
his work leXcept Waterford fans" uf
coIEseD. DIsLutercsted persons from va
Tious sections have made personal APP
pe1ls 10 me 20 secure Ais services FOR
the balance of tie season
Il seems almost ridiculous fo~ me 10
attempt 20 write in defense OF Ed. as
well known as he is In baseball circles.
as an efficient and honest umpire. but
taa statements of the Waterford critic"
are SO undescrved and SO far from being
the facts that as much as / dislike %
appear in print. I can but take issue
with Critic"
We are already Informed by him that
LcrsnuIg won two games from Water
ford on the date named. He adds that
the score Ia the first game was AL bu-
would have been even if tt1o bad that
THIS disease ''Ificitis' IS SO contagious
among losing ball .fans"y
de also states that az the very begin
ming OF the second game there was gem
eTai dissatisfaction ou balls and strikes
Ny memory may be al fault. but I can
not recall a single instance of any player
kicking ON these points, and it is Ger
t1iuIy late To spring this one" J.:
HandiuOe does not know how % Judge
balls and strikes. there IS uo man g.ao
does. Ia my opinion. The lack of judy
mcut was more evident on tile part of
the waterford heavy hiJters," and R-
venture Go say they are still wearing the
kinks IN their backs from reaching
after SymauUshic's curves. Too bad 10
De sore ail over al The same time7
critic further states in the fifth
inning MyTcu IuI. OF waterford was UafI-.
rH out 20 third when IL was tas opinion
OF .Ee spectators who stood nearer than
iaadl5oc that be was easily safe" The
only spectators nearer than HaH1.51e
were those from Waterford, aud their
team, 'tritc. among them. Nj Cvd.
Critic says this decision took tle
life put 1i Che Waterford team.
Where there is life there is hope
II was TeNeE set Saturday. There was
plenty OF hope" but an the lie Water
ford over had was taken out ~ them
before the second game Let us say
for Mr.. Hope, You are an right, Dat y1l
are hooked up WToug)
Critic also thinks Waterford came
within an ace Of scoring There IS
time for everything this is the place tD
laugh, and the crowd joins AS. II Water
ford had chance % tie the score %
was mot So 80 could be noticed
Last, but not least Critic states
the third basem8u threw wild 20 home
the bail barely touching Devines mi.t
and going behind him. The ball was
picked up hy an outsider and deuher-
ately thrown out Of reach OF Catcher
DeviuC.'
The fact is. the ball did pass the
catcher, going past him and not behind
him directly. but 10 the right Of home
base, and past him. going into the
crowd after passing over fence the
runners scored and had time enough
LETT To have scored again II necessary. I
The ball was picked up outside the fence
by "A child not more than ten years OF
age ana instead Of tossing the ball /
away from Devine.' he threw il 20 him. /
II going wide and going In the direction !
OF the Waterford feldsrs and into the (
infield While Critic" ." OF course does I.
not intend 10 mislead the public his /.
statement makes the inference plain /
that some outsider with view 20 as 4
sistng LeeSburg TO win, deliberately {
threw the bah away from the grounds, /
when. as matter OF fact. il was a /
direct benefit TO Waterford
DeYine contends he could have gotten 1
the ball, but IL was clearly impossible /
for him 10 have recovered il in time 10 ]
have cut off the runners. The runs /
thus made by Leesburg We're not needed /
az that time To win. as the score was /
two runs in its favor before this play
and this was the eighth inning.
The only decision to have been reach /
ad by the umpire in the premises was /
that Of a blAcked ball. or It was TO be .
treated as out OF the diamond entirely.
and in either event the runners would /
have crossed the plate safely.
We hear that Critic IS a physician
and fan" if this is correct. doctor
prescribe a little "anti-GOn't' and get ,
over IL. Shake hands and forget it.
You well know our reputation for clean /
ball playing. Try us again,
Respectfully,
CHARLES Z. THOMPSON,
Manager.
Leesburg. Aug. J. 1896.