The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-09
BASEBALL STORIES.

There is an umpire in California who ought to be imported. He made a decis- ion in a midwlnter game this year that ought to go down as historic says the Chicago Tribune.
 The game was between Azusa and Pomona-and 1t was for blood. There was a long argument before the umpire finally was chosen, and the choice fell upon a slender, serious looking, bespectacled youn man who hailed from Monrovia, which Is neutral as far as Pomona and Azusa are concerned.
 In the ninth inning, with Azura one run to the good, there came peculiar play Pomona had man on first and a man on third. The man on first started to steal on the first pitched ball. and the catcher who apparently was the best ball player on the team, whipped the ball down to third. The man was caught five feet off the base, but, seeing he was gone he f fjumped back, bumped the baseman, caus- ing him to lose the ball, which rolled all most over to the school house. and two runs scored.
 To the surprise of almost every one the umpire promptly called the base runner out, and awarded the game to Azusa.
 Some one inquired anxously why the decision was made, and the umpire re- plied:.
 'He is out for conduct unbecoming a gentleman
 John McGraw would do well with such an umpire.
 But an even better Cor worse) story comes from the same part of the state. It was handed down in game between Arcadia and Dolgeville, which are neigh boring towns in the San Gabriel valley. The game was played at Arcadia, and the umpire was a justice of the peace, whose district embraced Arcadia and the Bald win ranch
 The game had run along in nice style without much trouble, until near the end, and the score was close. Dolgeville needed run, and needed it badly With one out in the ninth inning runner reached first base, and on the first pitched ball. started to steal second. He was thrown out, but leaping into the air, he jumped against the baseman, spiking him and causing him to drop the ball.
 "Outr' yelled the umpire.
 "Consider yourself under arrest" he added.
 And there on the ball field he proceeded to call witnesses hear testimony, and fined the base runner $10 and costs for disorderly conduct
 And in the old days pitchers didn' t pitch one day and rest three or four. You'd find them one day in the pitcher s box and the next day in the outfield. They didn't get race horse nursing in those days.
 There's been many a star play pulled off on these old grounds, and I've seen many a long drive made by league slug gers. I guess old Williamson of Chicago made the longest. That was the day that Chicago beat Boston and pretty handy fashion, and the only exciting thing about it was Williamson's hit. "He soaked that ball all right, and I happened to be standing in center field back of the flag pole when the ball came down. It was almost on a line and the ball struck the top of the fence and went into the next lot. And mind you, the fence was a good many feet farther back those days.
 ""rhe hit was good deal harder one than the one made by Dan Brouthers the day he put the ball up against the flag pole. That Williamson was a dangerous batter, anyway, although he lad his bad days as fielder Whenever he was play ing a rocky game at shortstop old man Anson used to make him go behind the bat.
 "There were punches of bad batters that | the pitchers had to look out for in those days. Whenever Dan Brouthers, Hardy Richardson, or Baby Anson came to the bat with men on bases the pitchers al- ways gave them their base on balls. They couldn't take any chances with men that were liable to knock the cover off the ball.
 "The foxiest player who ever wore a suit was old Mike Kelly. of course. His