Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-10
.UMPIRES MAY
USE SIGNALS
AMERICAN LEAGUE PRESIDENT
FAv0RS PLAN
Spectators Are often Unable to Tell
Whether Strikes or Balls Are
Called and Effective Scheme
Suggested

CHICAGO, Jan 9.-Patrons of Ameri.
can league games next season will wei.
come an innovation which Is planned
to enable spectators in any part of the
field, no matter how far from the home
plate, to follow every detail of the play
and every decision of an umpire as soon
as made.
This will be done either by the
adoption of a code of visible signals for
the umpires or by extensive electrical
score boards along the lines of the one
In operation at the ST. Louis American
league park.
a retired army officer one of the most
enthusiastic and best known baseball
fans at the national capital, has written
to request President Johnson, in behall
of the thirty-third degree fan club of
Washington, to direct the American
league umpires next season to adopt
some simple code for signaling decisions
on balls and Strikes" so as to make
them instantly intelligible to spectators
in all parts of the stands.
Suggests Signals
The veteran officer suggested the most
simple method known and one which
occasionally has been used already that
of having the umpire raise his right
hand above his shoulder to indicate a
indicate ball"
The argument was made that in
modern baseball so much depends on
knowing the exact situation that it is
necessary to know accurately what the
umpire decides a pitched ball to be in
order to follow the play closely and
keep in touch with the constantly shift
ing tide of battle
The average umpire's decisions on
pitched balls are not intelligible even
to grandstand spectators. it is claimed,
consequently the distant bleachers must
be even more puzzled as to the bats
mans chances.
In making the decisions on bases UNI
pires almost invariably use a set of
signals easily understood, and it is the
opinion of hundreds of fans whom the
officer has interviewed on the matter
that it is almost as important to know
the decision on a pitched ball, and that
such decision can be made known by
signal as easily as the base decisions.
johnson Agreeable
President Johnson, when the request
was presented to him, Immediately as
'ented to adopting the suggestion, unless
1t is found plausible for the American
league clubs to go even further thaa
that in the matter of keeping spectators
informed of everything that happens.
Il have had in mind for some time"
said he, ''plans to give the spectators
correct and immediate information on
all the details of our games, and this
suggestion is not only a good one but
easy to put into operation.
However, have been thinking of sug-
gesting to all the clubs the adoption
of the score board system in use at the
St. Louis ground of the American
league.
"They have an immense blackboard
there in sight of all stands worked by
electric connections for the most part.
AS soon as each ball or strike is called
the decision is recorded on the board by
pressing a button.
THE number of balls and strikes
called is shown at all times, also the
number of men out and the number of
runs, if any, in that inning. This is in
addition to the usual space for showing
the scores by innings of the home game
and those in other Cities