Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
JACK SHERIDAN,
GREATEST UMPIRE
Has Courage, Accurate Eye,
Even Temper and Always
Retaks Control of the
Field.
By Billy Evans.

Sheridan goes on forever
Jack Sheridan is TO The umpires what
Cy Young is To the pitchers the daddy OF
them all.
| Ask any American League PLAYER about
Tommy Connolly. and ne will tell you he
is a grand little fellow and an equally
good umpire. Ask him about SILK
O'Loughlin. and he will reply he ia Sc
we're in his way. but. nevertheless a ster-
ling official. Ask him about Tim Hurst
and he will say. despite Tins excess
avoirdupois. he is still something OF an
arbitrator. Ask him who is the greatest
umpire of them all. and he will reply.
without the slightest hesitancy Jack
Sheridan
This fellow Sheridan is one Of the
greatest characters that ever wore a
mask. and. by the way. thars about all
he wears to protect him. Sheridan came
mighty close to being a sail or instead OF
an umpire. and thereby hangs a tale that
Jack delights to tell.
When youngster Jack got II into his
head that he would like to become n sail
or bold. He was living in San Francisco
at the time. and arranged with COM
panion to make an oceaR trip. The two
kids stole onto one of the big freighters
and were hidden away in the cargo.
awaiting the departure Of the boat. Jacks
father became suspicious when his son
failed to ii, return 'n. one night and
on search of the several ships in the
harbor.
OF course Jack WIS found slowed away
and dragged off fhe ship by his irate
father. He says he always hates to
think of what the old gentleman did to
him when he got him safely home. but
Jack took his MEALS for several days in
a standing position
It's really worth the price of admission
to ball game to see Jack working be-
hind the bat. Few OF the fans who have
seen him perform in faultless fashion.
year after year. realize what wonderful
fellow lac really is.
The average umpire wears shin guards
the heaviest mask he can procure, and
has ii equipped with ear guards: a big
chest protector and other appliances OF
protection. Jack Sheridan wears simply
a mask. and it's of the lightest possible
material. The fans get lots of amuse-
ment out Of seeing the arbitrator stop
foul tips. but seldom do they get laugh
at Sherry's expense.
During his career of twenty-four years
as an umpire Sheridan hasn't been hit
by foul tips more than a dozen times. and
then the mishaps were due to careless
ness more than anything else. When
working back of the plate Sheridan as
sumes the position Of the catcher-when
he is upright. Jack is in the same posi-
ton: when he crouches, Jack does like
wise. In this manner he makes the
catcher act as a protector at all times.
Just imagine a man standing back Of q
catcher. with pitcher like Cy Young.
Rube Waddell. Addie JOSS Chief Bender
or some of the other twirlerS with great
speed doing the pitching. and wearing
only mask for protection. 1t looks
easy when you see Sheridan doing the
trick. but it must be mighty difficult or
you wouldn't see the rest of the umpires
burdening themselves with all the ex-
cess baggage in the hot months
1t is not generally known, but In his
day Sheridan was something Of a ball
player. Jack. so the old timers say.
looked like the real thing in the base ball
line until his arm gave way and COM
lihood. 1t was mighty good thing for
base ball that Sheridan had to quit play
Ing because of a lame arm, for umpires
of his ability are few and far between.
The dean Of the American League stan
has worked In most of the prominent Or
CARNATIONS in the country and is the
highest salaried arbitrator in the busi-
ness. Sheridan enjoys the unique distinc-
ton of having worked In nearly every big
series of importance. During his entire
career he has never missed a single en-
gagement and has never been late for a
game That's certainly a record Of which
any one may well feel proud.
On the ball field Sheridan is the master
of the situation at all times. but he rules
in a way that wins for him the respect Of
the players rather than their antagonism.
He is never looking for trouble. but al
ways trying to avoid 1t. When trouble
presents itself. however. he is equal to
the emergency and always comes out on
the top of the heap.
Sherry has a smile that is winner.
When the average umpire gets into trou-
BILE he generally loses his smile and
flashes look of anger. but not old Jack.
All the player gets in reply for hot
shot is the merry laugh. and at the same
time he gives his mustache an extra
twirl No one hates an argument worse
than Sheridan. but it is needless to say
that when he is one of the debaters he
always takes first prize.
Pitchers will tell You that on balls and
strikes Sheridan is without a superior,
while the few kicks made on his base de-
cisons prove that he is equally clever
when not working behind the catcher.
Sheridan is a great judge of human ma.
ture. and on this depends much of any
umpire's success. Sheridan will pass of
with a laugh a retort from one player
that would cause another player to get
an invitation TO recline on the bench.
Sheridan is now forty-five years OF age
and has been umpiring for twenty-four
years, a greater portion OF that time hav-
in;s been spent in the major leagues. lie
is the one original man left on the Ameri-
just as long as he desires to call balls and
strikes, unless he should suddenly lose his
sight
Every year for the past five years the
report is circulated during the winter
that Sheridan has decided To forsake the
diamond and attend to his undertaking
business at San Jose. Each year. how
ever. finds Sheridan back on the job, and
he seems to improve with age.
Sherry admits that he seriously contem-
plated quitting the game three years ago;
in fact he made q farewell speech to the
Detroit fans announcing his retirement
He has a paying business at San jose
and had decided that he had enough OF
base ball. Nobody realizes the worth OF
Sheridan better than President Johnson.
and during the winter came a contract to
Jack with a fat increase i'm salary. It
was so tempting that he simply couldn't
resist.
There is no telling when Sheridan will
quit the game. and no one really knows
until the season opens just what he in
tends to do. That he will be back on the
job this year is certainty, for he has
agreed to work the post-sea son series
with Hank O'Day at st. Louis.