Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-29

George Washington was the hero or the
revolution while Gems. Grant and Lee
were the big men of the civil war. but the
hero of modern times is Jack Sheridan
For an even quarter of a century Sher-
idan has acted in the official capacity OF
umpire For a score and five years he has
withstood the cry of the angry base ball
mob. and today hei is hale and hearty. NO
one has a better appetite, no one enjoys a
cigar any better and no one takes things
easier than John J. Sheridan of San Jose,
Cal
\ decided fear Of real hard work and
a glass arm drove Sheridan to take up
the duties of arbitrator. No doubt the
longings of a rather empty stomach also
played a prominent part.
When a youngster Sheridan gave great
promise as a ball player. and at the age
of twenty-one he was considered just
about the best second baseman on the
coast Quite few offers came his way.
and one from Chattanooga was so nat
tering that he decided to accept.
The Chattanooga team. by the way, was
the strongest team in the south in 1884
and was leading the league by COMFORT
able margin. Second base, however, was
weak spot on the team. and although
the
decided to try and strengthen the only
weak place on the club.
The signing of Sheridan was played up
i'm great style. and great things were ex-
rected from the coast phenom. as he was
dubbed The day Jack joined the club II
lost. although he played a great game and
did some fine hitting. The following day
it lost. and 1t continued losing until nine
teen straight defeats were recorded
shortly after joining the team Sheridan
strained his arm and 1t was only with
great difficulty that he was able to make
the throw to first.
The fans of the city began to clamor
for Jacks release, claiming he was the
hoodoo, and after he developed the glass
arm the demands were all the greater.
After the nineteenth straight defeat, the
management finally tied the can on Jack.
He stayed over for the game the next
day and as luck would have 1t the home
team at once broke its losing streak.
This caused Jack to decide that Chatta-
nooga was no place for him. and he made
preparations for his immediate depart
ure Ball players in the old days didn't
bank the money the modern players DO.
and Jacks bank account was far from
being fat one. He had a number OF
good friends in Nashville and decided to
move his headquarters to that point Jack
is a proud cuss always has been. and
under no conditions would be write home
for a return ticket.
About fifty miles from Nashville the
passenger train on which Jack was riding
was delayed by freight wreck on the
road. On being told that 1t would be
four or five hours before the track would
be cleared. he got off the coach to do a
little scouting and incidentally get little
exercise.
He discovered q lumber camp nearby,
and the idea struck him that II he could
secure a job he would put in a month or
so of labor. get enough coin to secure
ticket to San Jose and incidentally no one
would be any the wiser. He inquired for
the foreman, found him. asked for a job
and was put to work Immediately.
Armed with the implements of a wood
chopper, he was directed to begin opera
tons on big husky tree. Jack worked
and worked and worked at his job. while
in the meantime the other experts had
felled two or three like trees. The fore
man paid him one visit, roasted him on
his work and told him that he would have
to do better or quit. Jack was just about
ready to hand in his resignation, SO he
really didn't care what happened, as he
had decided that he wasn't cut out for
SO strenuous life.
Back a quarter of a century ago all the
lumber hauling in the south was done by
oxen. A team was standing near where
Sheridan was working. waiting for him
to complete his job. Now, although Jack
had informed the boss that he was an
expert in chopping trees. the truth of the
matter was he was doing his first job.
In chopping a tree there is quite a
knack In cutting SO as to have IL fall
in the direction desired. Jack knew
-nthing about this trick, and when the
ree finally came to the ground with a
crash it fell across the team Of oxen and
sent them both down for the count. That
was enough of the game for Jack. He
cut across country and did about four
miles in what he now insists was record
time. He never did look back until he
realized everything was safe.
That evening he boarded another train
for Nashville. firmly convinced that he
would rather walk to San Jose than do
stunt in lumber camp
T.
When Jack awakened the next morn
ing he was so stiff and sore that he could
scarcely get out OF bed. That afternoon
he managed to get out to the ball grounds
TO see the game. as Nashville was playing
at home. He went out to the bench and
chatted with the players. awaiting the
calling of the game.
When the hour of play arrived no
umpire had reported for work and after
"A delay OF fifteen minutes 1t was decided
To start the game without regular off,
clai. None OF the players cared to tackle
the job, and last resort the two
captains agreed on Sheridan. A ten-spot
appealed To Jack and he accepted the
position.
The game was a hard one to handle.
il going to twelve innings. and, while a
number of close plays came up, not a
man questioned any Of Jacks decisions.
His work was so fine that the owners Of
both clubs wired the league president he
would make no mistake in appointing
Sheridan as a regular man. The follow
poiutment and from that fatal day in the
summer OF 1854 to the present time Jack
has steadily stuck TO the post.
Ask any ball player who is the best UNI
pire in the American League and he will
tell you. without the slightest hesitation
Jack Sheridan.
OF course, like all umpires. Jack has his
enemies. and while some people insist that
no umpire has any friends, Jack numbers
his by the legion. Managers always wei.
come Jack as the judge of play, players
always glad to see him trot on the
neld, and while the fans get sore al
times and call the veteran all kinds OF
names. still in the end they are willing to
admit that no one has anything on the
old boy.
Sheridan is nearing his forty-eighth
year. yet his eyesght Is stall so keen tina,
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