Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-17
BILLY EVANS ON
UMPIRE TROUBLES
Good Stories Told in Which
DeIehanty and Cantillon
Figure.
By Umpire Billy Evans.

mentS are one OF the component parts OIL
the sport
When players no longer express any
Kind OF disapproval over decisions of the
umpires, when players fail to forget that
when the game is on friendship is for the
time forgotten, then will base ball begin
10 lose some OF its popularity.
The aggressive ball player the player
who has heart in the game and is out to
win is bound to disagree on many Of the
close plays that are always sure to so
against his team. While no fan likes any
action that borders on the rowdy, still he
likes the PLAYER who is full of pepper ard
ginger and who is ever ready to stand up
for his rights, but to do it in gentleman
" way. The ball field would soon become
mighty tame place if no argument ever
featured any Of the thousand and one
close plays that are bound to come up
eacb.season.
There never will be a perfect umpire. an
arbitrator who will render perfect de-
csions on every play, judge of play who
will always meet with the approval of the
crowd. If there was such man no pres
itent would be able to pay him the salary
that he would be able to command. It's
also question if such man would meet
with favor among the fans.
Naturally, with so much depending on
the many decisions the Judge Of play is
called upon to make, it is really surpr1s-
ing that there are not more arguments
than really take place. Despite tne 1aet
that the umpire always wins. despite the
fact shat the player seldom gains any
advantage through his kick. despite the
fact that it often results in his ejectment
from the game, if he gets too demon
strative, still the fans relish certain
amount of excitement that comes from
clashes between player and umpire and
player and player.
thing but smile from Tim Hurst in an
swer to their arguments. still most of
them delight to mix things up with Sir
Timothy just to hear him turn loose
\ couple of years ago Washington was
playing a series of games In New 1ork
and. strange as it may seem, Tim was all
alone 1t was a frightfully hot afternoon.
and as Washington and New York We're
both hitting the ball to all corners OF the
lot Tim was in anything but genial
frame of mind When one considers that
New York won the contest by the score
of Is to Is he can realize what lot OF
work the portly member OF Ban BIS stan
had to do
Late in the game Bob Ganley. who was
on first, went to second on a hit to one
OF the infielders. The play was made to
second but Elberfeld dropped the ball
and Tim declared Ganley safe. Then he
turned his back on the play and started
for the plate to resume his position back
of the catcher. Imagine Tins surprise
TO see Ganley racing home from third be-
fore he had scarcely reached the pitchers
box.
Tim Immediately faced about to see
what had happened and to fathom the
mystery of Ganley's movements. All ne
could see was two outffelders giving
chase to the ball near the right field renee
had turned
had picked up the ball. which Elberield
had dropped. and thrown it to the center
field fence. all of which had escaped Tim
eagle eye.
After taking in tine situation he pro-
ceeded back of the catcher. and in a mo-
nent was surrounded by all Of the New
York players. while Tim was trying to
Gd the eaRsy Rass to esy
Tim. and knowing that he didn't see
Ganiey pull off the trick, demanded an
explanation as to why he should not be
allowed to score instead of being sent
back to second.
When Tim finally got the players
few PAGES away from him, in the loudest
voice he could muster he announced.
Gentlemen If you must know the
reason. here it is 1 sent Ganley hack
10 second on general appearances While
the rules fail to cover the general APP
pearance clause Tins decision went and
Ganley trotted back to second.
During the same series in New York
Tim and Jim Delehanty got into little
argument that Tim has never forgotten.
Delehanty was at the bat and had two
strikes and two balls on him when Ches-
bro sent up a fast one that Catcher
Kleinow thought was a strike. Tim
thought otherwise and called 1t ball,
making the count stand two and sthree
on Delehanty.
ION the square, Tim, I don't see how
YOU could miss that one. 1t was straight
and fast and right over the heart" said
Kleinow.
LIT didn't look good to me- responded
Tim THE ball was wide of the plate.
in fact I'm positive that it wasn't
strike that I'll leave the argument to
Delehanty.'
Imagine Tins feelings when Delehanty
responded: You were wrong. The ball
was right over the heart Of the plate. II
sou couldn't see that one right YOU must
be blind.
OF course kleinow laughed with much
glee over the reply. while Tim simply
boiled with indignation and for
moment was speechless. but he finally
came back strong and won out.
well. If I missed that one according
to your way of thinking. Mr.. Delehanty.
I'd advise you to strike at the next one
If it's within a foot of the plate, as l GER
tainly don't intend to miss any more on
you How good the next bali really was
no one but the trio knows. but it's his
tory that Delehanty was struck out.
Few managers have anything on Joe
Cantillon when il comes to telling
umpire what he thinks of his work and
getting away with il without drawing a
notice of ejectment. Joe in his day was
regarded as one OF the best umpires in
the business. He has profted by expert
ence and knows how to say things and
still keep his standing good
One of the American League staff of
umpires will never forget a cruel thrust
Cantillon hurled at him during n game
At Washington last year. il cut in deep,
but really offered the umpire little excuse
for tagging Joe for the clubhouse.
On the afternoon in question Washing
ton was playing Detroit and the game
was battle royal with everything close
the bases Most of the decisions. ac-
cording to Cantillon. Were going against
Linn, and, while he wanted TO express his
disapproval in forcible terms. still n was
afraid, fearing Punishment from the
game. After particularly close play at
third that went against the Nationals
Cantillon stopped at the pate and en-
gagged in a hot argument with the man
who was working the game.
CantillonS action failed to please a
spectator, who strangely was a friend OF
the umpire.
What's the matter with you. Cantil.on?
You used to be an umpire and ought 10
the greeting tina; came to Joe h
neared the bench. Ii was just the cue ha
had been waiting for.