Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-20
LYNCH CHOSEN.
Former Umpire Will Be
National League Head
Heyd|er Unanimously Elected
Secretary and Treasurer.
Refuses to Accept for One Year
And Term Is Heightened to Three.


And Term Is Heightened to Three
New York. Dec. 15.-With prospect
Of an unlimited tie-up in the rank
OF the National League magnates Sat
urday, John Montgomery Ward ease'
the situation by notifying Presiden
Charles Ebbets Of Brooklyn, who hat
placed Ward m nomination, that n
wished to withdraw from the race. Ar
ter the nagnates had cast three bal
lots four voting for Ward and foul
for r. w. Brown of Louisville, Presi
dent Stanley Robson Of st. LouiE
withdrew Browns name and Ebbets
followed suit by withdrawing Ward
Then President John T. Brush of New
York placed in nomination for the
place Thomas J. Lynch OF New
Britain, Conn.,, once an umpire i'll the
National League and the first expo
nent of the autocratic style that now
prevails in both the National and the
American Leagues.
A according to the reDort given out af-
ter the meeting by Baseball is in its
Infancy" Charley F,bhetts, the other
seven clubs seconded the motion and
Lynch was unanimously elected to
serve one veal as president CT the
league. AS was expected on the mo-
ton of Ebbets, John A. Heydlcr was
unanimously elected secretary treas
urer of the league to serve one year.
But Heydler refused to accept the
place for 50 short a term and there
upon the magnates stretched it to three
years.
New Britain. Dec. l9.-If Thomas j.
Lynch had any knowledge Of the prob
ability of his election as president Of
the National League. he kept it to
himself. for his wife says she was
greatly surprised at the news.
After the meeting Lynch and Heyd
Ter We're formally introduced to the
newspaper men. Both made speeches.
Lynch is 81 years old and was for a
long time a resident of Cincinnati
which he called his home before going
to Connecticut. To the reporters he
said
"The hardest thing the president of
the league has to do is to protect his
umpires and | want the newspaper
men to help me. If you see an umpire
that you think won't do, come and tell
me about it and / will keep my eye on
him. Don't roast him. That does no
good. / was a young fellow when Nick
Young made me an umpire, and the
first six games 1 umpired We're here in
New York, three with New York
against Detroit and the other three
against Chicago. My first decision was
calling bali on a home pitcher and
hof Win no n1
fans roasted ne to frizzlo They call
ed me robber. thief and everything
else and players spiked me and made
life not worth living. l was sent the
next week to Pittsburg and at the no.
tel they handed me telegram. 1
thought it was all off with me, but that
e telegram was from Nick Young and it
warmly congratulated me on my fair
hess in the New York games"
Speaking OF his policy as the new
president of the National League, Mr..
Lynch said:
II know the game about as well as
any one and l think l have a pretty
good reputation. The public, the play
! ers and the nmpires will get nothing
but square deal from me, and every
thing will be above board and open to
the newspapers
Il want to add that refused to take
the presidency until l was assured that
my old friend Heydler whom I broke in
as an umpire, was elected as secretary
and treasurer, as / could not get along
without him.
Heydler's speech was laudatory Of
Lynch as an umpire. and then several
old time baseball reporters made speeches
felicitating the new officers
Pop" Adrian c. Anson whom Charles
w. Murphy brought on from Chicago, be-
lievlng that he would be elected remained
at the Waldorf to the last and then de-
parted. silent but sorely disa ppointed.
The resolution changing the bylaws so
that no club may carry more than y,
players during the playing season. caused
some CONFUSION. The club owners did not
specify the dates of the playing season.
President Ebbetts. however. said that the
playing season" would be from May 10
TO Aug. 20. and that the resolution would
permit clubs to carry not more than 35
players from Aug. 70 to May TO- Before
May 10 and after Aug. % the clubs are
usually trying out new players and their
stats are larger. The American League.
adopted similar resolution, but it spe-
officially stated that the playing season.
should be from May | to Aug. 20 The
spring meeting of the league will be held
In New York this year instead of in Chi
cago. as heretofore. This is the meet
Ing at which the playing schedule lie ar
ranged and announced. 1t is held usual v
In February at the call of the scheu le
committee.
Lynch. the new president. was an I'M
pire in the National League. 1886 to 1901.
with one or two years of retirement f,ur-
ing that period. His honesty and fair
ness became by-word with fans. who
continued to remember him with respecr
even after he retired. voluntarily, in 1901
to manage the theater he owns at Now
Britain, CT.