The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-09-21
About the Jumps.

About the Jumps.
Charges of incompetency, prejudice
and dishonesty against umpires are
reprehensible in ball players, but lit
tie significance is attached to them
by press or public because of the state
Of mind OF participants in game.
The excitement of an athletic contest
Is considered a sufficient excuse for
baseball brain storms. If every game
In which the statements of players
could be made basis of protests
were ordered played over by the di-
rectors OF the National or any other
league, there would be few entries OF
victories in the records for a season.
Robbed by the umpire" is a stereo-
typed excuse for defeat in every city
OF every circuit in the country. 1t is
as common as 1t is childish. and those
who employ 1t simply use a stock
phrase to call in question the judg-
ment of umpires. The nervous strain
players are under from the start to
the close OF pennant race makes
them peevish. Chance and his Cubs
have been in pursuit Of the Pirates all
season. There Is point in every
game between strong teams at which
decision on a close play is of SUI
preme Importance in determining the
result. The calling of ball. strike
or balk, the determination of a play
at first base or the plate, may start
| mr. q ro1 1r-
each play from a partizan standpoint
and the only disinterested party on
the field is the umpire, who is as in
tent on doing his full duty to the
league as manager aud player are in
giving their best services to their re-
spective clubs. Umpires stretch the
rules to permit players to give vent
to excitement, If they couch unlicensed
protests in respectful language. but
discipline those who employ vile or
profane language. Sporting News.
Bat to Finney.
Manager Ned Egan of Burlington.
surely made no mistake when he Sc
cured Flnney from the Ottumwa club.
The sandy haired recruit captured the
silver bat for the highest batting
average on the Burlington team. Even
at that he was only a few points ahead
Of his three rivals. 1t may be men,
toned that 1t was the four strong bat
ters together with Spencer and Boyd
who won Egan's fourth pennant.
Speaking of the averages the Gazette
says:
Mr.. Fred Finney was yesterday pre-
scented with the silver bat offered by
the Paule Jewelry Co. of this city for
the local player making the best bat
ting record for the season. Finrey
mad a record of 31s, computing only
the games he played with the local
club. His percentage for the season
was 800. The rules of the contest
were that only the record made by
the players with the local club would
count. Finney played part of the sea-
son with Ottumwa.
The presentation speech was made
by Captain Wilmer at the opening of
the second game. Finney had injured
his leg In the field events and was un-
able to take part in the second con-
test, but managed to line up to the
plate and take the trophy. Gait.
Wilmer made neat speech in which
he complimented Finney on his record
and the blond fielder expressed his ap-
probation in few words.
Secretary John Hall of the Central
Association was in the city with the
batting averages of the contenders for
the silver bat, but 1t was quite evident
that Ffnney would get the prize even
before the games started. Collins was
second with an average of 2S7, Burg
Is third with an average of .2S3 and
Manusch fourth with an average of
.2S0. Finney has hit the ball steadily
all season. He got a hit in almost
every game. He was particularly pro-
ficient in bunting and in beating
them out" Just about the time the