Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
BILLY EVANS ON
UMPIRE TIM HURST
Interesting Chapters on the
Funny and Fat Lit
tie Arbitrator.
By Umpire Billy Evans.

preached us and introduced himself. His
title was umpire for some small town
team In Michigan. He was looking for
information and tips as to how to break
into the big league.
az have worked two years in my town
without having a kick registered against
my work. was the opening statement
of the ambitious one.
Then would advise you to forget all
about the big league and stay at home.
You are lucky If you work that many In
nings in the big league without getting
murdered" was Tins characteristic re-
ply.
What is the best thing to do to sue
the youngster
'Candidly. my boy. the best thing
about the profession Is retirement" was
Tins rather discouraging answer.
'T am a trife undecided about trying
for a minor league BERTH" continued
the youngster. Il have a pretty good
Job in.my fathers factory and can make
In the ne!ghborhood of $50 a month";
eff I ever hear of you trying TO be an
umpire again I'll realize that you must
be crazy You will get your money
when working for father. but you are
liable to get almost anything else in this
business
The ambitious arbitrator is working for
father: Tins talk took all the umpiring
out of his system.
This fellow Tim Hurst is without doubt
the greatest character before the sport
ing public.
There isn't a thing in the sporting line
that he hasn't done. and there isn't
thing that he is afraid to tackle. He is
an umpire. a referee. starter and
thousand and one other things. and last
but not least a humorist of the old as
We'll the modern school,
To appreciate Mr.. Timothy Carroll
Hurst one must be closely associated
with him in his work. If Tim could
get<off his stuff on the stage as he does
on the diamond there is no telling how
much he could command as a vaudeville
artist. Some of his best efforts don't
travel more than five or ten yards at the
most as his voice isn't much bigger than
a whisper
and almost as wide. Tim wouldn't be
Classed as an ideal athlete. yet there is
no man he is afraid of. His wonderful
rye has been tested to the limit time
Every argument in which he has been
engaged has always gone to his credit.
No gamer man ever trod the diamond.
Tim is a bachelor. girls, and is more
the summertime the bellboys in the
rious hotels where he stays get hoarse
calling his name.
Tim is something of a trifer, however,
as he doesn't look with favor on matr-
mony The connubial bliss game is a
big bunk to Sir Timothy. He firmly be-
leves that the women Of America should
erect monument higher than the Eiffel
tower tos the man who made the state
ment that two could live cheaper than
one.
Don't be looking for trouble when UNI
piring," is one of Tins notices. Years
OF experience has convinced him that
enough will come the arbitrator's way
without going on the still hunt for ar
Suments.
Never lose an argument however, after
you once get into trouble, is another of
Tins strongest maxirns. Admit the next
day that you were wrong. but at the time
being maintain your point at any cost.
Handle your players according to their
disposition. Humor crabs salt the fresh
ones and get rid of the ones who are try
ing to assist you in umpiring the game. Ii
you don't they are liable to get your job
when they get the can tied on to them.
These are just few of Tins pet
theories that he puts into execution when
he goes on the ball field to take charge of
game.
Quite often the players insist that Tim,
like all other umpires, is blind and devoid
of the slightest reason. yet no ball player
ever won anything by trying to hurt
Tlmothys feelings.
Tim does his work just little bit dif-
ferent from any other umpire.
His uniform consists of a cap. He has
mask and a breast protector but he
rarely brings the latter to the grounds If
lie does his fellow umpire blows it up and
adjusts it on his manly chest If he is
alone he works without the protector to
save the trouble
nnn .J,a,l rJ,;...
To show up or not He generally manages
10 arrive ten seconds before starting time.
but sometimes fails to arrive until the sec
ond inning. In fact Tim does things no
other umpire would take chances on
doing.
One day last year President Johnson
sent communications TO his umpres ask
ing them for suggestions that would help
shorten the games. OF course all the
jumps wrote lengthy missives giving their
opinions. Tim did likewise, but couldn't
refrain from adding a postscript that, If
. Mr.. Johnson was really in earnest he
would advise him 20 try seven innings in
stead of nine Coming from Tim that
made big hit with the boss. from any
other arbitrator II might have meant
weeks vacation.
One day last summer "Rube" Wad-
dell was working a game at st. Louis
against Philadelphia and was getting
good beating. "Rube' had made the
Athletics look foolish the day before
and McAleer was trying to have the
big southpaw repeat. but he was meet
ing with very poor success. OF course
there is no team in the league "Rube'
would prefer beating more than the
Athletics, and the way they were clout-
ing his assortment of benders was max
ing George Edward rather peevish.
Naturally he was blaming Tim for lot
of his trouble, claiming that he WIS
missing a lot of strikes, but Tim only
smiled. Finally, with two on the bases
and two out, one of the Athletics hit
for two bases after "Rube" was sure ne
had him struck out.
What's the matter Tim" beloved
Waddell In his loudest voice. my curves
certainly must be deceiving you"
I'D advise you to try a little decep-
tion on the batters and let me alone"
replied Tim. From the number OF base
hits ii appears as ii I am the only guy
you are fooling. unless it's McAleer for
leaving YOU in the box"
''Rube' was derricked on the next bat
ter.
Tim doesn't put many men out of the
game but when lie does tie the can on
the PLAYER it's final
One day last year late In September
the Athletics were playing in Detroit
The game was close and the Athletics
were trying their hardest to trim the
Tigers. Only two runs separated the
teams with the champs in the lead 4
man second and Harry Davis at