Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-07
NATIONAL LEAGUE
HAS 'UMP' TROUBLE
Complaints on Umpire System as
Now Used Bring Out Pos
SibIe Remedies

NEW YORK, Aug. 6.-Numerous and
well founded complaints against the
umpiring in the National league this
season have set the wheels of reform
to revolving. Thomas j. Lynch, pres
ident of the league, and once an UNI
pire, has formed several interesting
conclusions during his few months as
league executive and his personal OBJ
servation in different cities AT the
fail meeting of the National league he
will prescribe his remedy It's as sim
pie as the old mixture of sulphur and
molasses that our mothers used to
serve as a blood purifier in the spring.
Lynch doesn't believe that baseball
can be conducted along lines marked
out by rigid business rules, but his
recommendation for relief from bad
umpiring is one which is recognized
by every business man. He believes
that increasing salaries will increase
the efficiency of his arbitrators, and
that is what he proposes to urge.
Baseball is surrounded with many
uplifting tendencies, but the judging
of plays has certainly deteriorated in
the National league, and decisions are
being rendered every day that tend to
develop rowdy tactics and to unduly
excite the low brows. Like the poor,
the close decision will always be with
umpires who are quick thinkers and
know how to anticipate plays will raise
the standard of baseball just as much
as the erection of million dollar parks
and the exclusion of intoxicating
drinks.
There can be no reasonable objec-
tion by the club owners of the league
to the additional expense. Four UNI
pires with proper mental and physical
equipment would be equal to eight
ordinary arbitrators, and their eX-
perses would be only half as much.
But even if eight men are carried, the
National league could easily afford to
pay these men $4,000 a season. Star
players often get more, and good um
pires are scarcer than star players.
With the building of new ball parks
and the increased revenue, the per-
centage of gate money paid to the
league is more than enough to cover
actual expenses. And at frequent in
tervals the surplus is handed back to
the eight clubs.
Lynch believes that high salaries
would attract a higher class of men
to umpiring. The day has passed
when a major league judge of play
must be first a man of iron nerve and
ability to fight and a good judge of
| play afterward. The umpires are well
guarded in the big cities.
Ball players with regulations as
| quick thinkers generally remain in the
game a long time Very often they
| travel along on their noodles" instead
of their arms, and it stands to reason
| that a smart ball player will last longer
| than a man with little else but Drawn.
Such ball players usually manage to
drag down good salaries for many
seasons. And the quick thinkers in this
| day extend their thoughts into the
| future The close of their diamond
careers generally finds them COM
fortably fixed" They may have in
vested in paying business or be en-
gagged in some profitable salaried pur-
| suit. Such men would not be attracted
| by an offer of $2500 to umpire for a
season. But stipend of $4,000 a season
would bring many smart men with
| practical experience into the umpiring
game Lynch, of course will not state
/ lust what recommendations he will
| make. He has been travelling about
the country recently and has been dis
pleased with the autocratic spirit of
| some of his officials. He cannot find
umpires who are more capable, and
| therefore he is making few changes.
But it is known that he hopes to
make Fred Tenney an umpire next
season. Tenney is a man of the class
desired, but as he is independent of the
game it will take a big salary to get
| him. Heinie Peitz, the former Cincin-
natl catcher, is said to be another of
Mr.. Lynch's prospects.
Manager McGraw of the Giants
agrees with President Lynch on this
proposition, and adds some convincing
! arguments to the umpire "uplift," "I
believe in making umpires out of ball
players" says McGraw, because
! man who has never had experience on
the diamond cannot be the best judge
of play. Former pitchers or catchers
ought to be the best judges Of balls
and strikes, and men who have played
the infield would be the best to call the
base decisions.
But there are many players who
never would make umpires' added NC
Graw. 1--WE have seen that demon
strated many times However l be
lieVe that smart ball player VIII
make a good umpire. He will antici-
pate many plays and be in the right
place to judge them. l understand Bill
Dineen is making good in the American
| league. If the National could AFFORD to
hire men like Mathewson and Brown
when their pitching days are over, I'll
warrant they would be just as sue
cessful as they have been as pitchers,
because they are men who use their
brains. Another thing. young players
would respect such men more than
umpires who have never played ball.
Their records would compel this re-
spect. and there would be far less kick
ing than there is now when we feel
that we are being tyrannjzed often by
Iincompetents with no practical diamond
aXpQrience.h