Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-04
EVANS ONE Of THE
WONDERS Of BASE BALL
Rose From Cub Reporter to
Best of Arbiters in Very
Short Time.

| SIUTl ItfIle.
| $50 you took a college education to
be an umpire!'' shouted an excited fan
at Billy Evans. the American League
indicator the other day. after the latter
had committed what he thought a grave
error in giving decision.
Billy Evans did get college education.
but not with the intention of becoming
an umpire any more than he thought of
becoming the excellent newspaper man
and boxer that he is.
1t was law that he studied. 1t is UNI
piring. newspaper writing and boxing
that he does. He is proficient at each
| Evans wanted to be a Daniel Webster
and Frank b. kellogg combined But
his early ambition was never realized.
Is Glad of It.
Today he gazes back and congratu,ates
himself that fortune took the course she
did
For it is one thing to be lawyer, and
it's another to get the money!" says
Billy, smiling.
| That's the reason Billy Evans became
an arbiter of base ball games He could
accumulate an account in the bank
quicker by this method than any other.
| And It's the reason he has toured Ban
JohnSon's circuit four years as a deci-
| sion giver.
Suffice 1t to say that he is getting
the money and is drawing nice little
increase on his 1909 salary
Circumstance has played a big role in
| the formation of Evans life activities.
| opportunity knocked at his door" and
| he was there to greet it. He became its
| he baI
which opportunity" misunderstanding.
AS the ability developed SO did the
| opportunity, and the result is that in
cleveland he is numbered among the lead
ing ceieorlties in the sporting world.
Starts as Cub Reporter.
In comfortable seat in the Youngs-
town (Ohio) grandstand one summer aft
ernocn In 1903 Evans was waiting for the
Youngstown and Homestead clubs of the
| cd Ohio Protective Association to open
action in the first of four-game series.
| He had just graduated from Cornell Uni
versity and had obtained a position as
cub reporter on the Youngstown Vindi.
Gator at the munificent salary of eight
bones per week. Evans had secured a
leave of absence fer that afternoon, and
ms penchant for enjoyment drifting to
| base ball, he went to the game.
| 1t was after the hour on which the con-
test was scheduled to begin Billy be-
| gan to get impatient to gee the teams
| play. There was much hurrying around
| the grandstand of the two managers
And the opposing captains were holding
| frequent consultations They were evil
IDENTIFY searching for some one. This
was the cause of the delay. While Billy
was watching the pitchers warm up he
was suddenly confronted by the two
| manag gers.
Our regular umpire hasn't shown
| up, and we want you. to take care OF
the job said they in chorus. Billy
| umpire such an important game. But
protests were not allowable.
I'VE have heard you played ball at
Cornell. and you can do as we'll as
| anybody" returned the managers.
well, I'll take a whirl at it, Evans
| agreed He did. and he got by with
| out being mobbed. After the game he
| was hired to umpire the other three
games of the series.
His continued good eyesight and good
judgment pleased Charlie Morton. presi-
| dent of the association, and induced the
| latter to make an offer to the embryo
official TO work the rest of the season.
| The pay was fair. Better than re-
porting thought Evans, and he signed
| a contract
He worked that season and the next,
| and for year after. When the o. and
| P. League was organized in 1905 he was
| engaged as one Oh Tie uulplIcS
Toward the flag end of the season a
| couple of American League scouts look
| ing for players saw Evans work. They
| recommended him to Ban Johnson. The
robust president inquired about the young
| umpire. and learned that he was pretty
| good.
Gets American League Offer.
few days prior to Christmas. same
| racaiyaI a letter STAMPED
on the outside American League" IL
| am ready to offer YOU position in the
/ American League next season at salary
| of s1.ScO Signed, B. 3. Johnson read
| the stationary on the inside of the en-
velope. Right there Billy Evans tainted
| When restored to consciousness he read
the letter three times His realization
| could not comprehend such sum when
| read with one glance. american League
| umpire. me-, he asked himself No, il
wasn't possible He had just turned
down an offer to work in the American
| Association because he didn't consider
take whirl at it, and Herewith hs
purchased bottle of ink and beat all
running records TO the post office.
| He was twenty-five wears old when
into the 1thr OF beg eag ga
who had ever attempted to assume the
same office as Silk OLoughlin. Tim
| Hurst and other stars. He is twenty-siN
now. EIe had trouble the first year. but
| before the season closed he demonstrated
| to the players that his authority on the
| hall field was 20 he unQuestioned. And
| since then. except in the case of the POP
| bottle at St Louis he has experienced
| little difficulty in the course of his duties
| of tie ball field and on, Billy Evans Is
likab BILE fellow. He has charm OF
| manner that makes him friends every
| where He earns good pay as umpire.
| But in the winter he has his sources OF
| revenue with which to pay gas bills and
| buy snow shovels
| He has 10 do these things because he
! Is married row
| He writes weekly letters on general
| base ball TOPICS. They pay all winter
bills and more.
| Evans spends great deal of his time
| during the off season with Jimmy Dunn
and his stable OF boxers. Although IT is
not generally known. he is as good as
| heavy weights grow in this section.
| Jimmy Dunn will :ell YOU that.
| So here's little timely advice to the
| uuarresome players of the American
| League: "Lool. out for Billy Evans this
season He's a fighter. and he's in good
condition
UCKY BASE BALL.