Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-09-01
PRES. 'COLLUM
RENDERS OPINION

/
ed a lengthy opinion to the board OF
managers in which he treats upon the
incidents which led up to the trouble
at the Danville- Berwick game last
Saturday.
As stated in the Morning News on
Tuesday President McCollum does not
suspend any of the players implicated,
but imposes fines ON four-three from
Danville and one from Berwick.
The president also declines to sus-
tain the action of Umpire Wilson in
forfeiting the game to Danville. He
declares the game as counting for
neither side, and to be played over
THE OPINION
Presidents McCollum's opinion fol-
lows:
Wilkes Barre, Aug. 30, 1910
To the board of managers of the
Susquehanna league,
Gentlemen II regret to inform you
that despite your efforts to suppress
rowdyism an incident occurred at Ber-
wick on Saturday, August ~, during
game between the Berwick and Dan
Vile clubs which has brought disgrace
and discredit upon your organization.
Umpire Walter Wilson, who officiat-
ed at the game in question, reports
that in Danvilles half of the seventh
inning Catcher Wager of the Berwick
club sustained a broken finger which
incapacitated said Wager from further
play.
When it came Berwick 5 turn to bat
in Berwick 5 half of said inning Man
ager Foster of the Berwick club substi-
tuted Player Sharadin, as was his
right. This substitution was then an
nounced to the spectators, as required
by the rules, by Umpire Wilson.
Thereupon Manager Nipple, of the
Danville club ran up to the plate and
protested against the substitution of
the batsman ON the ground that he,
Nipple, had not been informed of the
substitution by the umpire.
Nipple was also joined in this pro-
test by Pitcher BIannen of the Dan
vile club, who left his place to join
in the controversy. Manager Foster
of the Berwick club also came to the
plate from the Berwick bench and III
dispute with Brannen the latter ap-
piled a vile epithet to Foster which
was promptly responded to with a
blow. Ainsworth of the Danville
club then ran up and struck Foster
and a fight that practically amounted
to a riot took place in which specta-
tors, who had invaded the playing
ground, participated. After order
had been restored Umpire Wilson or
dered Brannen and Ainsworth of the
Danville club and Foster of the Ber-
wick club out of the game. This left
the Berwick club without sufficient
men to continue the game and it was
declared forfeited to the Danyille club
by the score of 8 to O.
Manager Foster was clearly within
his rights when he substituted player
Sharadin for Wager, for the substitu-
tion of player may be made at any
stage of the game as defined by Sec
tion ,, of Rule 2S, of the National
agreement.
Umpire Wilson fully complied with
Section 4, of Rule 2S, when he an
nounced the substitution of Sharadin
for Wager to the spectators. The
rules do not require such notice of
such substitution TO be made either by
the captain of the team making the
change or the umpire to the captain
of the opposing team, and the presi-
dent is convinced that the objection
raised by the Danville players was
either for the purpose of delaying or
harrassing the umpire, or else to a
lamentable and inexcus able ignorance
of the game for which they are being
paid to play.
There is no excuse for the action of
Manager Nipple of Danville in leav-
ing his position to raise the dispute
with the umpire and still less excuse
for Player Brannen.
There is no excuse for Manager Fos-
ter of the Berwick club. Had he re-
manned where he belonged there
would have been no trouble and had
he the proper conception of the moral
obligation resting upon him would
not have resented the insult of Bran
men as he did, thereby precipitating
the trouble that followed
There is less excuse for the action
of Player Ainsworth than any of the
other offenders. Instead, as was his
duty, of making every effort to separ-
ate the combatants, he instead became
au active participant in the disgrace
ful proceedings.
FINES IMPOSED
1t had been the intention of the
president to suspend indefinitely all
the players implicated in the trouble