Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-17

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LIoW would you like to be the umpires Moth
ing doing would perhaps be the reply from
ninety-nne out of every hundred persons.
How would you like to leave ball park with over
half the fans saying all kinds of dire things about your
How would you like to have your name discussed
and rediscussed at the dinner table every evening"
Just because you gave close decision against the
home team in the ninth inning with two men down.
which turned apparent victory into defeat:
How would you like to pull off poor decision
the first man up in the opening inning, which proved
very costly, and then have to stand all kinds of
abuse for the remainder of double-header even
though the rest of your work might be letter perfect
How would you like to render decision that
absolutely correct and then be subjected to all kinds
of criticism just because favorte player of the fans
kicked so strenuously that you were compelled to put
him out of the game in order to maintain discipline?
Not very enviable position eh?
Well, that's just what the baseball arbitrator is up
against time and again during the six months of the
summer campaigning.
If one desires to succeed as umpire he must be inn
pervious to all sorts of criticism. He must try his
best to remember that the fans the men who pay
his salary, and have right to enjoy the game
they fit.
If it gives the rooters great pleasure, at various
times during the game, to inform the umpire that his
work must be causing Jess James to turn in his
grave, that he should consult oculist at the very
first opportunity and that it wouldn't be half bad
idea for him to apply for admission institu-
ton for the blind the wise umpire will simply smile
and at least try to appear if he perfectly
conscious of all that was happening about him.
The Redeeming Feature
THERE is, however, redeeming feature about
the position of umpire: the salary connected
with the job.
While it is not generally known perhaps there
isn't man of any prominence in either of the ma
leagues who is receiving less than twenty four hun
dred dollars and expenses for six months work
Positions at which such salary can be commanded
for short period of time few and far between
consequently the men judging the plays figure they
can stand any abuse that may come their way
There some people, not closely connected with
the game however who have no idea what big league
umpires draw for seasons work. A little incident
that happened in Boston last year, with Umpire
Perine and the manager of hotel there the cen
trail figures, amply proves such assertion
During his stay in Boston early in the spring.
Perne decided to have fashionable tailor make him
suit of clothes His little indulgence him fifty
dollars. The suit arrived one evening and was worn
the next morning. The new ump delighted with
himself. 1t his custom to change clothes at the
hotel before going to the ball park. When he re-
turned after the game that day he discovered that
his glad rags missing The matter was reported
but careful investigation failed to reveal who got
away with the new suit during his absence. Not
being able to get any line the robbery and reaz
ing that he make good the manager Of the hotel
summoned Perine to his office for settlement.