The Washington herald., 1910-03-13
So Says President Lynch, OF
the National League.
OLD TIMERS HAD TOUGH TIME
Says the Present-day Arbiters Have
Protection of Powers that. Conn
mHnd Players Respect-OId school
Of Umpires Would Call Present
Day Contests Mere Ping-Pong.

I
into a half scowl of seriousness. lie did
not like the insinuation that major
league arbiters are underpaid.
Why" he pursued flicking his cigar
ashes into a cuspidor, "some of these
fellows who make SO many bones about
officiating in one of the present-day
games should have had a few lessons in
the old school They would think the
major league contests of to-day ping
pong match.
You see, the umpire to-day rules su-
preme. He has the backing of the league
president. What ne says goes, and goes
with a capial 'G. There is absolutely no
chance Of violence at the hands Of mob;
the big league grounds are too well pa
Tclled nowadays. The stands have ex-
its by which the umpires are able TO
withdraw from the field without attract
/ ing attention.
But when / broke in-oh, how differ
/ emit Tie umpire had TO fight his way
from the home plate through the entire
field Of bowling, jostling maniacs. The
stands were close to the playing field in
those days. in excellent range for
brick or pop bottle.
Not that I have anything to complain
Of in the way Of rough usage continued
Mr. Lynch. You see, was cock Of the
rOost while on the job Even some OF
the modern-day arbiters have had hair
breadth escapes, 1 am told My most ex-
citing experience was staged in Spring
field. Mass, during the old Eastern
League days. At that my chief persecu-
tor came to the front In my behalf in
the pinch.
Il had given close decision against
Springfield that nettled the fans. AS I
elbowed my way through the outfeld
for the clubhouse big. burly man. who
evidently carried bod for an oceupa-
ton, aceOsted me. heaping the most IN
pleasant abuse and vituperation upon my
head to which ever submitted. I didn't
ford TO.
As I left the grounds a mob of small
boys and young men were waiting for
me. So was the big fellow who seemed
so anxious TO take a poke at me Sew
eral OF the youngsters began TO jostle
me. and one even aimed a block OF wood
At this the big fellow became furious.
Clear out Of here. you vermin, he
shouted. III lam the first fellow that
raises a hand against this cuss. Not for
you. you weasened bank burglar, ne con
tinued. turning to me. but III see no
man set upon by a rabble.'
He accompanied me to the hotel. all
the way pouring forth his threatening
abuse. AS We got to the door of the
hosiery I addressed him for the first
time
e See here I said, I have stood for
more from you this afternoon than I ever
took from anybody in my life. I do not
propose 10 have anybody talk TO me that
way. II you have the least vestlge Of
manhood you will come into this hotel
with me and we'll settle our difference in
a more manly way than words
The big fellow turned red as a beet,
stammered. and drew away He never
made move to comply. I saw him but
once since then. 1t was next day, perched
in the bleachers, and his voice was music
to my ears.
''Oh. you Lynch" he was bawling.
Good boy. I'm for you, right or wrong
But Springfield and its burly bully, +"
the National League president continued,
had nothing on the old Polo Grounds.
That was one of the chief sources of my
worries when I broke in as a big league
official New York, Chicago. and Detroit
we're tied up in a heart breaking struggle
at the time, and every one was looking
for a shade the best OF it. 1 didn't make
a great hit with New York. In the first
place, this old town objected to my IN
sophisticated language. I always said
'strick' instead of strike The baseball
writer's made ali sorts of fun of me till
they got tired Then they switched from
Jest to earnest.
Looked Up His Family.
Before I had been here three days I
was every kind of a bank burglar and
lsecond-story man in the category. 1t
didn't faze me. / always had a warm
spot IN my heart for the writer's. and 1
knew I'd win out eventually. But 81
Goodfried, the belI-cow scribe OF that
day, did a little scouting on his own
hook. He beat it to New Britain. Conn,
and delved into my personal and family
history for a clew. congratulate myself
upon the fact that the family had been
all law-abiding citizens Anyhow, Good
fried returned and put the stamp of ap-
prevail on my character. After that the
New York boys and myself were the best
of friends.
by the way" Mr.. Lynch ratified on
now thoroughly warmed to his tanning,
Ibid you ever hear of the sword swallow
er who choked on a peanut husk? Well,
that IS I: only I am here in the flesh.
Il umpired many a year without re-
ceiving so much as a black eye or
sprained ankle But the minute I quit
the profession, shaking hands with my
self on the good fortune, I bumped into
it good and proper. 1t was the year after
L Quit the big league that / accepted an
Invitation 10 umpire a game between
Harvard and Princeton here in New
York. I thought I was as fit as ever: in
deed. I seemed to be in pretty fair physi-
cal shape.
Toward the end of the game I started
quickly for first base to cover a play.
when I almost dropped dead. It was with
difficulty that ! hobbled through the rest
Of the game. You see, somehow strained
the tendons Of my leg from the ankle to
the hip. The next day there we're two
blue streaks the whole length OF the leg.
4 was laid up for three weeks. I have
never been able to figure out the cause.
1T was in this game, though that
lsprang a surprise on the collegians. They
had been used to indulging rather freely
In rough work. as the officials were usu-
Tally nonpartisan college men who failed