Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-24
UMPIRES WHO HESITATE
ON DUTY ARE SURELY LOST
Suicidal for the Arbitrator Who Holds a
Conference With Himself Before
Giving Decision.

Some wise fellow once said, If you
hesitate you were lost, writes Billy
Evans in the Sporting News. That GER
1t Is almost suicidal for the arbitrator
who holds a conference with himself
before rendering decision. No man
in any business is forced to depend upon
snap Judgment as much as the umpire,
and the average umpire. aware Of this
fact. In attempting to overcome the fault
Of rendering decisions too slowly, and
thereby causing a doubt in the minds
Of the fans as to the correctness of the
rulings is likely to go to just the other
extreme. In his desire to make good in
his attempt to make the fans believe he
really knows his business he starts to
anticipate plays before their compile
ton, and time and again will render
ruling long before the completion of
the play.
Naturally there is much fault to find
with both the too slow and too quick
systems. One makes the fans and play
ers believe that you are not quite sure
yourself what decision you should
render. The other method makes them
believe you are nervous, that there is
little fear in your makeup. that you are
anxious to get the game over. These
are two faults that beset practically
every umpire. Sometimes It takes him
several years to get away from one
or the other fault Often after he has
been in the business a half dozen years
or more he finds himself making Just
such a boot every now and then.
1t seems that every umpire, no matter
il he IS a kid Of ten years, working a.
game on a sand lot. takes a lot Of
pleasure in doing a lot Of waving with
his arms, when calling q man out or
safe, or in trying to break up an argu-
ment AS rule, the fans and players
umpire in making a ruling, so they
naturally must be guided by the motion
of the arms In learning what Judgment
has been passed on the various plays.
So far. so good, but often the waving
Of the arms on a decision that was
rendered too quickly gets the umpire in
trouble, when it might have been
avoided, had the umpire not been SO
DESTROYS Of letting. the world at large
know what he had decided. Often some
thing happens very Unexpectedly that
enables a runner to reach first in safety.
when 1t didn't look as If he had chance.
1t is impossible to explain. but when
you have anticipated the play and made
ready to render your ruling you find
yourself waving q man out, realizing
while doing IT that you have made a
mistake.
No whittier chap ever was connected
with base ball than Timothy Hurst No
umpire ever had a fainter voice or short
er motion than Timothy. Often his cali
ing Of ball or strike would scarcely be
uttered In more than a whisper. Usually
his motion signifytng that the runner was
out would come from the wrist instead
Of the shoulder and would never travel
more than three or four inches. Mr..
Hurst was anything but a spectacular
umpire, but when in his prime he was
regarded as one of the best that ever
donned the mask, the players always
liked him, and today he holds a high
place in base ball circles, although no
longer actively connected with the major
leagues.
Since Tim did not use any actor poses
In his work AZ umpire he naturally
didn't look with favor on any arbitrator
who depended on the ''ten, twenty and
thirty stuff'' to get by. A number Of
years ago a minor league umpire, with a
trunk full Of recommendations, Joined the
big show for a trial. The recruit was as
signed to work with Hurst and Tim
started him on the bases. In waving a
runner out, or calling him safe, the
youngster went through a series of move
ments that caused Tim for q moment to
think he had been doubled I'D with some
acrobat or contortionist out Of q Job at
his regular calling.> OF course the stun
being pulled by the young man was
something different and the crowd was
enjoying many laugh at his expepsa 7