Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-18

training for umpires, has come up Tor dis
cussion, writes Billy Evans in the Sport
ing Times. According to the report one
of the National League secretaries has
suggested the umpires be sent south in
the spring with the ball players. 1t was
the secretary Of the Chicago club who
made the suggestion, I believe. In order
to do away with any i'll feeling it was
proposed that the American League UNI
pires be sent with the National League
clubs and the National League officials
with the American League teams.
Shortly after the suggestion was made
noticed that Hank O'Day, the grand old
veteran, came out with a statement in
which he said the southern trip didn't
look good to him; in fact. went SO far. l
believe, as to say he would quit rather
than do the one-night stun through the
south. The proposition appeals to me just
as it did to O'Day. / can't See the per-
centage. 1t would seem that the shifting
of the umpires to the rival leagues would
make the work much easier, but I ques-
ton that fact.
Take the worlds series Of this year,
for instance. In umptr1ng ones success
depends just as much on getting the
breaks as In playing. In the clash be-
tween the Giants and the Athletics Tom
my Connolly got all the tough breaks In
the second game at Philadelphia there
wasn't a close play on the bases. Not
play really required the verdict Of the
umpire. the player realized he was out
in every instance. In the third game,
played at the Polo Grounds. 1t seemed
as II every play on the bases was close.
Tommy Connolly worked the bases that
10 md r S>A1f "a oufi
mate to say that he had at least twenty
plays that looked as II they might be de-
cided either way. Can you imagine
more delightful situation in which to
place an umpire? Never in my life have
l seen an ofiicial have a harder game to
work.
While was in no position to pass judy
ment on the plays, from my seat In the
press box 1t looked as II Connolly gave a
splendid exhibition Of umpiring. The plays
were so close. however. that it was only
natural arguments should arise. II you
know Tommy Connolly as man. you
know that q squarer chap never held the
indicator. He gave the plays that after
noon as he saw them. Unfortunately for
him, a majority Of the plays were decided
against the Giants. The contest was
played at the Polo Grounds. and Connolly
was roundly abused. The Giants protest
ed often. which only increased the I'M
kindly attitude Of the crowd Can you
try to make II for Tommy il they bumped
into him in a number Of exhibition games.
where the umpire had no authority what
ever?
Tn the series with the Cubs. Silk"
OLoughlin got some tough breaks The
Cubs blamed the outcome OF one game on
the calling of a single strike: strangely
enough no protest was made over the
strike until after the score had been tied.
Then silk found 1t necessary to hne
about eight Of them. The CUBS Wouio De
delighted to meet silk" in the south this
spring? What lro,,c pic. t snch s9ner,ences
myself in the interleague series. as mas
every umpire. I mention the two incl
dents related above. because they nap
pened this fall. That spring training Trip
to the average umpire would De tw'ce as
long as the regular season.
~ an umpire keeps in condition during
the winter he will be able to do just as
good work in the opening game , as ia Ter
snrine ia better than late in the year, as
the constant strain on eyes ana nerves mas
its effect. I make 1t point to take even
more physical exercise In the winter tnan
I do in the summer. 1t is my opinion that
If YOU keep the stomach In shape you
will always find the eye In excellent trim |
r. vour stomach Is or color, and you |
report hog-fat, your vision Is sure 10
suffer.
have always advocated a plan that |
President Chivington of the American As |
ISOLATION once tried out. that Of sending |
the umpires to some place like Hot |
Springs. West Baden or any other water |
ing resorts. Have a trainer go with them. |
and let the men 60 through course OF /
exercise for, say, two weeks The rubs and /
baths would finish OF the work. and. |
dare say, would put every man In far /
better condition to start the season than |
he usually reports.
Then there is another big advantage 1
that would be gained for such q meeting /
of the umpires. Plenty Of time would be /
AFFORDED for the arbitrators to talk over /
the rules and get q uniform ruling on a /
number Of mooted questions that are
often regarded in q different light by the
officials These questions could annually |
be threshed out At such conferences, and /
q uniform ruling adopted. 1t il not .un- |
common for an umpire. when he makes /
some ruling. to hear the player affected
say: well, none of the other umpires 4
have taken any objection; it seems I!
strange that you should
1t seems to mo that such q meetingl
would be . big Improvement over thel
that could be obtained by