The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1911-11-30

bribss to throw game. They were
catapuIted out OF the league. They
never came back NIX. forever" was
the decision OF the directors OF the
new anti.gamblin4 outfit when these
men made numerous appeals for re-
instatement. One man sent his wife
to Hubert. She said that the league
had reduced her and her children to
munger. Here's hundred dollars:
take 1t and eat" said Hubert Come
to me again II your husband doesn't
him"
1t was strong medicine. but 1t saved
the game. The lesson burned Its
message on the minds and hearts OF
the players everywhere. Gambling
was taken by the hand and led to the
entrance OF the ball park and accord
ed less than fifteen seconds to go
away. From that day the league has
regarded gambling as the cancer OF
the game.
Undoubtedly the players as a class
are today the cleanest body OF pro
| fessional athletes in the new world.
In the 70's the fans used to say: "Aw,
they threw the game" When does
one hear serious charge OF that kind
now?
During the desperate pennant race
| in the American league In 1908 a sin
gle decision by Sheridan on a play at
the plate killed the hopes OF st. Louis
and Il day later decision in the first
| inning. a ball which the White Sox
insisted was strike. ended Chicago's
hopes. In that same season Fred
| Clarke was called out at third base
! on the last day OF the National league
| season at Chicago. and Pittsburg lost
| the pennant by that decision Hut
| there was not whisper OF criticism
| respecting the umpire. whose deci-
sions blasted the fondest hopes. per
haps, that baseball players can know
If the honesty OF the game were not
SO universally and cheertully recOg-
ntZed. the numerous situations always
manifesting themselves where the old.
! fashioned crooked work could do the
trick SO easily would lead to doubts
in the minds of the tans and the game
| would die. Except for the spirit that
pervades the promoters and players
of the game. that they must he con-
stant as the northern star the Oppor-
tunities for weak man to be tempt
ed would be SO many and might be
made financially so advantageous that
1t would not be cause for surprise II
a cog slipped now and then.
T.
practically impossible for questionab BILE
operations to creep into the maneu-
vers Of the diamond Since the great
leagues eliminated gambling the
banker and Office boy know that at
the ball park they will find reiaxa
tion as nearly flawless from a moral
point Of view as 1t is possible to OBJ
tain In an imperfect world. The lem
onade may be largely Imagination.
but the virility and honor OF the glad
iators in the arena below they know
are above criticism. An umpire may
not walk to suit them, but the fans,
notwithstanding their insulting verbal
assaults during the heat OF battle up-
on his honesty of purpose. never feel
any deep doubt concerning his unpur-
chasable allegiance to the square deal.
II umpires were less spotIess objects
the fact that they are czars from 1880
until the game is called on account OF
darkness would, of course. make their
Irregularities worth a great deal OF
money. naughty umpire might |
make thousands of dollars for render.
ing a wrong decision. He would have
to render a string of them over a very |
brief period to profit much by trick
cry. because as soon as his acts be-
came identified he would have to
spend his earnings in another eli
mate.
For instance, 1t is within the power
even of one umpire to make or un-
make an entire season. to change the
results Of scores of games by
word Hank O'Day called MerkIe out
on the Polo grounds at the close Of |