Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-18
SPRING TRAINING FOR JUMPS
COMES UP FOR DISCUSSION
Best Arbitrators in the Two Big Leagues
Don't Like the Idea, and Say They
Can't See the Percentage.

playing one-night stands. riding the
Pullmans every night, eating at all kinds
of hostelries and working in all kinds OF
weather. Unless the men had weeks OF
preliminary training like the players,
most of them would report for work
crutches. after few weeks of exhibition
dates. The expense of having the eight
umpires report at a watering place q
couple of weeks before the opening season
would be trivial in comparison with the
advantages that would be obtained.
Such meetings would also promote a
better feeling among the members of the
stats, as 1t would enable them to know
one another better. 1t is a rather strange
fact, but / have not umpired game
with Tommy Connolly since June. 1907.
Neither have 1 worked a game with Fred
Perrine in the last two years. Twice have
silk OLoughIin and 1 worked together
in the last three years. Every umpire
has his ideas relative to different things.
and an exchange Of ideas on matters
base ball would only tend to broaden
each member of the staff on certain
points of play.
1 have often been asked by fans how
regarded the double umpire system To
such a question / would like to go on
record for all time as saying that the
double umpire system is the only system.
Often during the season the illness Of
some official makes IL necessary that ono
umpire work alone in one OF the games.
Every time / am called upon TO work
alone the advantages gained by a double
system are brought most forcibly to my
attention. Although j worked alone the
greater part of the first three years I
was in the major leagues, I believe I
would feel like asking for my blue en-
velope If the leagues ever decided to go
back to the single man.
In these modern days of base ball one
man cannot do either himself or the
teams justice. Often a player is caught
mapping at second with the umpire work
ing back of the plate. Often a player
attempts to steal third with the omcial
back OF the catcher Often a runner goes
from first to third on q bunt. The play
at first is going to be close; the umpire
gets over the play. Immediately on Its
completion another play comes UP at
third; he has scarcely time to move out
of his tracks. Often ball is hit down
the right or left field foul line. with the
umpire working back OF the pitcher. Can
you imagine the official rendering dect-
sions on such plays. as he must il work
ing alone?
All he can do is make a quick guess
and pray that he has rendered the proper
ruling. The distance separating him
from the play is SO great that he Is in
no position to see positively whether the
runner touched the base, or whether the
fielder failed to touch the runner. Often
1T looks if the runner has been
touched, when viewing the play from a
distance. If the umpire had been abie
to have been right on top of the play ft
is possible that he would have seen that
the fielder missed touching the runner
by at least six inches. Distance also
gives one a different view of the play.
The men high in base ball realize that
two men are necessary to preside over q.
game, so there is little chance OF ever
going back to the lone arbitrator.