Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-10-17
BALL FANS GALLERY
OF NOTABLEs
Copyright 1911 by w. Aulick.)
MR.. LYNCH.
Who IS The Law.

Ever since Thomas ]. has been presi-
dent. there's been Lynch law in the
National league. Anybody who ever
sighted the square-rigged jaw of the
graduate umpire would know this
without being told, but not all the fans
have enjoyed the privilege of a per-
sonal glimpse at the big executive
Mr.. Lynch rules because it's an I'M
breakable habit with him If he'd
found. the first day of his reign. that
he wasn't going to be the topside fell
low, there'd have been a resignation.
and new president
But there has been no questioning
of the authority of the gentleman with
the piercing eyes and the thick arm.
There used to be in the old days when
Lynch was wearing the blue uniform.
but after he had shown that he was a
hundred percenter, fans. players. and
the reporter boys stopped taking falls
out Of him or attempting to do so.
For IT didn't bring anybody anything
To heckle Tom Lynch Away back in
the early days of his career. when he
was Eastern leaguing. they found out
the stuff that was in him. On one oc-
casion. at game in Springfield. some
Of his decisions peeved the local fol-
lowers, and they said things right ont
loud. One big chap about the size of a
battleship. strolled out to the field.
got up close to Lynch and spoke feel
ingly about the umpire's origin. NOR
ais, future, etc. a verbatim report OF
what the gentleman said would have
To go in Morse for the dot-and- dash
presentation is the only form in which
a reputable newspaper would carry the
conversation
As the critical fan had the backing
of several thousand equally earnest
Springfielders, MIR. Lynch forbOre to
take exception at the time When il
came TO mob him. the big battIeship
interposed. He said Lynch deserved
anything an outraged populace could
heap upon him. but BY Jiggs. he (the
battleshiQ) wasn't going to see a hu-
man slaughtered even if the human
were only an umpire. Personally, the
battleship followed Lynch to the lat
ter's hotel. and relieved himself Of
language that would have made a deck
7.
Lynch spoke. Come into my room.
neighbor.'' he said. If you are as brave
as all this in the presence of the null
utude, let's see if you can go some
when only we two are on the premis-
es. The battleship stared his aston
ishment, and then put out to sea. Next
day he was in the front bench of the
grand stand. and prepared to knock
the block off any fan who spoke harsh
ly of the umpire
Lynch has never retreated from n
position. He has been abused as hear
tily as a United States senator. but
he has stood the Gaff. New York fans
hated him cordially till he showed them
he could stand up against even this
handicap. Then they swore BY him
instead Of at him. Pittsburgh was
the same way. One time, at a game on
the old grounds. when Fred Dunlap
was managing the team. tn re came
play that called for all of Lynch's
firmnesS to set right. The teams were
tied, and Pittsburghs opponents had d
man or third. The Pittsburgh catcher
let a ball pass him, and il slapped
~ mn bl the ltS- 1 ne umpire Deck
Oned for the man on third to come
home. and there was war to pay. you
may be sure. Lynch told the enraged
Dunlap of the rule permitting a run
ner to advance when a passed ball
struck the umpire
Dunlap wouldn't believe it. So. (and
Lynch says this was the only time he
ever did such thing Thomas ]. pulls
his book Of rules thumbs and pages
till he comes to what he wants. tears
out the sheet and throws same at Dun
lap. Fred glimpses it. mutters an
apology and play is resumed. Three
hearty cheers for Umpire Lynch. La
ter. he heard it said that Dunlap wasn't
batting 1000 in the Reading and Wit
ing league and still later. Lynch found
on examining his rule book that he
hadn't torn out the particular rule.
after all. but a page defining the
strikes and balls