New-York tribune., 1911-01-14
TIMELY BITS OF SPORT
Umpires To Be Spared Formal
Visit to an 0ptlCian.
so SAYS PRESIDENT LYNCH
"Get Your Eyes Examined Still
Club for Fans" Who Find
Reason to Howl.

The latest news from the baseball front
r. 20 the effect that the eyes Of umpires
will not he officially examined by the Ma
tlonal League next sea son, IN spite OF all
the columns which have been printed on
the subject. No less a parsonage than
Thomas J. Lynch, president Of the Ma
tiouaI League, made this statement yester-
day. And so another good idea has abode
It's destined hour and passed on.
They all have certificates from their
own opticians" said President Lynch. 1T
was good newspaper story, and that's
about all"
The spring training trips so thoughtfuiiy
suggested for the benefit OF these much
looked after officials also have met an un-
timely end. Mr.. Lynch delivered himself
OF the following on this issue:
"Our umpires get all the spring training
they iced 1t would be poor policy to
bring the umpires and ball players into the
close relationship which a Southern trip
together would be bound 10 DO. What would
the visiting team think If the third base
man over in your bail park should yell up
10 the umpire during close game: Hey.
Jim (or john, that ball wasn't fair by a
foot Right away they'd say: Why. that
fellow has got that umpire" You know
how suspicious the general run of fans
ere. They'd be hollerins frane-up' in a
minute. No, you've got TO keep the ball
players and umpires as far apart as pos
sible."
The tumult and the shouting having died.
the umpire situation is back in the same
place II held before the reformers got un-
der way. What other budding changes Will
be nlpped by the official frost before they
blossom into their full glory at the open
ing OF the season the next few weeks will
fell. The umpire discussion has been a
fruitful one, fun of different phases Of
varying possibilities. Having passed away
prematurely, the winter months can look
forward confidently to some new sensation.
President Lynch. In the course OF his dis
cussion. cast a prophetic eye into the
future, predicting d first division berth for
the Suporbas next season. He also dwelt
upon the popularity Of the game last year.
Baseball drew greater crowds last year
than ever before" said Mr.. Lynch. mot
only In the cities where the teams held
prominent places in the pennant race, but
all over the circuit because the majority
of the second division clubs could be de-
pended upon 20 give the leaders hard
Sussle at any stage OF the game. Take, for
instance, the Brooklyn club. In spite Of
several slumps during the season the team
made the Chicago. Pttsburg and New York
clubs look like bush leaguers on more than
one occasion. Teams that were weak last
year have been strengthened and l look
c1near 1911 IrODklNn
has succeeded In picking up some good
players. and ] look for them 10 finish in
The first division. Daubert 1 consider the
find Of the year"
The actions # a certain club owner OF
the West were mentioned as well by Ny.
Lynch. who added:
"One of our hardest tasks in this office
is handing out the news to the papers.
While there is a great deal of information
regarding the league which belongs to the
public. there is some which Is the property
of the league alone OF the former, 1t is
one OF our duties in this Office as the
headquarters Of the National League TO
distribute the information 10 the public
through the newspapers but when, after
pcdging myself 10 secrecy on certain mat
ters at the meeting, and then on returning
10 New York, unable TO give out any in.
formation, / ipd that in some way it has
already leaked out in the West, it gets my
goat
1T looks bad that these stories should
first reach New York from the West when
The headquarters is located in this town,
II was the same way at the National
League meeting at the Hotel Breslin. John
Heydler and myself sat down and gave out
what had transpired at the meeting; that
s. the information which was TO be made
public. Charley Murphy returns to Chicago
and Immediately circulates some stories
which were not 10 be given out The news
reached here again from the West, and
naturally We were put in a bad light with
the newspaper boys