The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-20
UMPIRE IS BEST JUDGE OF PLAYS Fans Too Far Away to See
 Fine Points BILLY EVANS TALKS
Examples Cited to Show That the
 Spectators Should Be Willing to Accept the Decisions of | the Umpire

From Pearson Magazine.
 Get your glasses on.''
 You better consult an optician.'
 Don't we ever get close decision?"
 ..Who ever told you that you could um- pire?" ..
 "Back to the ribbon counter for you very shortly. Percy
 Say, honest, how much are you get ting for throwing the gamer
 Don't you know enough to retire when you have gone totally blind?
 You certainly must have something on your boss to be able to hold your job
 ..The only thing about you that looks like an umpire is your mask and protec- tor'
 You better start to run for the back fence as soon as the game is over, for we are going to get you These. and few million more "compli- mentary'' expressions of like nature, are hurled at the umpire during the course of closely contested game
 It Is really strange and wonderful Into what frenzy the average baseball "fan can work himself during the progress or an exciting game. It is almost incredible to think what he will do or say when he lmagines the umpire has made a wrong decision that has apparently put ms ciup out of the running.
 Prominent attorneys, distinguished ooc- tors. well known actors, staid business men. in fact. men of all classes, will in variably jump to their feet at what they consider punk decision and shake their fists violently and insist that noth- ing will satisfy their thirst for revenge but the life blood of the poor, defenseless umpire. The next day, when some friend fha fran zia ad a joking way explains to him how he acted and tells him some of the thinss he said about the umpire, MT. Loyal Rooter takes a vow then and there that he will never again open his mouth at a ball game Perhaps the very next ait- srnoon. if the proper occasion arises, he will unknowingly commit the very acts of the previous day. Civic prjde is to be admired in ail things A baseball ran who doesn want to see the home team triumph IS surely peculiar sot of man. Perhaps it might be well for him to have his san ity investigated. Desire to win at any cost. however, often makes intelligent nersons absolutely unfair in their views and opinions.
 when you come to think It over, and weigh carefully the cold facts, It IS reai'v remarkable the work that devolves upon an umpire durng a ball game. In the course of a regular nine-inning contest he is called upon to render between 3i5 and 400 decisions. Rather remarkable fig- ures Considering his arduous duties, It is not to be wondered at if he errs ln- deed 1t Is remarkable that the judges or play do not slip up more frequently. Hero is a little data that is mighty interesting Possibly a perusal of it may cause the umpire to receive a little more favorable N consideration.
 V Tn a nine-inning game on an average
 
 pitcher making 70 men in all who step to the plate in an attempt to outguess the twirler Thus the umpire is called upon to pass judgment on threescore and ten batters.
 It has been estimated that the umpire makes four decisions on each man. In these modern days of baseball groove pitchers are mighty scarce. The pitcher is constantly trying to make the batter hit at bad balls on the outside and inside, while the batter is trying to make the twirler get them over. Consequently the game resolves itself into continual bat tie of wits between the pitcher and bat ter.
 Should the batter strike out on three balls 1t would require three decisions. IT the batter works the pitcher for pass to first on four balls, it requires that many decisions. Often the count before the batter is finally retired or reaches first is one strike and three balls. two balls and two strikes, two strikes anf three balls, three balls and three strikes, four balls and two strikes. or any of tne many combinations that may arise. Thus it would seem that four decisions on each batter in connection with balls ani strikes would be very fair estimate.
 With 70 men coming to the plate in 2 nine-innng game, and each batter aver- aging four decisions. the umpire is called upon to render in the neighborhood of 2S1 balls and strike decisions.
 That there are 20 decisions to render on balls hit in the immediate neighborhooG of the foul line during the ordinary game is a conservative estimate. These deci- 'sions are often matter of inches and many times change the entire complexion of he game.
 Of course, in a full nine-inning game 54 men must be retired before It is com pleted. If the home team happens to have made more runs in eight innings than the visitors in nine they will refuse the last half of the ninth, making it necessary to retire only 51 men in order to complete the game. decision is necessary on every out made, although frequently 1t is evident to every one that the man Is re- tired, as on fly ball or when man takes healthy swing for the third strike. Such decisions are more a mere matter of form than anything else. On the other hand, there perhaps 20 plays that come up in game where the umpire rules the player Is safe on very close decision.
 A resume would show 2s0 decisions on balls and strikes, 20 decisions on fair or foul hits, 54 rulings on outs and soma where near 20 plays in which the runner gets the benefit of the doubt and is called safe, making STA rulings an umpire Is called upon to make during a nine-inning contest. Whenever a game goes extra innings his work is increased proportion ately If contest ends in tie his work has been for naught. as all tie games must be played over.
 The schedules of the major leagues call for. 154 games. Taking into consideration the great number of tie games that are played, it would be safe to say that each umpire averages working in 160 contests a year. Simple multiplication will show from, this that during a season an unl- pire Is called upon to make in round numbers 59,S4O decisions. Quite out of proportion to the number of chances player is called on to accept.
 rather interesting comparison of the player and umpire can be made. Rarely does player, other than the first base man. have 20 or more chances If q player accept 19 of 2O chances, averaging .950, 1t Is regarded as a brilliant perform ance If an umpire misses five of os4 chances, averaging .9S6 it is good bet that his work for the afternoon will tc regarded as very poor, especially if he happens to slip up on a play that proveI An. mi bax,o