Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03
INSIDE STORIES FROM THE
LEADING UMPIRES, WELL TOLD
Majority of Arbitrators Are Sensitive, But
Refuse to Admit It, as It Looks Like
Showing the White Feather.

notes of the first game in which l Of
| ficia ted. 1t read thusly:
We understand that Umpire So-and-
| So, who assisted Tommy Connolly in yes
terGay's game. is very kind to his mother.
| We are very sorry he ever left home. His
| place is back with mother.
Ihat was everything | could find about
| me, but 1t was enough. Not a single
| comment was made on any of my deci-
Slons. but after much meditation and
reading between the lines | became con-
| vtnced that the comment in the notes
fully covered the writer's opinion of my
afternoons work.
1t is tough getting roasted for your
own rulings, but it is doubIy hard to be
toasted to 2 dark brown for acting on the
adVlce OF some one else remarked one
of the big league veterans That is
what happened to me. What was said
about me in the papers the next morning
also afternoon, wouldn't have made
mother proud of her son If she could have
read them.
The year 1 broke in was featured
by one of the most thrilling campaigns
in base ball. Only five umpires were
lii the league that year, which necessi-
tated that 1 work alone a greater part
of the time. AS luck would have it,
happened to be with the team that
hnally won the pennant a greater part
OF the season. This club was never
Inquired as pen1ant contender in the,
advance dope, so you can readily see
tnat 1t was anything but an easy lob
to follow that team around Incident
ally, 1 worked about twenty-five of the
nome games for that club. l was mob
bed on an average of about once
week. because of some play that lost a
game 1t was certainly a delightful
nrSt years experience.
1t so happened that / was doubled
up with one of the veterans of the staff
IN very important series on my Jonah
clubs grounds. The day was dark and
threatening. 1t looked as if rain might
fall any minute. l was scheduled to
work the plate. ] decided to protect
myself. Walking down 10 the veteran
with whom I was working. / told him
| regarded his judgment as far better
than mine, and that if rain or darkness
should set in ] would prefer calling the
contest on his judgment. He agreed
with me that such move would be- a
wise one. He was to raise his right
hand when, in his opinion. he thought
the game should he called. if such sc-
ton was necessary.
The game proved a pitchers battle.
and for ten innings neither club could
score, and at the end of the tenth 1T
was really dark enough to call the
game and the other umpire put up his
arm. but ] raised my finger to signify
WOuIu IKE W u dHOlIcI tHIiibS- ne
nodded his head in assent. Neither club
scored in the eleventh, and / was for
trying another inning, but my partner
raised his right arm. shook his head
vigorously and started in the direction
of our dressing room.
II then turned to the crowd and an
nounced the game had been called on ac-
count of darkness. Probably for min
ute the sun broke through the clouds,
just as ! finished my announcement, but
| In eli of two N had i'm and
the park was a miniature lake. Unfor-
tunately for me the visiting pitcher had
shown signs of weakness in the tenth
and eleventh innings. while the home
twirer appeared stronger. Most every
body thought another inning would have
decided the game in favor of the home
club The following morning ] drew any
where from a column to a half page in
every one of the dozen papers in the
city. Practically every one started out
thusly:
"'If the veteran umpire had been back
of the plate where he should have been
in so important contest, instead OF the
cub ump. yesterdays game would have
resulted in victory for the home team.
1t would have been easy matter to
have played at least another inning.
Then followed a TRADE of roasts for
me. berating my lack of eyesight and a
Number of other things The keynote of
every article was that such thing would
have never happened had the veteran
umpire been in charge of the game Fact
of the matter was | had called the game
on the veterans Judgment and really
wanted to try another inning myself. the
veteran l was doubled up with wanted
to explain the situation. but l feared such
action would look as If l was weakening,
and he was taking the blame to help me,
so ! refused to consent
x X 4
IF he ever loses his voice he will have
to quit umpirng.'"
THAT was the opening sentence of a
base ball story in reference to my work
remarked one of the big league officials.
AT the time l thought 1t the unkindest
sentence ever written. but l have seen It
in print so often since, that I'm case har-
dened by this time.
Any time umpire tells you roast
| doesn't affect him in the least ne is try
| ing to kid you, also himself. in believing
| 1t. I know one major league umpire
| who didn't read a single paper in a GER
| tain city last year, SO he would mt have
| any idea about what was being said
| about him. The successful fellows are
those who can take the good and bad
| with smile and figure that as whole
| he is getting better than an even break
| If one can't stand criticism he had better
| get in some business other than umpir-
| ing. Quit umpiring or quit reading the
| papers, is the advice / once heard a vet
eran give youngster.