Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-08-18

doctors, well known actors, Stald bus
mess men, in fact, men of all classes,
will invariably jump to their feet at
what they consider a punk decision,
and shake their fists violently. utter all
kinds of inCoherent remarks, ana insist
that nothing will satisfy their thiRSt
for revenge but the life blood of the
poor, defenceless umpire. The next
day, when some friend meets one of
the frcnZied rooters, and in a joking
way explains to him how he acted and
tells him some Of the things he said
about the umpire, Mr.. Loyal Rooter
takes a vow then and there that he will
never again open his mouth at a ball
game. no matter how thrilling the sit
uation. Perhaps the very next after
noon. If the proper occasion arises, he
VII unknowingly commit the very acts
Of the previous day.
Civic pride is to be admired in all
things \ baseball fan" who doesn't
want to see the home team triumph is
surely a peculiar sort of man. Perhaps
it might be well for him to have his
sanity Investigated. Desire tot win at
any cost. however. often makes intelli-
gent persons absolutely unfair in their
views and opinions.
When you come to think it over, and
weigh carefully the cold facts. IT is
really remarkable the work that de
wolves upon an umpire during ball
game In the course of a regular nine
inning contest he Is called upon to rem
der between 375 and 400 decisions.
Rather remarkable figures. Consider
ing his arduous duties. 1t is not to be
wondered at if he errs. Indeed, it is
remarkable that the judges of play do
not slip up more frequently. Here is a
little data that is mighty interesting.
Possibly a perusal of it may cause the
umpire to receive a little more favor
able consideration.
in a nine inning game on an average
of thirty-five men on each team will
face the pitcher. making seventy men
in all who step to the plate in an at
tempt To outguess the twirler. Thus
the umpire is called upon To pass
Judgment on three score and ten bat
tiers
II 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 bat
ter hit at bad balls on the outside and
inside. while the batter is trying "a
make the twirler get them over. Con
seqentlv the game resolves itself into
a continual battle of wits between the
pitcher and batter.
should the batter strike out on three
balls. it would require three decisions
often the count before the batter l.
finally retired or reaches first is one
strike and three balls, two balls and
two strikes. two strikes and three
balls. three balls and three strikes, and
three balls and two strikes, or any OF
the many other combinations that may
arise Thus it would seem that -four
decisions on each batter in connection
with balls and strikes would be a
very fair estimate.
With seventy nell coming To th'
nIatc I'm nine inning game, and each
batter averaging four decisions tho
umpire is called upon to render in the
neighborhood of ESQ ball and strike de-
cisions
That there are twenty decisions &c
reader on balls. hit in the immediate
neighborhood Of the foul line during
the ordinary game is a conservative es-
Innate. These decisions are often a
matter of inches. and many time
change the entire complexion Of the
game.
OF course. in a full line inning game
fiftv-four men must be retired before
il is completed. If the home team hap
mems 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 M
tv-one men in order to complete inc
game. 4 decision is necessary on every
ont made. although frequently IT Is eV-
ident TO every one that the man Is re
tired. as on a fly ball or when man
takes a healthy swing for the thlrd
stroke Such decisions are more
mere matter Of form than anything
else. on the other hand, there are per
hans twenty plays that come up IN a
game where the umpire rules the play
or safe on a very close decision
resume would show $50 decisions
on balls and strikes. twenty decisions
on fair or foul hits. fifty-four rulings
on outs and somewhere near twenty
plays in which the runner gets the hen-
oft Of the doubt and is called safe
making 374 rulings an umpire is called
unon to make during nine inning
contest. whenever a game goes eN'r'
innings his work is increased proper
tionatelv. If the contest ends in III
bie ,,,orl, has been for naught, as al
tic games must be played over.
The schedules Of the major league
call for 154 games. Taking into consid
Grafton the great number Of tie game
that are played. it would be safe to sa!
that each umpire averages working II
leo contests a year. Simple multlph
cation will show from this that durin'
| 1905, ~, nm miro is called upon u