Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-26
HARDSHIPS.
AS TOLD BY BILLY EVANS
Umpires Thrive in Winter, But the Heat of
Summer and Frenzied Fans
Burn Up the Crop.

conductor. got off. When rocks, tin
cans and other things started coming
their way the motorman and conductor
also made their exit. Things were get
ting very uncomfortable. as a lot of
things Stafford hadn't asked for were
coming his way. He glanced at his
watch and saw that he had but little
time to make his train. Stafford was
thoroughly familiar with the running
OF q street car. and stepping out on the
platform. as if he intended getting off,
he threw on the juice and the car
leaped away. The crowd followed. and
until Stafford got it into high speed he
was showered with everything that
was loose. He reached the station, just
as the train pulled in. after having
a very strenuous experience was
proved by the fact that the street car
was in the repair shop for three weeks
getting over the charge of the angry
mob. Stafford. however. was on the
job the next day as usual. Stafford
had the nerve: that is why he is a
successful umpire.
Naturally. 1t is Impossible to maintain
the strictest discipline in the smaller
leagues. consequently the umpires are
forced to submit to more abuse from
players and managers than in the leagues
Of higher classification. Hugh Rorty
regarded as one of the best of minor
league umpires. has had his share OF
funny experiences with players, man
ayers and fans. Rorty is a game, red
headed little Irishman. brimming over
with wit He rarely loses In battle of
repartee. yet he always delights in tell
ing how former big Lacquer slipped one
over on him.
The former big Lacquer had been rele-
gated TO club in the Connecticut
League. in which Rorty was umpiring
On the day In question his club was un-
able to do anything with the opposing
pitcher. The former big Lacquer. who
was not playing but directing the club
from the bench, decided to hit for a
player in the eighth inning.
After Rorty had called two strikes on
the former major league star he tried
to make him feel better by saying:
THAT young fellow certainly has some
thing on the ball today
Quick as a flash the batter replied:
Eyes. he is doing quite we'll with the
assistance of a red-headed umpire" He
singled on the next ball, so Rorty had
no chance to come back.
A we'll known minor league umpire
after being appointed to job in quite a
prominent minor league received a let
ter from the president, saying: ut is so
easy to work In my league. a blind man
could get along successfully. All you
have to do is to get along with the man
ayers. the players. the public and the
press. and you won't have any trouble
with me-
After working week in the league the
umpire dropped the president a letter.
rendering his resignation. 1t ran thus:
beg to resign. Your organization isn't
league. it's a regular wild west show.
Ranch 1o1.' What you want for UNI
pres are a lot of husky cowboys, who
can kill at 100 PAGES when blindfolded.
I'm going back to civilized country to-
night"
These are but a very few of the de-
lightful experiences minor league UNI
pires must go through if they would get
to the top of their profession. the majors.
1t isn't a very delightful anticipation, yet
there are plenty of men willing to take
chance; in fact, every minor league
president has a hundred applicants for
every job. well known minor league
president once said to me in July when
he needed couple Of good men badly:
Empires seem to thrive in cold wealth
en-. =! can get hundred for every posi-
ton In the winter. but the heat Of sum-
mer and the frenzied fans seem to en-
tirely burn up the CROP