The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-05
Bush League Umpire Shows
Flash of Tim Hurst Genius

forceful remarks in the vernacular of
their kind. Here is one that was pulled
by an "ump; away back in the tall
grass that stacks up fairly we'll with
anything that Timothy ever turned
loose, This particular arbitrator was
flirting with death in the newly organ
ized Southeastern league. 1t is always
tough on the umpire in a frst-year
league, for every town wants to win
the pennant the first season. and in this
instance, in addition TO the aforesaid
handicap, the league wasn't I even un-
der protection.
The Southern league holds forth in
the states of Georgia, Tennessee, Ala
bama and South Carolina All the
towns In the league had boasted of fast
independent teams prior 30 the organ
lzatlon. and the bitter rivalry was con.
tinued. 1t was no place for an "umpf
who WASH I there with a good share
of the "old nervine. To get back
to the story, it was along toward the
latter end of the season, and Knox.
vile and Asheville were fighting it out
for the pennant and the deciding series
being played at Asheville. All the
league "umps" fought shy of working
IN these games, and it was a common
saying among the umpires and PLAYERS
alike that the Asheville crowd was
the toughest bunch in the league to
please.
The league president was in a ouan-
dary as to whom to assign to these
games, but finally decided on veteran
arbitrator, Maekay by name, to run the
scraps. with the assistance of a young
Il
player himself and was no exception to
the rule that former ball players make
the best umplres In the long run His
only weakness was that he was a little
prone to fly up when nagged, and might
want to battle. For this very reason
the league head hesitated about sending
him to this important series, although
he was admittedly no fhomer.''
Things were breaking badly for the
and the players were kicking on every
decision that was close at all and max
ing life miserable for the umpires.
Mackay had caused several of the bows
on both clubs to fade from view, and
had threatened several others with dis.
missal If they continued their Grabbing.
Local favorites can make an umpire
look bad by appealing to the folks
when they are called out on close one
e, oi .uy airing on douDt-
tui strike IN pinch. The fans always
fall for this bunk - from a star.
Mackay had just fined and dismissed
a local favorite for wolfngn because
he swiveled in a pinch, and the ban
isned payer was pannlng him for
9 guessing at 'em.' Whereupon the
tans took up a collection in the stands
to pay the fine and were vigorously
toasting the arbitrator in additional
payment thereof. The president OF the
nome club became convinced that
Mackay was systematically robbinp his
club and told the umpire that he would
not try to protect him should the fans
seek violence after the game.
While he was saying these few words
one, of the bleacher '.bugs.' picked up|
a dirty old water-soaked cushion and
hurled it with unerring accuracy at the !
:, robber. and it hit him squarely on |
his knowledge factory. Quick as flash
Mackay turned to the irate head of the |
Ashyllle club and said:
You'd better sign that fellow; he IS |
got better control than any Of your
pitchers. -
The. Japs are coming. Not the rein
forced navy of the Old Nippon nor the !
modernized l army OF the Mikado. but |
: resI a. baseball team, They will be here
resent kioto university of Kioto, Japan. |
ana have sent out bids for bookings on |
me 1911 schedules OF several American
colleges This same Kloto team is said
Japan Satsuma Yen is heralded as a
pitcher OF the first rank.