The Detroit times., 1911-06-26

peFief HmPifes There are some that
are better than others but they aver
age up very well--far above the Ma
tional league arbitrators. In all prob
ability. This is the belief OF Hughie
Jennings and several other American
league authorities who saw some OF
the National league jumps at work IN
the post-season series OF last year.
Undoubtedly there are fewer bad de
cisions given in the. American league,
and that helps a lot.
But the big point at issue Is the
fact that President Johnson has the
hearty support Of the club owners In
his circuit
The writer knows TO an absolute
certainty that every American league
management has warned its players
to keep on the umpires II has been
announced that the fines assessed by
the umpires will have 10 be paid by
the players. In addition they have
been given to understand that umpire
batting will get them In bad with
their employers-the men to whom
they look for the daily wage.
With It's Characteristic united front.
the American league has summary
squelched umpire-baiting.
That this Is true IL obvious from
the records OF the league. So far as
recollection serves, there hasn't even
been q suspension or a fine imposed
by the American league umpires this
season. nor have they overlooked any
attractions of law and order. There
simply weren't any.
The Tigers have always been known
as fighting team and have been In
trouble with the jumps before the new
order OF things, oftener than any
other club. This year there have
been two cases In which Tiger play
ers have been bounced, while playing
on their home grounds. George Nor
iarty bounced the ball on the ground
after an aggravating decision At first
base. For this heinous offense he
was banished from the rest OF the
game. Hughie Jennings felt ag-
grieved one day and kicked bit
longes than the Jump believed neces-
sary. TO relieve his feelings. Hughie
was chased but had said nothing war
ranting further punishment.
Both these instances occurred early
In the season Since then there has
not been q single decision which has
aroused the Tigers to anything like
protest unbecoming gentlemen who
.-e heartily interested In their un-
dertaking. With other teams Ii has
been the same way.
As q matter of fact. Ban. Johnson
has at last succeeded In placing base
ball on the plane for which he has
been striving for ten long years.
The American league plays ball for
all there Ia IN II, but accepts the die
tum OF the umpire as final Inc
change has been SO gradual that the
bugs have hardly realized II. Tne
fight has been long one but Ban
has had his club presidents back OF
him and has turned the trick.
Now, in cities supporting teams In
both leagues, II IL no uncommon oc-
currence for bugs to say, Let's see
the American league game today.
Well get snappy ball game ana no
chance of any tedious Kicking.
And there IL another element that
has entered into the professional re-
lations between umpires and players
in the American league.
The players have become tolerant
of the umpires, II Is true.
Also, the umpires have become more
tolerant of the players.
No more do the American league
umpires quibble over technicalities In
the rules-rules which are sometimes
better ignored than enforced.
IL a team almost hopelessly behind.
tries to inject q dash OF pepper from
the coaching lines, contrary TO the
rule which prohibits coaching when
no runner il on base, there Is no un-
seemly wall from the gentlemanly
ump. He realizes that this sort OF
stun is the only means the team has
at hand OF making the game appear
interesting as piece OF competition.
/ Ind the coachers get away with it.