New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-06
He Knows His Business Better
than the Wild-Eyed "Fan."
RARELY is HE IN DOUBT
What Seems a Close Decision to
the Grandstand Is Plain
as Day to Him.
Billy Evans. in Pearson's Magazine
Get YOUR glasses on. -

pireY'
Back to the ribbon counter for you very
shortly. Percy"
Say honest. how much are you getting
for throwing the game
Don't you know enough 10 retire when
you have gone totally blind?'
"You certainly must have something on
your boss 10 be able 10 hold your job"
The Only thing about you that looks
like an umpire is your mask and protector.
You better start TO run for the back
fence as soon as the game is over, for we
are going to get you
These, and a few million more 'comph-
nentary" expressions OF Ike nature, are
hurled at the umpire during the course OF g
closely contested game.
II Is really strange and wonderful into
what a frenzy the average baseball ian
can work himself during the progress of an
exciting game. It is almost incredible 10
think what he will do or say when he mag
ines the umpire has made wrong decision
that mas apparently put his club out OF the
running.
. Prominent attorneys. distinguished doc
tors well known actors, staid business men,
4, fact men or all classes, will invariably
lump 10 their feet at what they consider
punk decision. and shake their hsts VIC
ler.lv. utter all kinds Of incoherent re-
marks and insist that nothing Will sstsly
their thirst for revenge but the life blood
of the poor. defenceless umpire. The next
Ssv. when some friend meets one Of the
frenzied roccers and in a joking way eX-
plains 10 him how he acted and tells him
some Of the things he said about the UNI
pire. Mr. Loyal Rooter takes vow then
and there that he will never again open his
mouth az a ball game, no matter how thrill
ing the situation. Perhaps the very next
afternoon. if the proper occasion arises, he
will unknowingly commit the very acts of
the previous dav.
Civic pride is 70 be admired IN all things
A baseball fan" who doesn't want 70 see
the home team triumph IS surely peculiar
sort Of man. Perhaps 1t might he well for
hin, 10 have his sanity investigated. Desire
TO win az any cost, however. often makes
Intelligent persons absolutely unfair in their
views and opinions.
When YOU come to think II over, and
weigh carefully the cold facts, it is really
remarkable the work that devolves upon
an umpire during ball game. In the
course OF a regular nine inning contest he
is called upon 10 render between 80 and
no decisions Rather remarkable figures
Considering his arduous duties. it is not TO
be wondered at " he errs. Indeed, II is re-
narkable that the judges or play DO not
slip up more frequently. Here Is a little
data that is mighty interesting. Possibly
q perusal Of it may cause the umpire TO re-
csive a little more favorable consideration.
In nine inning game on an average Of
thirty-f1ve men on each team will face the
nitcher. making seventy men in all who step
10 the plate In an attempt 10 outguess the
tyirler. Thus the umpire is called upon TO
PASS Judgment on threescore 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 irving 10 make the batter hit at
bad balls on the outside and inside while
the batter is trying TO make the twirier get
them over. Consequently the zane re-
solves itself into continual battle Of wits
between the pitcher and batter.
Should the batter strike out on three
balls, IL would require three decisions. II
the batter works the pitcher for pass 10
first on four balls. 1t requires that many
decisions. often the count before the bat
ter is 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. four balls and two
strikes. or any OF the many other combina-
fjons that may arise Thus it would seem
that four decisions on each batter in con-
nection with balls and strikes would be a
very fair estimate.
With seventy men coming 10 the plate in
nine inning game and each batter aver
aging four decisions. the umpire is called
upon 10 render in the neighborhood of 280
ball and strike decisions.
That there are twenty decisions to render
on balls hit IN the immediate neighborhood
OF the foul line during the ordinary game
Ia a. conservative estimate These decisions
are often matter Of inches, and many
times change the entire complexion Of the
game.
OF course, IN q fun nine inning game.
ffty-four men must be retired before It IS
cornpleted II the home team happens 70
have made more runs IN eight innings than
the visitors in nine, they will refuse the last
half Of the ninth, making it necessary 10
retire only ffty-one men in order 10 COM
nIete the game. A decision is necessary on
every out made, although frequently it IS
evident 70 every one that the man is retired,
as on a fly ball or when a man takes a.
healthy swing for the third strike. Such
decisions are more a mere matter of form
than anything else. On the other hand,
there are perhaps twenty plays that come
I'd in a game where the umpire rules tie
PLAYER is safe on very close decision.
resume would show 80 decisions on
balls and strikes twenty decisions on fair
or foul hits, ffty-four rulings on outs and
somewhere near twenty plays IN which the
runner gets the benefit OF the doubt and IS
callsd SAFE making 374 rulings an umpire
is called upon 10 make during nine inning
contest Whenever a game goes extra In
uinrs his work is increased proportionately
II a. contest ends IN a tie his work has been
for naught, as all tie games must be played
over.
The schedules OF the major leagues call
Tor i54 games. Taking into consideration
the great number Of tie games that are
played. il would be safe TO say that each
umpire averages working in 160 contests
q year Simple multiplication will show
from this that during a season an umpire
Is called upon 10 make, in round numbers.
$3.50 decisions. Quite out OF proportion
70 the number Of chances player Is called
on TO accept
A rather interesting comparison of the
player and umpire can be made. Rarely
does q player, other than the first basenan,
have twenty or more chances. II a player