The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-20

bleachers. surrounded by lot of friends who see things just as you do, and um- pire the game, when you are not busy munching peanuts. It is entirely differ ent on the ball field, however, where you are a stranger in a strange land, with hostile crowd ever ready to criticise and IS active ball players and as many subsii- tutes, together with two foxy managers. trying their level best to outwit you. If you doubt my assertion in the least just take a whirl at the umpiring game, and I am positive you will be firmly convinced of Its correctness.
 In justice to the fam I must say that I am well aware of his reason for often offering strenuous objection to decisions that are not even questioned by the play CTS As an umpire I could never under stand this feature, and so decided to in- vestigate, as I have advised those who are skeptical of the duties of the umpire to do.
 l happened to have an off day in Cleve- land last year, and I decided to journey out to the ball park and call on my brother umpires. "Bull' Perrine and Bill Dineen had been assigned to the game. After making them friendly visit. I told them I intended taking a seat in the grandstand to look them over. They laughingly assented and informed me that they would give their best perform ance of the season.
 Bill Dineen, the former star pitcher, worked the bases, and it seemed as if every decision was close Philadelphia was the opposing team that afternoon, and despite the closeness of many of the
 plays, there was scarcely kick from any of the players. Cleveland was losing,
 however, and the fans made consider able fuss over several rulings on the bases by Dineen. From where I was sitting in the rear part of the big grand stand 1t really did look as if he had slipped up on four plays. Observing that not a kick was made. I was convinced that something had happened in each in- | stance which the fans in the stand myself among them-had not noticed I
 made note of the plays with the intention of asking Dineen about them, just to satisfy my own curiosity, and after the game I went to his dressing room. Why did you call Collins safe at first,
 Bill, on that throw from TurnerT l asked.
 why. there wasn't anything to that play" said he. "The throw, you will re- member. was trihe wild. It pulled Sto- val some distance off the bag, and whcn he lunged back his foot was about three inches shy of touching first"
 It was as plain as day when Dineen
 had explained 1t, but as Stovalfs foot was on the inside of the bag it was inn possible to tell from the grandstand
 whether he had touched 1t or not. He got there ahead of the runner, and 1t looked entirely wrong from the stand for Collins to be declared safe. Dineen was severely and unjustly roasted simply be- cause the crowd did not know the real reason for the decision.
 why did you call Baker safe at sec ond. From the stand 1t looked as if the
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 "The ball beat him all right, said Bill
 "but the force of the collision iii touch ing Baker caused that young sIiortstop Knaupp, to drop the ball Had he' held the throw Baker would have been an easy out"
 Dfneen had been severely criticised be- cause a cloud of dust caused by sliding had made it impossible to see that Knaupp had dropped the ball. He had, of course recovered it a moment later but not quickly enough to retire the run ner.
 Why did you call Birmingham out at second when Coombs threw to catch him mapping? Looked as if Joe got back to the bag before the ball reached Barry's $ hands"
 He got back, but not to the bag re- piled Bill Harry had him blocked oft. and 'Birmy' slid against Barry's shoe, not inc ba4 He hasn't touched the base yet''
 From the grandstand 1t looked as if this play was one on which the umpire had positively erred. From distance of 400 feet it was impossible to see that Btr- mngham slid into Barry's shoe and not the bag. Dineen was called all kinds or ncomplimentary things for this decision also.
 Just one more, Bill. Why was Jack son out at third? It looked as if he easily beat Catcher Lapp's throw in an attempt to keep him from stealng'
 NO question about his beating the throw" answered Bill. He was safe mile if he hadn't overslid the bag three or four inches and allowed himself to be touched out before he was able to regain it."
 On the four plays in which Dineen wos absolutely correct he was forced to suo- init to all kinds of censure, because the fans did not know what had really happened, and were passing their opinions merely on what they could see from a position 300 or 400 feet from the play.