Evening journal., 1912-08-06
HANK O'DAY SAYS
UMPS ARE HONEST
Reds Manager is Opposed to
Kicking Ball
Players

1T doesn't make a bit of difference
how often my team is beaten, I never
blame il on the umpires," said Hank
O'Day manager Of the Cincinnati Reds
yesterday. Three of my players have
been put out of games this year for
kicking. Of which ! don't approve.
There is nothing in kicking, anyway.
The umpires are absolutely honest.
They make mistakes sometimes. but II
evens up in the long rum Whenever
a close decision is rendered against
the Reds | simply take my medicine
and look for a break on some other
play.
Twenty years spent as an umpire
kept me in touch with the methods OF
players who kick over decisions, and
I can say without fear Of contradic-
tion that the fellow 'who kick the
most don't last as long in the game
as the players who behave themselves.
Look over the major league teams of
to-day and you'll readily see what
mean. The greatest players. with
few exceptions, ar egood sportsmen.
They know how to accept defeat or
adverse decisions without. making
clowns of themselves. Take Christy
Mathewson, for instance How often
do you see him kick over balls and
strikes? He is even tempered ano
has sense enough TO know that he
can't get all of the breaks.
"Umpires, as a rule, are not swayed
by good or bad behavior on the pari
of the players. They can't afford &c
be- It is their duty to give decisions
Just as they see the plays. Even when
subjected to unwarranted abuse a
good umpire never. forgets that the
player who roasts him is entitled tc
square deal. I've often heard II
said that an umpire. goaded to des'
peration. squares accounts with his
tormentors by ruling unfairly against
them, but don't believe it. Umpires
are paid to be impartial judges on the
field and in all my experience I never
heard OF one who Intentionally tried
to rob a team Of its rightful belong
ings.
"The rules against kicking have
helped the umpires lot in recen
years. They are backed up by Presi
dents Johnson and Lynch more thar
III ing Olu udlHf Wnti AAuu NMnNAi
exerted their influence at league
headquarters. BY having the power
TO expel and suspend kickers withou
taking prolonged abuse the umpire'
have been able to nip kicking at thu
outset. The club owners have comI
to realize that when their players ar'
suspended for kicking their teams arr
weakened and that consequent defeati
are due. to the violations of the rules
That is why. I hear. that many of thu
club owners and managers are nov
opposed 10 the kicking evil.
Baseball fans are easily influenced
They are 80 partisan in their feeling
| that the moment they see a favorit
i player wrangllng with an umpire the
become aroused and proceed to max
the life Of that official unbearaple. Blu
In nine cases out of ten the playe
kicks to cover up his own faults. Ho'
many times have you seen a playe
/ kick over a third strike when the bal
cuts the middle of the plate? The
he makes a howl to convince tn
crowd that he isn't at fault.
The Reds are on the down grade
but Il isn't due to bad umpiring. W
have had all that we are entitled I
and have been losing because Of var
Gus defects in our play. Our pitcher
have lost their effectiveness and W
have been up against hard luck. Br
that is all As long as 7 remain mana
ger on the bench you'll never hea
me find fault with the umpires. 7 kno
from experience what they have
| stand"