Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-27
UMPIRES FREQUENTLY HANDED
ROASTS THAT ARE UNJUST
Nine Times Out of Ten the Difference Of
Opinion Is Caused by Wrong
Impression Of Play.

Many roasts are handed the umpire
that are undeserved. writes Billy Evans
I'm the Sporting News. The fans pass out
the criticism because they believe 1t Is
due the erring official. Nine times out
OF ten the difference Of opinion Is caused
by the wrong impression of the play.
There are any number of plays that LOOK
entirely different from the stands II
the base ball enthusiasts in some way
could be notified of the real reason for
certain decisions lot Of unpleasant
ness and i'll feeling would be done away
with.
The foul tip is one feature that often
gets the pudge of play into difficulties
Quite often the tick of the bat against
the ball is so slight that 1t is audible to
only batter, catcher and umpire. Very
often such thing happens when the
batter is trying his very best to get out
OF the way of bad pitch 1t is only
natural, then, that the crowd should take
offense on seeing the umpire raise his
right hand for strike. when 1t was APP
parent to every spectator that the ball
was six inches inside. In other cases 1t
is a much mooted question as to whether
the ball hit the bat or touched a Part OF
the player's clothing. II Is largely
guess in such cases with the umpire
as he has but little to go By. the pat
ter of course, trots to first, the catcher
loudly claiming the bali hit the bat. NO
matter which way the umpire decides'
he IL in trouble.
eral years ago, in which a foul tip caused
all kinds Of trouble for my brother UNI
pire from the National League Inc
American Leaguers were at bat, had men
;xI nd fyryn INF
count on the batter was two strikes ana
two balls On the next ball delivered the
batter swung and apparently missed. LII
a moment the crowd was in an uproar.
League grounds The catcher dropped
the ball. but recovered 1t Immediately.
and made q break for the batter. VINO
had started to run. only to stop suddenly.
As the catcher touched the batter with
the ball the National League supporters
celebrated in fitting style They nat
urally figured that their favorite pitcher
had worked out of a bad hole. The score
at the time was tie, which MADE tne
situation all the more serious. From the
motions of the umpire 1t was evident TO
all that there was some hitch about the
play The catcher kicked strenuously.
as did a number of other players. while
the crowd hooted the decision in the most
approved style.
The National League pitcher who was
working that day Is reckoned as one OF
the games greatest stars. He has al
ways been popular with the impires be-
cause of his fairness in all matters. II
was seen that he made no kick whatever
on the play. As the players started to
crowd around the umpire he walked leis-
urely up to the plate. and was seen to
say something to the protesting athletes.
The fans. Of course. never knew what
he said. but they saw the players return
70 their positions at once. After the game
asked my partner what he had said.
Go back TO your positions. The umpire
was right The man wasn't struck out.
could hear the foul tip clear out to the
picher's box" were the words Of the star
The fans knew nothing of this: they
thought the mild-mannered pitcher had
induced his teammates to desist from
kicking, but not because the umpire was
In the right. Very unfortunately for the
judge of play, the batter who appeared te
have struck out hit for two bases. scored
both runs and put the American Leaguers
IN the lead. This play came up about the
fifth inning, and during the rest OF the
game the crowd made life more than mis-
cradle for my partner, who had been alb
eolutely correct I'm his ruling. Luckily fol
him, the National Leaguers won out IL
the ninth, or there Is no telling how un
pleasant things might have been on tn
way to the dressing room
There is no play that thrills fandon
more than the steal OF home. When sue
cessfully executed IL is thing Of beauty
IL 1aliS many more times tnan IL sue
ceeds. however. and usually the decision
IL very close one. 1t is only natura
that the player should object at losins
out, also natural that the crowd should b,
peeved. Thus IL can be seen at a glanc,
that the steal for home is a play that usu
ally gets the umpire into hot water.
III the steal of home were attended wit
only close decisions the umpires woult
have little cause to kick. Quite oftel
other complications arise that change tn
entire complexion of the play. stir up TIN
fans and make all kinds of woe for thu
arbitrator. There are three or four thing
that can happen to spoil or make success
ful the steal of home. Nine times out o
ten every eye Is glued on the base rune
and the catcher, and no attention is PAL
% any one else who may possibly figur
in the play.
. In many cases the runner attempts tn
stoal OF home with two down and tw
strikes on the batter. He gets away wit
q big lead, and appears to have success
fully stolen home, it being evident tina
the catcher has touched him late. I'm
mediately the cans begin to celebrate
They have paid no attention whatever t