Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-19
WORK OF BIG LEAGUE UMPIRES
OMPAREDTOTHATOFPLAYE
In the Course of Nine-lnning Game Arbi-
traitor Is Called Upon to Accept
375 to 400 Chances.

OF the doubt and is called safe, making
574 rulings on an average an umpire must
make In regular nine-inning game.
The major league schedules call for 1J4
games. Takdng into consideration the
many tie games that are played annually,
1t would be safe to say that every UNI
pire worked in at least 100 games during
the season. Simple multiplication reveals
the fact that In round numbers the UNI
pire Is called upon to render 50.840 ver-
number Of chances the player is called
upon to accept!
When you consider the figures I have
do. it is little wonder that the major
leagues finally hit on the double-umpire
system to improve that department Of the
game. In fact, 1t is rather strange that
sooner to remedy the umpire troubles
that have constantly cropped out since
the origin of the game.
There is no doubt that two competent
men can handle q ball game better than
one official. It Is easy to see how two
capable umpires will make less mistakes
in handling $40 or 400 decisions than one
man. With two men working together
properly, mighty few things should escape
their attention. With one man in charge,
everything that happened. Naturally
many things were pulled that are en-
tirely out of the question with two men
on the job. To illustrate cite little
thing that happened to Tim Turst while
working at a game alone in New Yor :
five or six years ago.
Bob Ganley, with Washington at the
time. had made a successful steal of Sec
ond. Hurst. after giving the decision.
started for his position back OF the plate
where the umpire always shifts after a
man reaches second. Just when Hurst
was within about ten feet Of the plate he
heard roar from the crowd and. turn
Ing, saw Ganley tearing around the bases
ing along the ground in the outneld. Can
ley scored before the ball could be- re-
turned to the plate.
Hurst knew that something wrong had
happened. but not having eyes In the
| back of his head he was unable to see
what had really occurred after he started
| to his position back Of the plate. It seems
the ball slipped out of the second base
mans hands as he was about to return 1t
to the pitcher. When the ball struck the
ground the ever alert Ganley picked it up
and tossed 1t into right center and then
dug for home. It was late In the season,
| the result OF the, game had no bearing on
the race and Ganiey's only motive really
He succeeded In his effort.
In few seconds Tim was surrounded
by so many husky athletes that he was
| lost to view. When Tim emerged Ganley
some player suggested to Tim that he had
no right to render decision on q play
that he didn't see Tim replied that his
general knowledge" Of the game called
! for such action. Hurst simply guessed
what had happened from the actions OF
the crowd and players. and ruled accord
ingly. although q wild. throw would have
landed the ball In the same place.
Hurst's case was only similar to that
bumped into by the umpire almost every
day when only one man had charge OF
the game. Not only were there q lot Of
plays that he didn't really see. but there
were lot OF plays on which he was
forced to make a guess decision.
| In the old days II was an easy matter
| to pull OF an interference when the um.
pre was watching some other play.
While such things happen now and then
with two men working. they are the ex-
ception to the rule. Mistakes In judg-
ment will always be made by the umpire,
/ no matter how many men work. but mis-.
| takes through inability properly to see q
| play, or not see It at all, are seldom
/ with two men working.
| A player may erase bad play by COM
ing across with Q sensational one later In
/ the game that saves the day. A punk"
l decision by the umpire Is always black
mark against him.