The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1912-01-30

oribes to throw a game. They we're
catapulted out OF the league They
never came back Nix, forever" was
the decision OF the directors of the
new anti-gambling outfit when these
men made numerous appeals for re-
lnstatement One man sent his wife
10 hubert She said that the league
mad reduced her and her children to
munger. Here's a hundred dollars;
take 1t and eat" said Hubert Come
to me again II your husband doesn't
get work. will never reinstate
him"
II was strong medicine, but 1t saved
the game The lesson burned its
message on the minds and hearts OF
the players everywhere. Gambling
was taken by the hand and led to the
entrance of the ball park and accord
ed less than fifteen seconds to go
away From that day the league has
regarded gambling as the cancer OF
the game.
Undoubtedly the players as class
are today the clearest body OF pro-
| fessional athletes in the new world.
they threw the game" When does
one hear a serious charge OF that kind
now,
During the desperate pennant race
IN the American league in 1908 sin
| gle decision by Sheridan on play at
the plate killed the hopes Of st. Louis
and a day later a decision in the first
inning, a ball which the White Sox
| insisted was a strike. ended Chicago's
hopes In that same season Fred
Clarke was called out at third base
on the last day OF the National league
season at Chicago. and Pittsburg lost
the pennant by that decision. But
there was not whisper OF criticism
respecting the umpire. whose deci-
sions blasted the fondest hopes. per-
haps. that baseball players can know.
| II the honesty of the game we're not
so universally and cheerfully recog-
nized. the numerous situations always
manifesting themselves where the old
fashioned crooked work could 90 the
trick so easily would lead TO doubts
In the minds OF the fans and the game
would die Except for the spirit that
pervades the promoters and players
OF the game. that they must De con-
slant as the northern star. the oppor-
tunities for a weak man TO be tempt
ed would be so many and might De
made financially so advantageous that
II would not be a cause for surprise II
cog slipped now and then
As baseball is played today II Is
practically Impossible for questionable
operations to creep into the maneu-
yers of the diamond. Since the great
leagues eliminated gambling Tue
banker and Office boy know ,na' a'
the ball park they will find reiaNa'
ton as nearly flawless from nora'
no,nt of view as It is possible 10 oo-
tain in an imperfect world. Inc lem
onade NAV be largely imaglnatloh'
but the virility and honor OF the s'au'
,ators In the arena below they Sno"
are above criticism. An umpire may
not walk to suit them. but the ians'
Notwithstanding their insulting Veroai
assaults during the heat OF oatt'e up
IN his honesty OF purpose. never 'eei
any deep doubt concerning his unpur'
/ chasable allegiance 10 the square uea'
| ~ umnires we're less spotless ooleotS
the fact that they are czars from S;SV
until the game is called on account Oh
darkness would. OF course, make 'neii
irregularities worth a great ueai "
money A naughty umpire hisu'
,roks thousands of dollars Tor renaer'
inv q wrong decision. He would nave
,o rsnder a string of them over a yer!
br,ef period to profit much oy r'sN'
cry. because as soon as MS ac's We 20
came identified he would nave ~
snand his earnings in another eli
mate. .s,, IN. mower
.var of one umpire to make OF un.
make an entire season. to cnanse u" g
rasu,ts of scores of games oy q
.eS Hank O'Day called Merkle on.
49, ~. POLO grounds at the close u