Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-19

Once upon q time, many years ago, Q
shortstop accepted twenty-one chances in
q game without an error. It was herald
ed as truly remarkable performance,
and indeed it was, writes Umpire Billy
Evans in the Sporting News. II the play
er of today accepts a dozen chances with
out an error he receives more than pass
ing mention. II he has only three chances
to look after and all Of them happen to
be Of a sensational nature. his fielding is
regarded as the feature OF the game.
That goes for the player.
On the other hand, have you ever
thought It over and considered carefully
the cold facts relative to the work OF the
umpire? II you have DONE SO you will
have discovered the remarkable amount
Of work that devolves on the umpire dur
ing the progress Of q nine-tnning game.
incidentally 1t may cause you to extend
your sympathy more freely to the aroi-
traitor in the hour of trouble and need.
In the course Of a regular nine-inn1ng
game the umpire is called upon to accept
between 375 and 400 chances, or, to be
more explicit, must render that many DE-
cisions. Rather remarkable figures. In
portionately increased. 1t Is easy to
IMAGINE what Tim Hurst was called upon
to do the afternoon he struggled through
the now memorable twenty four-inndng
battle between Boston and Philadelphia.
Considering the arduous duties of the
umpire it is not to be wondered at that
he errs. In fact II is remarkable that ne
does not make many more mistakes tnan
are charged up to him. Here are some MT
tie data on the work of the umpire that
are rather interesting. A perusal Of the
same may win a little more consideration
for the oflcial when he seems to be very
much of color.
of thirty five men on each team will step
to the plate. This makes three score ana
ten batters on whom the umpire must
pass judgment. The pitcher ID trying MS
best to outguess the batter. The batter
is playing like game with the pitcher,
while both seek to get the edge from the
Judge Of play. 1t Is easy to contemplate
the umpire's position.
It has been estimated that the umpire
Il called upon to render on an average OF
four decisions on each batter. Few
pitchers use the groove BALI: most bat
tiers work the pitcher to the limit. The
result Is more work for the umpire than
II they were hitting at everything served.
naturally only three. decisions are neces-
sary. II he happens to swing at all OF
them and miss. or foul of a couple, 1t is
not dificult to render ruling.
A base on four straight balls re-
quires four rulings. Usually the
count is higher. Before the batter
reaches first or is retired the count
often stands one strike and three balls.
two balls and two strikes, two strikes
and three balls, three balls and three
strikes, four balls and two strikes. or
any Of the many other combinations
that are possible. Thus from the above
it would seem that four decisions on
each batter is fairly conservative
estimate. With seventy men stepping
to the plate it would make total OF
$50 bali and strike decisions for the
umpire to rule on.
It is, safe to say that there are TWEEN
foul line during game. Often the
ruling Of the umpire. as to fair or
foul, Is q matter Of inches only. Often
such q ruling, one way or the other
will change the entire complexion OF
the game.
In q full nine-inning game 1t is. OF
course, necessary to retire hfty.four men.
II the home team has victory cinched
without playing the last half of the ninth
only fifty-one men must be accounted for
in the put-out column. decision Is
necessary on every out. although often
the decision IL apparent. such as caught
Nv ball or when the batter Is out on
strikes. On the other hand perhaps
twenty plays come up during the game
where the umpire calls the player safe OF
decisions that are fairly close. -
A resume would show $50 decisions or
balls and strikes, twenty decisions on
fair or foul hits close to the line. nifty.
foue rulings on outs, ana score e. Daayl
in which the base runner gets the benedt