Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-31

the ball f1eid WITH q cup oii sooi
der. Enough woe will just naturaiis
happen" writes Billy Evans IN the
Sporting News. That is bit OF ADVICE
alwayI slip the ambitious young umpire
who skeks to reach the big league. mat
was the first package OF wisdom inc
veteran Jack Sheridan handed me Wnen
I made my major league debut, ana
have keyer forgotten it. 1t was golden
adyicd
The Iumpire of today is clothed with
unlimited authority, but that is no rea-
son why he should be constantly Haunt
ing that fact in the faces OF players
and fms 1t is always best to escape
arguments if possible. On the other hand
one Must be firm when the only way to
ouell disturbance is to put into force the
powerI vested in the umpire.
There are any number of fans and
some lplayers who believe the average
umpire is constantly seeking to snow ms
authofity, much to the sorrow OF tue
fans and the disgust of the players.
Such Is an erroneous impression. Every
individual seeks to succeed in his chosen
profession: the umpire is no exception 10
the rule Constant turmoil always WORKS
to the detriment of the persons lnVoiveu.
Every time the umpire is forced TO eject
Il
lust the cause, he is starting trouble.
it is only natural then that the same
umpire should seek to escape sucn tan-
giles. Every now and then there is soille
umpire who seems to delight In makinS
his presence known by his antagonistic
attitude but such men are greatly in
the minority in the ranks or the UNI
pires.
Many times it must seem to the specIa-
To- tuIy
ment in putting Il certain player oul =.
the game for no apparent reason. II .lie
average fan were in the place OF the un-
pire he would have probably reacneo su ~,
a decision much sooner very often t ~.
umpire has the best of reasons Tor MS
action, vet it may seem to the spectator
as If he were using mighty poor 1uosIiie
1t is on such occasions that the umpire IL
forced to accept more than MS Snare ol
abuse When the fans are familiar Win
What has har pened they are always fairer
than when wholly ignorant OF the reason
for the election os their favorite payer.
After such a happening all KINDS OF
complimentary % expressions are nIa aeu.
today's game?" ''Oh, you daylight ROB
berr' You're in the wrong business you
ought to have a dark lantern ana JIM.
my instead of an indicator. ny aon
you reform and try to be honesa; ~. rrh.ase
are lust a few of the many hundreds OF
expressions that are hurled at the umpire
after he has given very close ana costly
decision against the home team.
In reality the fans don't mean a tilns
thew saw, In the heat of passion over the
adverse decision they cut loose at the poor
umpire as the target. They say tnlhes "
him from the stand that would cause IL
mediate election from theatsr anu tnI Ii
arrest if they made the same line or taih
to some ham-fat actor. The umpire play 5
the role of villain in the base ball drama
every day In the theater the patrons
confine their feelings for the villain TO d
storm of Kisses The base ball villain III
the eyes of fandom-the umpire-ls forced
to accept a lot of things aide from Misses
most of which he has never requested.
With some it is always Let us get the
umpire's goat
When YOU think it all over, the record
Of the umpires since the organization OF
the game has been most remarha Die
one Never has an official committed
dishonest act. Although often c. d geo
during the games with being the worst
type of crook, the regulations OF tie
men who handle the indicator remain
untarnished. No bride, however large.
has ever for minute made the Jump re
falter. He has always stood Tor all tnat
is clean and square, and, as q result,
base ball has been kept honest, SO Tar
as the umpires are concerned.
It would be an easy matter for an UNI
Dira to ESCAPE abuse DN DclnS HOiIie
umpire. Yet that is the greatest is
grace that can happen to an Official.
That is one thing that every successful
umpire prides himself on. the giving OF
his decision without fear or favor. he.
would prefer that the player insist ne
was stone blind, rather than have him
say that he was home umpire.
The average fan would have more con-
sideration for the work OF the umpire I
he could just bear in mind one ming
when the team is playing at home. 1t
the fact that his favorite club must pay
in seven other cities in the c.rcuit-thai
in those seven cities his favorite club has
no followers to speak of to cheer II OIL.
Its fate rests entirely in the lands of
the umpire. He is the one man VINO
must give a square deal for it 10 have
chance The umpire makes lots of mis-
takes of course, but the successful fell
low is the fellow who is always looki g
out for fair play to all parties concerned,
visiting team or home team.
During the course of game the fans
are often provoked because the umpire.
has decided a number of close plays
against the home club. 1t seems to them
as lie the official must have it in for their
fayorites The umpire has no choice In
the matter; he is simply performing his
duties as best he knows how. His salary
is lust the same. no matter what team
wins the pennant. Naturally the home
fan is a bit partisan, and he can see the