Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
Bv !. W. Heisman.


an umpire should handle the de-
cisions that come UP in a ball
game while he is standing back of the
catcher and home plate. Problems of
a somewhat different nature often
confront him when he takes his stand
out in the field of play behind the
p tcher.
The umpire should take this latter
position whenever a man gets on
btse, with the idea of being nearer TO
the scene OF action in case he should
b. called upon to render a base de-
cision.
From this position he will find that
he has a better view of the plate and
Of pitched balls than when behind the
catcher. for the reason that the pitch
er in front of him will not interfere
so much with his view of these plays
as does a catcher.
Standing behind the pitcher an UNI
pre- must always be expectant of the
pitcher or catcher throwing to a base
to nail a runner, and he should be
sure to follow the play carefully or
e. sc he will find that something has
happened without his knowledge. He
should be quick to apprehend a throw
of the pitcher down to second. and be
sure to jump quickly out of the way.
Must Get Close to Play.
The point that l consider most i'm
portant of all for an umpire to bear in
mind, is to get as close as possible TO
the base at which you expect to have
10 make a decision, without being or
getting in the way Of the play itself.
Suppose a man is on first and the
batter hits safely to right with the hit
and run on. II is certain the runner
on first will attempt to take third on
the hit and the right fielder will make
his throw to that sack. In such case
the umpire ought to be within a cOu-
PIE of feet of third base at the time
the throw and the runner get there, in
order that he may be in the best pos
sible position to judge. The same
rule holds good for other plays at
other bases, and if it appears that
there is likely to be a double play he
should have the second play in mind
and get after that one also. For the
life of me l can't understand why so
many umpires think all in the world
they have to do is to stand in one
place, look wise and make the best
guess they can. If they would only
MOVE and get about the field the
same as a referee and umpire have to
do in football, they would find them
selves working into positions where
they could give decisions that would
meet with more general satisfaction.
Take the case of a fly ball or line
drive hit right down the first or third
base line Often enough an umpire
has plenty of time in which to run
over and sight along the line before
the ball hits the ground, but half of
them never stir out of their tracks.
This is the result of laziness and such
a man is unfit to umpire a game; If
1t is mere thoughtlessness the fault
should be corrected. and can easily be
Don't Argue With Players.
Some players seem born to kick in
ball games whether they are captain
or not II l were umpiring a game l
would never listen to anybody but the
captain. and not him except in case of
his differing with me as to the word
ing or Interpretation OF rule, never
in case of a question Of fact. There
is no reason on earth why baseball
players should be allowed to argue
and delay games as much as they do
Ii is not permitted in tennis, basket
ball, football, track or any other
sports. In fact it would be very bad
form for players to question an Off
calls decision in other sports the way
they do in baseball, and certainly in
no other country are officials treated
with the general discourtesy that we
see exhibited by players to umpires in
every baseball game in this country.
But if, in umpiring a game, I found
had made a mistake, whether in in
terpreting a rule or in deciding a
question of fact, l would certainly
have no hesitation whatever in re-
versing my decision on the spot. The
prevalent idea that after an umpire
has once made decision he can not
change it is nonsense. OF course he
could not do so after the game had
gone on while, other players come
to the bat, etc. But if before any
further playing has been done the
umpire asCertains that he has made
a mistake he can undoubtedly re-
verse his decision. In fact, we see il
done every day. An umpire calls the
runner safe, but right after, or soon
thereafter observes that the fielding
player or baseman did not catch and
hold the ball as he, the umpire, at
first supposed he had. Clearly the
runne. should have been called safe,
and what choice has the umpire but
to reverse his decision and call him
so?
Jumps Fooled in Trapped Ball.
Quite often an umpire is called
upon to decide whether an outffelder
caught a ball before it touched the
ground or whether he got it on trap.
Too many umpires are fooled by the
@ ever acting Of the outfielder who
Tretends always that he caught IL on
the av. whether he really did or not
mpires should entirely disregard
g actions and behavior of the play
e after getting the ball and judge
entirely from the way his eyes saw
tie play. This same proposition con-