Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-18
I AM VNNCATED,"
SAYS UMPIRE 0'DAy
Compares Reds Standing Now
With Last Years, When
He Was Manager.

NEW YORK, August 1S.-"I think I
have been vindicated." said Umpire Hank
ODay yesterday, when discussing his ex-
perience as manager OF the Cincinnati
Reds last year. THE Reds under my
had been able to get f1rst-class short
stop. together with a good pitcher, the
team would have been in second place,
close behind the Giants. 1 don't care to
criticise Joe Thinkers methods or the POL
Icy Of the Cincinnati club owners, but /
can't help pointing to the present status
of the Reds and the consequent howl
from the Cincinnati fans.
when l saw that Mr.. Hermann had
made up his mind to hand over the man.
agement Of the Reus to Tinker / sent in
my resignation. But / knew then what
would happen. Today; while l am back
on the National League umpire staff,
as well as anybody. Perhaps some Of the
new generation Of fans do not know that
l pitched for the Giants and Washing
tons in the old days. and that when I
was with the Senators my catcher was
Connie Mack. knew as much about
inside ball then as Mack and I've learned
just as much about the game as. he has
since that time.
why shouldn't be able to guide a
team in the fine points? Is there anybody
In better position to learn the weak
points OF batsmen and the methods en-
ployed by the various teams than an UNI.
pire who has worked twenty years be-
hind the bat? When I took hold of the
Cincinnati Reds ! was able to post my
players regarding many things. and il do
say so they showed up-to-date methods.
Yet when We were leading the race dur
ing the first month or SO told Mr.. Herr
mann that unless We could obtain a
shortstop and couple of pitchers we
would drop back to fourth or fifth place.
Do you know what creased the tobog-
gan first? It was in the series with the
Giants in Cincinnati the first trip that
Johnny Bates. who was hitting $40.
sprained his ankle and the next day Bob
Bescher was stricken with typhoid fever.
Deprived Of these star outtielders and
with, no able substitutes to take their
places, ne slid down thea ladder.
Jimmy Esmond. who played shortstop
in fine style for Griffith In 1911. couldn't
deliver for me. because of chronic stom-
ach trouble That was hardship entire
ly unexpected. but it was not my fault
In fact l had to take what Griffith left.
the only new man who went south with
me In the spring being a young pitcher
named Williams.
nlent the Cincinnati club made more
money last year than ever before, and it
was big money. too. I never had the
slightest friction with the players despite
reports to the contrary, and If you don't
believe me ask Mike Mitchell Art Phelan.
Larry Mclean. Arthur Fromme or any
other member of the Reds who played for
me.
Il established discipline from the out
set When Mclean reported he weighed
o;G pounds. I made him wear rubber
shirt and during the spring training trip
he took off nearly forty pounds. being in
great condition when the championship
race began. I made Mclean understand
that I was the boss
Some persons raped me while / was
manager because 1 paid no attention to
wild stories. / was told that so and so
was drinking heavily when as a matter
Of fact the player mentioned was drink
ing couple of glasses OF beer after each
game with my permission. Because the
team siumped / was the goat. yet 1t was
beyond my power to help it.
The trouble in Cincinnati always has
been too many advisers. Mr.. HerrmanIl
is a fine man. but he listens TO outsiders
and persons who are self-appOinted man
ayers. Ii the Cincinnati players win, they
are called heroes ard idols. If they lose.
names harsh enough cannot be invented.
| only wish that | had been permitted to
keep the management for this year. for
l know that l would have accomplished
more than last year. l will go on UNI
piring now until l get another chance to
handle a big league team, when l will
quickly accept IL only to prove that 1
am able to cope with the best team
handlers in the big leagues"