Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-21
BY II. C. BYRD.

There is one class connected with anna
teur base ball who deserve a lot of
credit for their work, and yet it is seldom
that anything commendatory is ever
said concerning them, more often. in
fact they are seldom mentioned unless
it is in connection with an explanatory
roast. The umpres are the men re-
ferred to.
There are no more maligned men in the
world than the amateur league umpires.
Scarcely an inning of any game goes by
that some player or spectator does not
let out a great howl of protest, and yet
it is dollars against the hole in a dough
nut that the players make a lot more
mistakes in judgment and execution than
the arbiters. Let us suppose. for in
stance. that every time the player made
an error or failed to make the play as it
should be made In some other respect the
umpire yelled out some uncomplimentary
remark. In such a case, the player
would feel very much aggrieved toward
the handler of the indicator. but that is
just what happens when the umpire blum
ders, and often when he does not.
There Is one consolation for the UNI
pires. They should not worry great
deal in view of the fact that men who
draw down thousands of dollars in sal
lack Of perfection OF otherwise. And
even at that. there are some umpireS In
the city who are very much above the
average of, the .arbiters found In other
parts of the country. If the players and
followers Of the local circuits could real
lie how much better off they are than
those who are subjected to a lot worse
handling of games they would do less
grouching when the man handling the
game appears to have made mistake.
Y~> ih<an ND
Shorty" Hughes, and If anybody has
seen better men work in semi-pro or
amateur contests he has watched some
thing out of the ordinary. Both those
men are very capable, and are really
above the average Of umpires in some OF
the minor leagues, where some or the
worst umpiring in the world may some
times be seen.
Yes, the umpires in the local amateur
circuits deserve a great deal more credit
than they have ever been g1ven-credit
for their honesty, squareness and ability.
It is often a case OF prejudice when an
umpire is roasted by the players. ana
sometimes this is true In regard to the
fans. Some little action or other may
throw the umpire in an unfavorable light
and from then on he is In for some
harsh remarks. even though he may not
make the least mistake. There is GER
tain league from which a team almost
withdrew during the middle Of the sea-
son because of alleged poor work on the
part Of the umpire. 1t happened that
this umpire was, to work one of the
most important games of the post-season
series, and from the start of that con-
test his every action was watched about
three times more closely than ordinarily
would have been the case, and, as a mat
ter Of fact he is a very capable man,
and his umpiring is above the average.
much above. He is exceptionally good
in giving base decision. and Is all right
back Of the bat That is q case of a
little prejudice placing him in such a
light that his work was really not ap-
preciated.
AS far as the ultimate result is con-
The Bankers have the championship in
section A. having completed their
schedule of six games with the loss of
one, and Ninth is practically the victor
in section 3. The remaining contests
will be played, but they will not affect
the standing Of the leading teams
1t is announced by the board of gov
ernors that the intersection series be-
tween Ninth and the Bankers will begin
Monday. August 25. Provided there is
conditions. the next game will be played
Wednesday and the last Friday. unless
one or the other Of the two clubs wins
the first two. II the game Monday Is
pOStpOHeO. IL Will De playeQ IueSQay ana
there will be no difference in the order of
the other contests.
The game the Bankers played with
Trinity yesterday proved easy for the
former. notwithstanding the fact that the
latter scored two runs in the first two
innings Loomis, who started to pitch
for the trust company. had one Of his
days when he hurls about the worst ball
imaginable. and he was yanked. Murphy.
who took his place. made a rather re-
markable showing In view Of some Of his
poor starts during the regular Capital
City League season. He pitched two in
n1ngs and struck out five of the six men
who faced him. What was more surpr,s-
ing was that he had good control of the
ball. the one thing he has not shown
previously. With sufficient time to alb
sorb some OF the finer points Of play.
Murphy will make an excellent pitcher.
The pitching staff of the Ninth street
team failed to uphold it's end of the
burden In the game with Mohawks yes
terday and the Southeastern League
youngsters gave the East Washington
bunch its hands full to win. Neither
Won Herbulis nor Kelly was able to
get the ball over the plate in the
fourth inning and five runs were scored
against them.
The Filipino base ball team which Is
to appear here for games Saturday and