Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-15
BY UMPIRE BILLY EVANS.

By u mT41E DILL q A1N0
Base ball abounds in freak plays. While
the rule makers have attempted to make
provision for all the peculiar plays that
are possible, yet nearly every day during
the summer presents some freak stunt
that has been pulled on the diamond.
1 got letter the other day from q for
mer International League umpire that re-
lated a rather interesting incident, one
which. by the way, is liable to happen in
most any game. Relative to the play the
umpire has the following to say:
THE game was played at Montreal in
1872 the contesting teams being the Buff
falo and the Montreal clubs Murray of
Buffalo was on second base and McCabe
on first base. McCabe took too big a lead
off first base and was caught mapping by
the Montreal pitcher. Naturally he at
once headed for second base while MUIR
ray hiked toward third. The play then
shifted to third, the Montreal first base
man throwing the ball there to head off
Murray. The next moment both Murray
and McCabe were sliding back into sec
ond. The ball was thrown to the second
baseman, and both men touched by the
fielder with the ball. l pointed to Nc
Cabe, .signifying that he was out. but to
my great surprise Murray walked off the
bag and to the bench.
Murray's action presented problem to
me that was a bit puzzling. l desired TO
let Murray know that he wasn't out, but
didn't want to call out the fact to him,
for that would have tipped off the play.
McCabe remained on second. l stood in
the center of the diamond waiting for
some one to rush over and touch Murray
with the ball, completing a double play.
Not a word was said to me, and l said
nary a word. McCabe later scored. after
really being retired. Montreal won the
game by a big score and naturally there
was no aftermath to the play. as most OF
the people must have supposed that Muir
ray was touched before reaching the base.
Il was worried at the time as to just
what course | should have pursued. L
have thought the play over many times
since. If 1t ever comes up again. l Will
insist that the man properly out shall va
cate the bag. II the player entitled to the
base leaves 1t through ignorance of what
really happened, he will do SO at his own
risk. On the play to which l refer, 1t
would have been possible for Murray to
have caused big rumpus He could
have walked over to third and secured
possession Of that bag. for no one made
play on him. Then he could have de-
manded the retirement OF McCabe, the
man really out. / figure made mis-
take in ruling as l did, for 1t would have
been possible to have protested game on
good grounds, in which man actually
retired scored a run. This would have
been especially true If that run happened
to be the deciding one in the game
1t seems to me the proper course to
take in such a play is the one the UNI
pire. has decided to take in the future.
McCabe was the player actually retired.
and it became the duty of the umpire to
see that Meade vacated the base. OF
course. the umpire Is not supposed to
coach the plays, but in this case he must
protect himself by seeing that the proper
runner entitled to the bag should re-
ceive no consideration from the umpire.
II he so far forgets as to- leave asbase to
which he was entitled 1t is no fault of the
umpire. and no duty of the umpire to
correct the mistakes He leaves the base
at his own risk, and, naturally, must
take the consequences.
Two rather interesting queries have
been sent me from st. Joseph, Mo-. by
Henry w. Harvest, who shows by his
discussion of the plays that he is well
versed in the grand old game. One of
the queries Is hardly practical, yet pos
that often occurs on the field, and which,
as a rule, causes lot Of discussion.
Query No. 1 runs as follows: What
would be the proper ruling for the UNI
hitting the ball over the fence or into
the stands. legally emitting him to a
home run. but he is prevented from MAX
ing the circuit by an accident. In run
ming to first base and just before reach
ing 1t the batter, We will say, twists
his leg, either breaking some bone or
tearing loose some ligament that makes
it utterly impossible for him to go any
farther. To make the situation all the
more trying for the umpire. We will say
that because Of the fall the player breaks
his neck. Thus with the ball reposing on
the other side of the fence or in the
stands the player making the hit is ly-
ing helpless on the base lines. OF course,