New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-02
BRENNAN TELLS WHY
HE FORFEITED GAME
Umpire Says Ground Rule
Forced Him to Award
Contest to Giants.
COULDN'T SEE THE BALL
Both He and Murray Were
Blinded When Spectators
Began Waving Hats
and Papers.
COULDN'T SEE THE BALL

Bill Brennan the umpire who forfeited
the New York Philadelphia game to the
Giants last Saturday. was able to collect
his thoughts yesterday al Brooklyn and
give an account Of the affair
According 10 Brennan. he was justified
in his action. for an agreement was en-
tered into between McGraw and Doom be-
fore the game that a certain section OF
the bleachers was TO be kept free from
spectators. This was a ground rule. and
when. after the eighth inning. fans
moved over into the vacant area whlch
had been roped off. the rules OF forfeiture
applied Just as II spectators had crowded
on 10 the playing field. Brennan SAID mat
McGraw did not make protest nor raise
the issue at all. but that he himself couid
not see Tire ball when II came over 'he
Mate. He had only two alternatiVes-one
IN forfeit the game and the other TO call
evervthinR a ball that Chalmers pitched.
brennan has sent a fun report 10
Thomas ]. Lynch, president oil the -"
tional League and feels certain tha' ''''
official will approve Of his decision
How can any man with reasonapIe
,o,,, of common sense say that ! had
no right to give the game 10 the "'"''''
said Brennan Yesterday. Ihere was ~
q thing left I'm the world for me TO 90
I'm, act as I did The home team was
leading nv two runs and there was ono
New york player out In the ninth. Chder
,heee conditions and with some twenty
thousand wild fans in the stahuS ~"
can any one say that handed the game
TO the Giants?
"Tbe Philadelphia players cannot oe"'
that there was an understanding pe'"eo"
the two teams, thai no spectators
IA enter the stands directly III line WIN
the pitcher. batter and catcher i"i'
rule was enforced for eight fuIl liih''e''
rho norton from which spectators were
excluded was roped of and policeman
WAS on guard 1t was not unul lhe iaS'
inning. when there was one out ''''
crowd broke through the barrier "'''
swarmed into the section. oiu ho' "o'
them until Chalmers pitcheo one ""'
Murray. When Chalmers thre" INC o",'
Murray ducked and ! also uu'Aeu
Neither one of us saw the pan an"
oouad {, q hall The crowd when hao
aocked into the stand behind the pi''nv
,,,,,,,ad ,beir hats and papers and this
blinded U.S.
"According 10 rule ! must call every
ching y hall which I do not see cross the
,Ia,e hetween the batter's knees and his
shoulders. called 10 Doolan' VINO was
acting manager. and told him that :
could not continue the game uhu' 'ne
s.ard was cleared. Doolan tod me t'at
81 Gould do nothing and referred me 10
ri, told him that Doom had not
,,.ord IN saw about the game. az he was
NOT allowed on the field after suspended
MIN in the fifth inning. Doolan sun IN
o,s,ad that he was helpless, and In
,or,,ed him of the rule which would
make me call balls on the batters'
II pleaded that in view OF the ia''
that the Phillies were In the lead by TWO
runs it was his duty. In all justice ooth
10 his team and the Giants 10 Clear the
stand. Then | was referred TO the police
when | went to centre field TO ask the
noliceman in charge TO clear the section
he told me that he was not working Tor
me I answered that ! was IN charge
and he would have to do as ordered MIN
'I went to McGraw. but the New YORK
manager refused TO have anything to do
with the matter. Then, after iair
warning, ! forfeited the game 10 the
Giants. Again repeat that ! will take
firm stand, and am perfectly certain
that Doom will soon come around and
see that | was right.
The statement made by Brennan was
corroborated by Nal Eason, who was as
sistant umpire at the game In dispute.
Eason added that a single policeman
could easily have chased the crowd OUT
of the stand. and the game would have
noacaahiy