New-York tribune., 1913-09-08
Poor Ruling by President of
National League on the
Forfeited Game.
RACING LEAVES ITS MARK
Phillies Have Much to Do if
Giants Are To Be Beaten
in Race for the 1913
Pennant.
By Herbert.

Thomas J. Lynch, president Of the Ma
tonal League. has been a good executive,
and. in my opinion. his decisions. almost
without exception. have been sound and
equitable. All Of US make mistakes. how
ever and il strikes me that he blundered
badly in his handling of that game in
Philadelphia on Saturday. August 80,
which brought about such a baseball tan
gle In the first place, the case deserved
more careful consideration and the sitting
OF more evidence than Mr.. Lynch saw nj
10 give II. and. in the second place, he
worked hardship. If not an injustice. on
the Giants in boldly giving the game TO
the Phnlies which no doubt they de-
served but which in point Of cold facts
tnev had not actually won. Many a game
has been Illed out Of the fire with one
man out. or even two. in the last inning.
and why the Giants should have been
robbed OF this chance when they were IN
no way at fault for the calling of the
game is beyond understanding. Mr.. Lynch
had no more right TO give that game 70
the Philies simply because they were IN
front than a referee or any judge Of play
would have in giving a pool match. for
example. 10 the man in the lead II II was
stopped through some agency over which
the opponent had no control. In all fair
ness Mr. Lynch had only one recourse II
satisfied that his umpire had erred. and
that was 70 order the game replayed.
No doubt the Giants deserved 10 lose.
as the score stood. but that is absolutely
beyond the question. II the umpire. duly
appointed by the president Of the league,
blundered or put a false construction on
the rules-in which there is room for
doubt-an absolutely innocent party
should not be made 10 suffer If his rulings
are reversed. According 70 Brennan's
own statement, printed exclusively in The
Tribune last Tuesday, he acted well
within his rights in forfeiting the game
10 New York. unless a visiting team is TO
be accorded no protection against unfair
and disorderly tactics on the part of the
spectators II he acted without authority,
as Mr Lynch says. Of either the regular
playing rules or any ground rule. then it
Is high time that the league adopt some
formal regulation 70 cover the case in
question and 10 prevent a visiting team
being handicapped by outside agencies.
Mr. Lynch may have been justified in re-
versing his umpire and ruling as he did,
under strict interpretatio OF the base
bail code. but the ruling, in my opinion,
was in violation Of the true ethics OF the
game. and. further than that. opened the
way 10 unbridled license for those who
would win by foul means If not by fair.
The very fact that that section Of the
bleachers in The Philadelphia park di-
rectly behind the pitcher is roped off as
a rule. and was roped off for eight inn
ines Of the game on August 20. Is proof
enough that persons moving about in that
particular spot are distinct handicap 70
the batsman Brennan SAYS he could not
see the ball come OTer tho plate when the
fans" swarmed into that section in the
ninth inning waving hats and papers for
the single purpose. II would seem, OF dis
concerting the O. posing batters. 1t fol-
lows then that Brennan was justified IN
ordering the home club 70 clear that sec
ton and on failure 10 declare the game
forfeited. II matters not as Mr.. Lynch
suggests. that John J. McGraw, manager
Of the Giants, made no protest 1t is the
first business OF the umpire 70 see that
the game is PLAYED fairly for both sides,
and brennan surely carried out the spirit.
If not the .et,er. ~~ 'he rules in acting as
he did.
Grantland Rice has suggested that II
would be no worse for some unsportsman-
like fans" at the Polo Grounds 20 bring
sheets and hang them over the green
background in the Brush stadium when
opposing teams were al the bat. He is
right How would an urnpir- be expected
to rule II the New York club refused 10
remove those sheets or eject the men
who went 70 such ends? What would the
president OF the league DO under such
circumstances? The cases are practically
analogous. The case is not closed. and
the New York club did well To appeal TO
the board Of directors Of the league.
Surely good will come Of II all. or else
many good iudges are sadly mistaken. II
vii! be surprising if the league does not
pass q resolution al It's next annual meet
INK providing that a green painted renee
az least fifteen or twenty feet mSh De
erected at the end Of the playing heId
where the bleachcrs surround the uIa
mond.
Nothing points the way so qulc"lF 10
confidence and prosperity as s'ronE'
sound market and the sale OF the thoT-
oughbred horses belonging 10 the estates
of the late James r. Kcene and Cnar''s
Kohler last week furnished substantial
expression Of how horsemen 'eei coil-
cernng the revival Of racing in this state
The prices were not so high as they
would have been six or eight years ago
when the sport had reached its FOOD ou'
they were high enough 20 indicate clearIy
that those most interested in the breed
WA Industry had taken heart and were
no longer afraid TO invest their money
without going abroad 70 get returns.
Racing is th@ lie Of ;he breeding indus
try. Tests must be provided. and these
tests apparently can come only in keen
strife over the track. This country has
suffered severe loss In the last few
years IN the curtailment OF so many
farms devoted 70 the breeding Of horses
and 10 the shipment Of 80 many Of the
best thoroughbreds for stock purposes 70
England. France and Germany. The re-
turn OF racing even on such a small scale
as was enjoyed this season has awakened
new and broader interest in breeding,
and this is sure 10 make for good.
Prince Mckinney. the wealthy sports
man OF Cleveland. laid the foundation