Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
By j. W. Heisman.

j L
an umpire should handle the de-
cisions that come up in a ball
game while he is standing back of the
catcher and home plate. Problems of
g somewhat different nature often
confront him when he takes his stand
out in the field of play behind the
pitcher.
The umpire should take this latter
POSITION whenever a man gets on
tase, with the idea of being nearer TO
the scene of action in case he should
J q called upon to render base de-
Cision.
From this position he will find that
! e has a better view of the plate and
Of pitched balls than when behind the
catcher. for the reason that the pitch
CT in front of him will not interfere
much with his view of these plays
{ s does a catcher.
Standing behind the pitcher an UNI
lire must always be expectant of the
Titcher or catcher throwing to a base
to nail a runner, and he should be
sure to follow the play carefully or
eiSe he will find that something has
Happened without his knowledge. He
should be quick to apprehend a throw
Of the pitcher down to second, and be
sure 10 Jump quickly OUT OIL the way
Must Get Close to Play.
The point that l consider most i'm
lortant of all for an umpire to bear in
mind is to get as close as possible to
The base at which you expect to have
to make a decision, without being or
getting in the way of the play itself.
Suppose a man is on first and the
batter hits safely to right with the hit
and run on. 1t is certain the runner
On first win attempt to take third on
the hit. and the right fielder will make
his throw to that sack. In such case
the umpire ought to be within a Cou-
PIE of feet of third base at the time
the throw and the runner get there, in
order that he may be in the best pos
sible position to judge. The same
rule holds good for other plays a
other bases: and If it appears that
there is likely to be a double play he
should have the second play in mind
and get after that one also. For the
life Of me I can't understand why so
many umpires think all in the world
they have to do is to stand in one
place, look wise and make the best
guess they can. If they would only
MOVE and get about the field, the
same as a referee and umpire have to
G in football, they would find them
selves working into positions where
they could give decisions that would
meet with more general satisfaction.
Take the case of a fly ball or line
drive hit right down the first or third
base line. Often enough an umpire
las plenty of time in which to run
over and 8 ight along the line before
he ball hits the ground, sbut half of
hem never stir out of their tracks.
mis- is the result of lazinesg and such
? man is unfit to umpire a game; IL
it is mere thoughtlessness the fault
should be corrected and can easily be
Don't Argue With Players.
Some players seem born to kick in
ball games, whether they are captain
ct not. II I were umpiring a game
would never listen to anybody but the
captain. and not him except in case of
his differing with me as to the word
ing or Interpretation of a rule, never
in case OF a question Of fact. There
is no reason on earth why baseball
players should be allowed to argue
and delay games as much as they do.
It is not permitted in tennis basket
ball. football, track or any other
ports In fact, ii would be very bad
form for players to question an off,
calls decision in other sports the way
hey do in baseball, and certainly in
10 other country are officials treated
with the general disCourtesy that we
see exhibited by players to umpires in
every baseball game in this country.
But if, in umpiring a game, found
had made a mistake, whether in in
terpreting a rule or in deciding a
question of fact, I would certainly
lave no hesitation whatever in re-
verSing my decision on the spot. The
prevalent idea that after an umpire
has once made a decision he can not |
change it is nonsense. OF course he |
could not do so after the game had !
gone on a while, other players come |
10 the bat etc But if before any
further playing has been done the |
umpire asCertains that he has made |
mistake he can undoubtedly re-
verse his decision. In fact, we see it |
done every day. An umpire calls the |
runner safe but right after. or soon !
thereafter observes that the fielding
rlaver or baseman did not catch and
Iold the ball as he, the umpire, at
first supposed he had. Clearly the
runner should have been called safe,
and what choice has the umpire but
TO reverse his decision and call him
so?
Jumps Fooled in Trapped Ball.
Quite often an umpire is called
upon to decide whether an outielder
caught a ball before it touched the
ground or whether he got IT on trap.
TOO many umpires are fooled by the
clever acting of the Outfelder who
rretends always that he caught it on
the fly, whether he really did or not
T-mpires should entirely disregard
the actions and behavior of the play
or after getting the ball and judge
entirely from the way his eyes saw
the play This same proposition con-