The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-09-18
UMPIRES MUST
Think QUICKLY
Called Upon to Face Some Strange
Phases of National Game

good ones--on their ability to think
Chicago Tribune. II is an essential
10 success in fast company, and the
slow thinkers never get above the
mediocre level in the majors. But the
players are not the only ones out
there on the field who have To have
their wits keyed up to high speed
and figure out all the possible plays
ia advance. The umpres job re-
Quires lot more than accurate eye
sight and Judgment, and the ability TO
stand the gibes of the rooters. The SUE
cessful Arbitrator must think as fast
as any of the players, sometimes faster
than the foxy men of the diamond, or
they will catch him mapping. Occa-
sonally they do. but not as often as
one would believe. To hear the players
talk.
The quickest exhibition of thinking
! ever saw under the circumstances
was given by SILK O'Loughln, of the
American league staff, some half dozen
years ago. \ situation arose without
Warming which never before or since
has been duplicated on the major
league diamonds.
Washington was playing ut the old
White SoX park and Long Tom
Hughes was being hit pretty hard by
the south siders. At the end of the
inning Captain Schlaiiy. who was in
charge of the team temporarily, left
the field To hunt up another pitcher,
who was warming up back of the pa
Niliun to be ready To relieve Hughes.
Three senator's were disposed of in
succession i'm a remarkably short
time and the White SoX went To bat
again. Hughes remained on the slab
and Manager Jones stepped To the
plate. He hit the first ball pitched
on a fast bound straight through the
position usually occupied by the see
oud baseman-but there was no sec
ond baseman there. Schaily was still
looking for the relief pitcher, and no
one had noticed his absence from the
iHlcld
Before the right fielder picked NJ
the ball or Jones reached first base
on the hit. Umpire OLoughlin had
slipped off his mask and was vigor-
ously motioning for Jones To come
back To- the plate. The SoX manager
was inclined To argue ana stuck tt
the advantage he had gained ON first
base. lie did not get far with his ar
gument, for Immediately OLoughlir
yelled: You can't play ball with eight
men in the field"
That is as true as gospel, and 1t Is
stated in plain language in the play
Ing rules. but how many persons
would have thought of that obscure
rule, seldom referred to. and have APP
Piled it instantly to the situation, al
O'Loughlin did?
Recently Bill Klein had an origina
problem to solve. II came off in Phil
adelphia and the bases were full q
Philies. with two out. Becker wa
on third Knabe on second. and Lo
merit ON first. Paskert played TN
string out to three and two" and, q
course, the runners started from thei
bases on the next hall pitched Knab
took such "A long lead that he rounde
thlrd and was only "A few yards De
hind Becker planning To score aion
with his predecessor If the Cubs faile
TO get Paskert out.
Lavender failed to get the ball owe
ana Paskert walked. thereby forcln
an the runners to advance. knap
crouched, az if try ing TO escape notice
ana sneaked back toward third bas'
but Needham spotted him and fired IN
ball to Phelan, who tagged the run
her out before he could retouch thir'
Nearly all witnesses agreed tha
heeker had not crossed the plate whe
hhsbe was touched out. retiring u
side Every body knows the rule th'
no run can score after the third out
made, but there is also a rule decia'
ing that "a runner Is entitled To nc
vance one base when he is forced
'o advance by tho awarding of "a pa'
on balls To "a successful batsman
Goes not say anything about how loi
said runner may take to complete
Journey.
There might have been a lengti
argument and perhaps a protest
The game. but Klein did some qui'