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

I
an umpire should handle the de-
cisions that come up in a ball
me while he is standing back of the
ca tcher and home plate. Problems of
a somewhat different nature often
confront him when he takes his stand
0 It in the field of play behind the
, tCher.
The umpire should take this latter
)sition whenever a man gets on
base, with the idea of being nearer 10
Il scene of action in case he should
b called upon to render a base de-
C sion.
From this position he will find that
h has a better view of the plate and
pitched balls than when behind the
C tcher. for the reason that the pitch
e, in front of him will not interfere
So much with his view of these plays
a does a catcher.
Standing behind the pitcher an UNI
b re must always be expectant of the
p tcher or catcher throwing to base
t. nail a runner, and he should be
re to follow the play carefully or
se he will find that something has
h hppened without his knowledge. He
ould be quick to apprehend throw
the pitcher down to second, and be
re to jump quickly out of the way.
Must Get Close to Play.
The point that l consider most i'm
pprtant of all for an umpire to bear in
n ind, is to get as close as possible to
TIE base at which you expect to have
to make a decision, without being or
atting in the way Of the play itself.
Suppose a man is on first and the
b after hits safely to right with the hit
I'd run on It is certain the runner
o. first viii attempt to take third on
tie hit. and the right fielder will make
h throw to that sack. In such case
t re umpire ought to be within a cou-
of feet of third base at the time
tie throw and the runner get there, In
0 der that he may be in the best pos
S BILE position to judge. The same
rIle holds good for other plays at
her bases; and if it appears that
ere is likely to be a double play he
Mould have the second play in mind
q id get after that one also For the
i re of me I can't understand why so
any umpires think all in the world
ley have to do is to stand in one
ace, look wise and make the best
g less they can. If they would only
\ Owe and get about the field, the
me as a referee and umpire have to
} in football, they would find them
ey could give decisions that would
Get with more general satisfaction.
Take the case Of a fly ball or line
rive hit right down the first or third
base line. Often enough an umpire
has plenty of time in which to run
over and sight along the line before
the ball hits the ground, but half OF
them never stir out of their tracks.
This is the result of laziness and such
Il is mere thoughtlessness the fault
Mould be corrected and can easily be-
Don't Argue With Players.
Some players seem born to kick in
bah games, whether they are captain
or not. If / were umpiring a game l
Ould never listen to anybody but the
C lptain and not him except in case of
his differing with me as to the word
ing or Interpretation of a rule, never
fl case of a question of fact. There
f. no reason on earth why baseball
Players should be allowed to argue
and delay games as much as they do
is not permitted in tennis, basket
hall, football track or any other
Jorts. In fact, 1t would be very bad
form for players to question an Off
ais decision in other sports the way
icy DO in baseball and certainly in
no other country are officials treated
it'll the general discourtesy that we
ZEE exhibited by players to umpires in
e very baseball game In this country.
But if, in umpiring a game, I found
had made mistake. whether in in
rpreting a rule or in deciding a
question of fact, l would certainly
ave no hesitation whatever in re-
versing my decision on the spot. The
prevalent idea that after an umpire
kas once made a decision he can not
C1ange ii is nonsense. OF course he
could not do so after the game had
gone on a while, other players come
t, the bat, etc. But if before any
lrther playing has been done the
umpire asCeTtains that he has made
mistake he can undoubtedly re-
verse his decision. In fact, we see il
done every day. An umpire calls the
runner safe, but right after, or soon
thereafter, observes that the fielding
player or baseman did not catch and
hold 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
t. reverse his decision and call him
50?
Jumps Fooled in Trapped Ball.
Quite often an umpire is called
uDon to decide whether an outfielder
iught a ball before it touched the
ground or whether he got it on a trap
] 90 many umpires are fooled by the
c ever acting Of the outfielder who
Tretends always that he caught il on
IL fly. whether he really did or not
I mpires should entirely disregard
tie actions and behavior Of the play
{ after getting the ball. and judge
entirely from the way his eyes saw
the play This same proposition con-