Evening journal., 1914-11-23
UNPIRINC No BOYS
JOB IN BASEBALL
"Umpire Bill' Tells What
is Expected Of Men in
Grand Old Game
HE HOPES TO
GO HIGHER SOON


Now that the hot stove league mag
mates are gathering about the fire.
sides, "Bill" MCGOWAN, the local UNI
pire. hands out some dope. right off
the bat often you may hear base
ball fan say that all one has to do 10
make good umpire is to go out on the
field with little nerve and give 'em
as yon see EN-" Yes, that is all you
have 70 do-with the exception OF pos
sfbly ninety-nine other things.
bill" says that he doesn't profess
to be more than a "busher," but he
knows a great deal more about UNI
piring now than he did when he
started in the Semi Professional
League three years ago.
There are several good umpires in
town that could go out and make
good showing In faster company than
lot baseball. That is where the
nerve comes in. Then again TO land
q Job in organized baseball, ie some
thing similar to figuring out a Chin
ese puzzle. Mac" has been trying to
land with league for the past two
seasons. Jimmy jackson once said
that no league would handle an UNI
pire unless he had at least one years
experience In league baseball. Well,
how Is a young fellow going TO get
years experience, II they don't give
him chance?
MCGOWAN says that he never real
ixed what the duties Of an umpire
really we're until he met Umpire
pete" Harrison, of the International
League. During Mr.. Harrison's short
stay in wilmington, while the Interna-
tlonal League teams were playing here,
he questioned MCGOWAN on the duties
OF an umpire, and found him well
versed on the rules and the plays OF
the game.
Here are a few things that "Bill'
learned in baseball that would proba-
bly, benefit all amateur umplres;
Keep your person and uniform neat
and clean at all times.
Do not invite trouble, but enforce
discipline. Do not at any time use
profanity toward player or spectator.
Put snap and energy into your
work Be right on top Of every play.
Never lose sight of the ball.
Always take baseball. while on the
held. as a fair-play game, and when in
doubt. by following this mode you will
not 90 wrong.
Although some umpires think II Is
not necessary to give the motions with
the hands. when declaring man out
or safe, strike or ball. league presl-
dents instruct their umpires TO raise
the right hand for each strike called.
II is not necessary TO waive the left
hand but one may il he wishes, in call
INK a ball. When declaring a man
safe, hold out both hands. palms down.
ward, and face the play until you are
sure the ball is caught and held.
In league ball, when an umpire can
get away without 'plastering' fines on
ballplayers. OF without putting men
out Of the game, that is an indication
that the umpire is not having any
trouble on the field. To accomplish
this, the umpire, of course, must know
the "art of handling ballplayc.'s." For
instance, If he should make decision.
and though may have been wrong. and
the player "bawls him out, the umpire
ought not to pull the hard stun with
get out Of here" or pointing his fin
ger at a man, and give him orders
Naturally. II an umpire would defy a
man by pointing his finger at him, the
fellows will continue TO howl and
rave The easiest way to get him out
OF the game or of the field is the best
way. Bill says. What Is the easiest
way7 That comes with ones expert
ence on the diamond.
No game that is played In nine in
nings, should go over two hours. 4
such should occur, and the umpir,
could not give some mighty sweet rea.
sons, he would be subject TO fine II
an organized professional league.
What would you do. If you were
holding the indicator under the follow
ing circumstances:
Say you we're in Harrisburg umpir
ing a Tri-State League game, anC
there we're close TO three Thousand
spectators present. Along about th'
seventh inning, you would call one o
the home teams runners out when h'
was practically safe by two feet
About the best suggestion for thil
case would be to take il on the run.
II there was a man on second base
when the batter sent up fy ball. will
nobody out, and the ball, on its de
scend. strikes the runner, standing OF
second base? If it proved an infielC
fiy, the batter would be out. The run
ner who was hit by the ball would no
be out in this case. because, as SAFE
before, always play the game, $3.50.
The man in the blue uniform learni
few things that can be termed as in
side baseball dope.
If the pitcher was at bat with TIVE
men down. and you we're the preceding
batsman on first base. would II be you
place to attempt a steal OF hug you
bag The right way to figure thi
dope would be to stay on first unit
the batter hits the ball, because II yo'
are caught trying 10 steal. the pitche
will be lead-off man the next inning
That would be poor policy.
play similar to this helped Dove
win the State title from Milford. 1
the third and tenth innings OF a hotly
contested game, Joe Knots. one OF III
hardest hitters in Glass bal
banged out singles, and in the fifth II
ming he tripled and scored late
Therefore. Knots practically won thl
game alone. Milford fans will reca
this game.
The score was a tie when Knott
came to bat in the third inning, wit