Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-01
INTERESTING STORIES FROM
THE INSIDE, BY BILLY EVANS
Genial Umpire Has Run-In With Pitcher Plank-N1ck
Altrock Makes Arbitrator Sme-Good
Word for Catcher Sweeney.

I and although he had world of stuff, Ne
| was constantly in trouble because of his
wildness. In one inning after hitting
| man, walking couple and uncorklng
few wild pitches, Manager Chance decided
| that enough was plenty. He walked to-
ward the center of the diamond to shoe
| the youngster under the cover of the
bench The recruit didn't fancy leaving
the game.
What's the troublen" asked the recruit
who has since passed on to the minors.
Nothing much,'' said Chance, ''onlN
you're wilder than a bull" Grover Lane
was at the bat. when Chance decided tt
remove the young pitcher and lead him tt
the bench. He had overheard the CONVEX
sation that had ensued between Chance
and the recruit
Better put a ring in his nose. Frank,
suggested Land. Immediately the young
man shifted his attention from his man
ager to the Nap catcher, and for time
| feared it would be necessary to put in d
riot call to end the argument.
That some of the youngsters are more
than particular was demonstrated to mt
the same afternoon. One of them had q
rather peculiar name. The announcer il
giving it out had mispronounced it. The
next time he came to the plate, with d
smile he remarked:
1.-The crowd don't get many introduc-
tons to me, so I would like them to get
my name right" Then he made known
to me the correct way to pronounce his
name. Very unfortunately for him, tive
days later he was sent to the minors, sc
| didn't have chance to give him d
proper introduction.
Nick Altrock of the team of Schacf er
and Altrock. coaching comedians, who
travel with the Washington team during
the summer months. is never quite sc
happy as when winning an argument. 1
the victory happens to be over an umpire
then, of course. the pleasure is all the
| greater. One day last summer Nick en-
joyeJ to the utmost an exchange of re
| marks with me on the receiving end.
The Philadelphia club was using one
of its recruit pitchers in a game at
Washington. The youngster was none
too steady, because he wanted to make
a good impression against the Athletics
strongest rivals. He plainly showed by
his uncertain actions on the rubber that
he WIS not quite himself. Altrock was
coaching at first and Schaefer at third.
This famous pair. who have made SO
many people laugh by their antics on
the ball field. were holding a dialogue, in
which the young pitcher was the leading
topic of conversation. Neither was say
ing anything directly to the pitcher. but
both of them were saying lot of things
about him to each other. l realized that
their talk was not helping the recruits
condition and decided to stop it.
'Cut the conversation, | yelled to
Germany and Nick. Both sauted and
Schaefer ceased his remarks. Nick
however, continued to keep up a run
ming conversation relative to the differ
ence between the big league and the
bushes. l was beginning to get a little
peeved. On the next ball pitched Nick
forgot about the young pitcher. and be-
gan to take exceptions to my decisions
on balls and strikes.
Get them up he shouted on a ball
that crossed the plate at the waist line.
Don't you want to keep on coach
ing?" l yelled at Altrock.
II do" replied Nick, without cracking
a smile.
Then coach and don't try to UMPIRE"
I answered.
That is what I intend doing when
they make me quit coaching" replied
Nick 1T is the last resort and l am
trying to prepare myself for the awful
fate that awaits me-" What could L
do but smile, for during the rest Of the
game he behaved in the most approved
manner.
Pete Compton, formerly an outfielder
with the St Louis Browns, is one of
those good-natured Texans who takes
life easy. but is dangerous when he
gets .riIed. In. this connection / always
have to laugh at a remark Pete made
to Umpire Jack Egau in a game at De-
troit last year. Pete had; been warming
the bench at the time, and was doing
the coaching in an attempt to earn his
salary.
A play came UP at the plate. Pete