The Washington times., 1914-02-08
Georgia Peach" Tells of Serious and Humorous Incidents
Happening With Umpires as Chief Figures, Little
Stories That Escape General knowledge
By TY COBB.
(Big Leagues Best BatsmSn,)


Most fans think my umpire repu-
tation is q bad one. The general i'm
preston is that an umpire has as
soothing an effect on me as red
rag has on the temper OF tempera-
nent of a peevish bull. This is al
together wrong, as 1 will endeaSor
to show. 1t may be true that was
a little rough on umpires when I
first broke into the big league, but
/ have long since seen the folly of
this course. The bad name has stuck
to me, however. 1t is customary to
keep after umpires in the bush
leagues and / tried to maintain my
pace when / came up. That's how I
made my mistake.
Now listen to the way really feel
toward the umpires. After l had
been in the league for a time, met
some of the umpires off the field and
found that they were human and
pretty good fellows. l prize my
with several umpires now
as highly as any l have. Lately l
have made it my business not TO
show up an umpire by violent ges-
lures at him on the field so that the
crowd can "hop" on him. If ! think
a man has missed one on me, 1 will
walk by him and tell him quietly that
/ believe he has made a mistake, but
l never try to get the crowd down on
a man any more.
Billy Evans has made me the hero
Of several of his umpire stories, and
Evans and / arc good friends. If he
Is going to do this. / don't see why
should not turn around and make him
the leading man in some Of mine. But
the first umpire incident which comes
to my mind is connected with that
grand old battler, Tim" Hurst, now
out of the majors. Tim had many
stormy sessions while umpiring. and the
history Of the game Is full OF the Dat
ties of Hurst.
When the subway was first put into
New York. many Out-of-town folks
were confused by the Broadway and
Bronx trains. Frequently passengers
would get on a Bronx express and for
that instead of arriving at the old
American League Park, they found
themselves in the Bronx zoo. or some
where along this route. This would
make a difference of about an hour In
the time Of arriving at the ball park.
! would not call this a plain. bonehead
play. because ! made the same mistake
myself once.
Tim" was scheduled to work a game
out at American League Park when
day, and he got carried up Into the
Bronx instead OF going on the right
route Hurst has told me since that
he was reading some promising prize
lighters history at the time and paid no
attention to the stations. Nobody was
game. so thai. when the time. for the
contest arrived and Tim had not
shown up. We were UP against II for
an umpire. Griffith, then managing the
Yank ees. sent for Jennings. and they
held q confab at the plate while the
players OF both clubs gathered around.
"iH tell you what I'll do" said
Foxy Griffith. "one of my extra
players will work behind the bat, and
you can put one Of your men on the
0ases.'
IAN right replied Jennings. and Sc
ected an extra player from the bench
n whom he had confidence to see
hings right and CALI them as he saw
hem.
germany" Schaefer vas playing sec
md base on the Detroit club in those
laws, and he smashed the ball to right
ield in the first inning. 1t was really
| single, but Germany figuring that
le wasn't going to get any the worst
IF It from a player OF his own club UNI
bring on the bases If there was a close
play at second decided to take two on
he punch. The play at second base
was close Schaefer being forced to
slide for it, but the volunteer umpire
was properly on the job and shouted:
Safe
Germany" was UP and brushing him