Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-08
BY JOHN A. GRUBER.

Robert D. Emslie has been for SO long
time an umpire Qast season being MS
twenty-third in, the National League)
that maY base ball patrons will feel
slight shock when they learn that he
was once a prominent pitcher. 10 other
and older patrons it will bring back
recollections of the days when minor
leagues began their existence. Bob, as
Emslie is always Familiarity referred to,
was born in Guelph, Ontario, January
81 1861, so that in a very short time ne
wjfN be fifty-three years of age.
He began his professional career IN
1852 as pitcher for the Merritt club OF
Camden, n. j., named after Albert Mer-
rift, its president, In 1883 the Merrltts
helped to organize the Interstate League,
but disbanded in n1idseason because OF
moor s,1pport. The Brooklyn club was
also member of the Interstate League,
with the energetic and far-seeing Charles
H. Byrne at its head. Before Camueli
retired, Byrne made deal by Whlcn inc
BROOKLYN club acquired the PICK OF the
.erritt players, all except Emslie, VINO
was secured by the Baltimore club OF the
American Association.
+ nv the transaction the Brooklyn club
secured Sam kimber, pitcher; Jonh nor
first baseman; w. +. Greenwood, second
baseman; Frank Fennelly, third pase-
man and shortstop, and ou5heioe e.,
Hough. 1t was the first real big deal IN
base ball history and enabled Brooklyn
to win the Interstate League champion
shin in the first and only year OF the
leagues existence.
Brooklyn Wins Pennant.
In the following year. 1884, Brooklyn
.,,+ared-tbe American Association, ana
~ 1900 became a member of the Ma
tionaI League It won the American
association championship once. and the
N.+;onal League championship twice
Ryrne died January 4, 1898, anu was
succeeded to the presidency or the cruz
by Charles II. Ebbets, who sun reis s ns,
F,mslie finished the season OF 1888
with Baltimore, assisting Hardle Hen
derson. who was star pitcher ana one
of the heaviest that ever tWirieo
bali.
surnass. the work of Henderson. That
wear the American Association consist
ed of twelve, clubs. offering a great
variety of good, bad and Indifferent
batsmen But the two Baltimore pitch
err, held their own landing their team
in sixth place. In 1885 Bob appeared
to have lost his cunning and nearly all
the work fell to Henderson Before
the close of the season BOD was let
whom Bobby Matthews was. then the
star pitcher.
In 1886 Emslie dropped. out of the
major leagues. signing with the To-
ronto team, which that year: won the
international League Championship.
His catcher was Dell Darling, who
then played his first professional en-
gagement.
The season of 1887 found Emslie with
the Savannah team of the Southern
League, and July ], 1887, he gave up
pitching; Il sore arm cutting short his
career. lie accepted "a position on the
umpire staff of the 1ntcrnatits ial
League and in July, 1887, he umpired
for the first time, beginning a career
surpassed by man in that line of
duty. for length of service and eff
ficiency. For three years he remained
on the staff of the international League
and learned the duties of his Office so
thoroughly that for all time he will be
regarded one of the best of UNI
pires.
In 1890 he was ON the staff of the
American Associate and In 1891 on
that of the Western Association. Be
fore the middle of the season was
reached four of the eight clubs of the
Western Association disbanded and Bob
mediately signed by tho National
League, on whose staff he remains to
this day.
Umpire Enters Big Show.
He umpired for the first time in the
National League August u, 1891, at Gin
cinnati, the game being between the Reds
and the Clevelands. 1t was not very
propitious opening for Bob in the sense
| of ease and comfort. The game was
close. ending to 5 in favor of CIeve-
land. with Cy Young and Tony Mullane
the opposing pitchers. Cleveland got only,
| five hits and Cincinnati six. This was in
deed a baptism of fire for Bob, but when
| 1t is stated that three of the next four
games were also 'ost by the Reds by one
run. the ordeal encountered at his outset
| in the National League can be under
stood and appreciated. August 70, 81 and
| 10 Pittsburgh defeated Cincinnati by
| scores of 81, 30 and 81, and August
"a New York won 3 to 2. Imagine the
volume of noise made by Pat Tebeau
| who had just succeeded Bob Leadley as
manager of the Cleyelands; by Fog Horn