New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-23
Several Stories Told of Um-
pire Who Has Routed
Many Players with
His Repartee

II is n shame that William ("Lord'
Byron, the National League umpire
has no man with notebook troupinf
around with him. for many and quaint
are the tales which might be told OF
this ostentatious little dandy Of the
diamond. Several stories have been
related Of him at various times by the
players who have been routed in bat
ties or repartee. but II is feared that
the greater number, and the more IN
teresting. escape.
IL is safe to say that Byron is by far
the most original of the judges OF play
and he is winning a place with the fans
once held by the famous Silk OLough-
lin, of the American League.
All umpires have their own peculiar
WAYS Of dealing with situations that
arise on the diamond. There is Bill
KLEIN, for instance. When the pace
gets hot Bill will take off his mask and
storm up TO the men who doubt me &C
curacy Of his vision and say: Il don
want to hear another word from none
of you guys" Cy Rigler will thunder;
"That'l be about all from you guys
And so it goes.
Rut Byron il so difereRt,-he sings
The louder the harangue the softer his
song until some one oyorsteps the
/ bounds. Then Bill swings into action
with all his might. There have been
times when he had TO fight, and he
i fights even better than he sings
Bill lust loves the old songs, and
not even ats a Long, Long Way TC
Tipperary" could wean him away from
"Peubeu. Reuben. I've Been Thinking,
'Jn The Shade Of the Old Apple Tree
and "Auld Lang Syne" as a medium Of
expressing his disregard for the dis
approval of the ball players and fans
lie also quotes freely from the masters
of letters when his spirit Is veNed by
| the incredulity of the noble athletes,
a he calls the players, or the shriekini
OF the "rabbleing" as he terms tn'
buck Wheat, the star left fielder o.
the Superbas, relates one or his litti'
experiences with Byron which Is typ
cal. The Superbas were playing th'
! Cincinnati Reds one day when th'
mercury was trying TO bubble ont o
the glass. The rays or the sun foHe'
back Off the sizzling earth IN hea
waves that stihed. Players, fans Hn'
umnires were peevish, and Wheat es
/ ueclallN so, lOI Hc was d" ." =, -
! slump. There was man on thir'
base and two out with run needed u
tie the score. Wheat let ball whiz'
over. and Byron called the third strike
bringing his arm around in that lustl!
celebrated cranking swing.
Buck howled his protest, and byroi
began TO sing Cant hit ball with IN,
bat on your shoulder using the good
old air OF Reuben, Reuben, I've Beer
Thinking" Raging and disgusted Buci
sneered, III you ever lost that righ
srm you'd have TO quit umpiring
Bvron." Lord William clicked nj
heels together and said with becoming
dignity: "Mr. Wheat, your powers o
observation will cost you ten bncks
Retire to the bench or 1t Will d
twenty-five"
Johnny Evers also has been beatel
bv Byron. The Braves were pIayin
the Chicago Cubs on the West Sid
park n Chicag, and johnny lost
boir-line decision after long slld
for second base. "Yer out SAL
Bvron. I'm safei" yelped Evers' hold
ing mis- nose. and he followed the q ll
pjpe across the diamond 10 argue; bu
argue Byron wouldn't. He Just chan,
ed; "Its a difference Of opinion, iii