The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-24
Lord Byron, Singing
Umpire, Likes To Hum
Old Melodies the Best

New York, Jams 24-It is a shame
that William ('Lord') Byron, the Ma
tional League umpire, has no man
with a notebook trouping around with
him for many and quaint are the tales
which might be told OF this ostenta-
tious little dandy Of the diamond. Sew
era1 stories have been related Of him
at various, times by the players who
have been routed in battles of re-
partee, but it is feared that the
greater number, and the more inter-
esting, escape.
1t 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
O'Lougi11in, 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 ito the men who doubt
the accuracy of his vision and say:
ST don't want to hear another word
from none Of you guys, Cy Rigler.
will thunder: "That'1 be about all
from you guys!" And so it goes
But Byron is so different--he sings.
The louder the haranague the softer
his song, until some one oversteps the
bounds. Then Bill swings into action
with all his might. There have been
times when he had to fight, and he
fights even better than he sings.
Bill just loves the old songs, and
not even "It's a Long, Long Way to
Tipperary'' could wean him away from
Reuben, Reuben, I've Been Think
ing I'm the Shade of the Old Apple
free and "Au1d Lang Syne" as a me
dunn of expressing his disregard for
the dfsapprovaI of the ball players and
TT ole
masters of letters when his spirit is
vexed by the incredulfty of the noble
athletes as he calls the players or
the shrieking of the ''rabb1eing' a he
terms the fans.
Buck Wheat. the star left fielder of
the Superbas, relates one of his little
experiences with Byron which is typ1-
cal. The Superbas were playing the
Cincinnati Reds one day when the
mercury was trying to bubble out of
the glass; The rays of the sun rolled
back off the sizzling earth in heat
waves that stff1ed. Players, fans and
mpires were peevish, and Wheat es-
peciaIly so, for he was in a batting
slump. There was 81 man on third
base and two out with a run needed to
tie the score. Wheat let ball whizz
over, and Byron called the third
strike, bringing his arm around in that
justly celebrated cranl<ing swing
4
began to sing<"Can,t hit a ball with the |
bat on your shoulder" using the good, |
old air of Reuben. Reuben, I've Been
Thinking" Raging and disguised |
Buck sneered, stIf you ever lost that
right arm you'd have to quit umpiring,
Lord William Clicked his
heels together and said with becoming |
f'Ndr. Wheat, your powers of
will cost you ten bucks.
Retire to the bench or it will be 25.'
Johnny Evers also has been beaten |
by Byron. The Braves were playing
park in Chicago and Johnny lost a
for second base. yer OUT" said |
Byron. I'm safe! yelped Evers.
hoIdingshis nose. and he followed the |
But argue Byron wouldn't, He just |
of opinion, difference of
opinion; that's all have to say
But Evers had more to say, and he |
said it. Byron shifted to ''Au1d Lang
Syne'' and sang generously. at called |
out, because you're out; then his
He sang: ''I think you will go to the
bench; if you don't it will cost you
Just ten; if you don't go away, it will
On, don't you see?'' These words
it in with the tune of ''In the Shade |,
Of the Old Apple Tree which Bill
sang. Evers went to the bench and
Kept quiet for the rest of the game.