The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-04
NO GOOD UMPIRES
Big League Indicator Men Get
ting Worse and Worse.
Menke Holds johnson and
Tener Responsible for 1t.
BY FRANK G. MENkE.

New YORK aug. 3."1NeNeI DeloIC
in the modern history of baseball has
the umpiring been SO universally
awful as since the 1916 barrier was
raisedi 1t was bad in 1914, even more
so in 1915. but this season it is beyond
the power of adequate description.
And the saddest feature of it all is
that conditions are growing worse.
It behooves Messrs. Johnson and
Tener to take some drastic action at
once unless they wish to risk the stag
ing of some disgraceful scenes on the
baseball diamond in the near future.
johnson and Tener indirectly are
responsible for the horrible ump.i ing
of the present day. They lave
labored under the delusion that any
umpire of their choosing is an in
fallible person; that their judgment
in selecting men for the task is SO
named cannot foozle in their rulings.
Arrogant to an Extreme.
Cloaked with czar-like authority.
and backed to the limit in everything
they do, no matter how awful it may
be, the umpires have become arrogant
to an extreme. They have worked
along the theory that they are SUI
perior beings; that ball players are
beneath their consideration and that
lums.
Some of the umpires of the present
time are in the show Off class; men
who think that their own judgment is
so superb that they actually make de-
cision before n play Is completed.
Sometimes their pre-judgment is cor
rect; more often it is IN error. And
the player and his team must suffer
for it If the player makes a just
complaint he is chased from the
greensward and probably assessed
from $40 to 500 for ''sassing' an
umpirei
One hears much these days about
umpire batting Right now we'll
hazard the opinion that there is more
player batting by the umpires than
vice versa. Every time a player at
temps to dispute a bad-looking deci-
sion with an umpire, the superior
being usually comes back with some
remarks that would merit him a BUST
ed head anywhere else but on ball
diamond. And when it comes to u.s.
ing profanity on ball field there are
some umpires who can shade" the
most vile speaking ball player.
Some Of the present day umpires
seem to lack sufficient gray matter to
render decisions on close plays. GER
tainly they lack the calm Judgment
necessary for their calling. Their rul-
ings, in many cases, are on the hit
and miss basis and they are just as
likely to miss as to hit. In both
leagues there are a few umpires who,
IN Drains, are IltteQ LOT their C1fIlnS-
But most of those now arc handi-
capped by age: by dimming eyesight
ard by creaking joints which makes
it next to impossible for them 20 see
close plays, or to keep on top of all
the plays.
- l-A - Emelie Past 60.
I Bob Emelie of the National lea que
ranks as the dean of umpires. Bob
admits to So years, but many Of the
.oldtime fans declare that Bob is be-
yond so. Hank O'Day began umpiring
shortly after the Civil war. 'Silll'
OLoughlin is on the sunset side of
life. Bill Klein is another old-t,mer.
Nal Eason pitched for the Brooklyn
Dodgers ages ago and has been UNI
piring since then. Bill Dineen is near
ing the grandfather age.
And in the hands of these old men,
with their filming orbs and their rheu-
matte frames. and in those of thei-
younger but inefficient associates. re-
poses the mighty power of an umpire;
rests the sole right to decide each and
every one of the many intricate plays
that come up day after day in the big
leagues.
Is it any wonder that the umpiring
is becoming worse; that the fans
everywhere around the circuit have
become aroused and that the I.layers
are near to the revolt?