The sun., 1918-07-28
En1slie an Umpire More
Than Quarter of Century
Bob, Veteran Holder of the Indicator Started Playing
Baseball in His Youth-Gained Fame as Pitcher in
Canada in Late '70s-Started with Tip O'Ne
ny sHORTsTOP,


Had baseball been obliged to shut up
shop this week. as Seemed to be the pre-
vailing opinion before Secretary Of War
Baker gave the national pastirne a re.
spite until September /. Bsb Emslie,
the famous umpire and perhaps the only
man In baseball who wears a wig,
would have been out Of a big league lob
for the first time since 1891, when Bob
first started umpring in the National
League.
". On August 10 Emslie will celebrate
MIS- twenty-seventh National League
birthday. Two years ago the league
honored Bob with a dinner to celebrate
the twenty-nfth anniversary, Of his APP
pearance as a National League umpire,
ana Bob had ambitions to bring II up
to thirty, but the war will probably in
terfere with his plans.
o. Most fans remember that Hank S'Dav
was quite pitcher In his day and once
pitched grand ball for the New York
Giants In worlds series, but not SO
many remember that In his day Emslie
was considered ono OF the best curve
ball pitchers In baseball.
Emsl!e Is a Canadian and WAS born
In TINT extremely vIrtudhis city OF
Guelph. Ontario, on June 81. 1851,
which would leave Robert at .he dig
mined age Of ST. Later in life Mr.. Ems
lie removed himself and all his earthly
oelongings to the lovely little city OF
st. Thomas. Canada. where he now re-
sides. 1t Is many. many seasons ago
that Emslie was first heard OF in base
ball Atnno IN, hn lNN e. Ne
hurler was making n great reputation rs
an expert In making a baseball curve
and curve in n very deceptive manner.
kmslie soon gained recognition as>one
OF the best pitchers in Canada. which
OF course was not saying much. FOR
there were but few hurlers OF ella IS re-
siding within the domains Of Queen Vic
toria at that period.
Started with TIP O'Nei.
Emsle became so proficient In throw
ing curves that he was hired to pitch
for a team representing Harriston, On
tario This was about 1878. Harriston at
that time contained fully 600 souls. and
young Bob was given n position In the
leading hotel as head clerk. watch meant
at the very best his board and lodging
Besides this Emslie was paid so mucn
per iiSih ~
On the same team with Bob was the
famous Tip O'Neil, who later in his
career framed up the highest haS!ns
. average for one season In the big o~ue.
With so much undiscovered talent within
It's ranks the IIarriston Browns were
considered the fastest going bunch in all
the country around them. For a snort
time they were on war footing with
the Maple Leafs Of Guelph and the Te-
cumsehs Of London with the famous
Goldsmith as their hurler. Bob Ems
lie was some shucks those days. and the
manner In which he could bend base
ball around a batter's neck Allied the ma
tiyes as we'll as the opposing batsmen
With utter Amusement
Pitched for Guelph.
Emslie pitched for Guelph during the
reasons Of 1Ss0-Sl, and was fast becom-
ms great star. His wonderful work
tr that team made 1t famous. In the
season OF 1882 Fmslie was signed to
pitch for the famous Merritt club OF
Camden, y. j., then member or the
Interstate League With that team
Emslie began his real career in profes'
sional BASEBALL.
During the two seasons he was with
the Camden team his work was or the
phenomenal order. In the spring series
# exhibition games he created sensa
lion after sensation by the manner II
which ne put the Indian sign on many OF
tie big league teams he pitched against
IN the REGULAR season of the Interstate
circuit Emslie was practically unhittable
and II seemed as II II we're utterly i'm
o, ssible for him to hurl poor game.
Through this marvellous work Emslie
vas signed by the Baltimore club OF the
American Association. and about the
middle OF the season of 1888 began his
career as a major league pitcher. He
finished that season in fine style. but II
was in 1884 that Emslie came to>be COP
s!dered one of the leading huriers OF the
De Rod. He began the season of 1884 by
winning seventeen games out OF the FIRST
tycnty-one, and his pitching was deep
mystery to all batsmen OF that big cir
cult. OF the 1fty-one Ter que games he
pitched that season he lost but eighteen.
and over half of them were six hit affairs
or less BY whiting 800 batsmen he sus-
tanned his reputation as curve ball
artist.
Great Curve Ball Pitcher.
MANY EXPERT critics OF the period
named Emslie 3 the greatest curve ball
itcher IN the game, ana ms curve bdi'
vas n thing OF beauty. but deadly In Its
effect. II was quoted for years after the
great pitcher quit the playing end of the
game by newspapers ns the Ideal curve.
and was held up for comparison before
all new pitching marvels.
During the season Of 1885 the strain
of pitching these amazing benders began
to tell on the throwing wing of Robert
and for, the first time during his career
as a hurler he found himself at the
mercy of the batsmen. Emslie closed
his DAYS as n big league pitcher with the
Athletic club OF Philadelphia in the lat
ter part Of 1885.
while with the Toronto club OF the
old International League in 1885 Ems
lie gave signs OF regaintng his pitching
arm and effectiveness by winning twelve
out OF the first sixteen games. This was
A mere fash in the pan. for when his
big league reputation wore OF and the
opposing batsmen discovered that the
once great Emslle hadn't much left OF
his former skill, only a very graceful de-
livery and n pleasant smile. they banged
his slow delivery in every direction.
started In the International.
In the season OF 1887 Emslie signed
with the Memphis club of the Southern
League In hopes that the balmy winds
of the South would restore the strength
TO his pitching arm. but the heartless
batsmen OF the sunny South made II so
hot for Bob that he shook the skinned
st....1-a 1,st from, off hia faat nd m m A.