Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-17

During the summer time I am asked
many base ball questions. In the
winter receive many written queries
that involve some feature OF the play
ing end Of the game or merely refer
to the method Of procedure adopted
by the umpire In conducting his game
queries. ] am picking out several
that are asked time and again.
Every now and then the newspapers
carry a report of some major league
player being fined S25 or more be-
cause of an alteration with an UNI
pire. The fne is in the nature or q
financial punishment for the o1ense.
Many people think the fine on major
league players is assessed by the um-
pires. others have their douo DTS.
Major league umpires have nothing 70
punishment is meted out by the presl-
dent of the league, who nxes the
amount after he receives the umpire
report. In some cases the umpire may
suggest that stih nue. is eoin ,ars
TO a player as well as a SUSPENSION,
but the amount of fine and lengln
of suspension is levied by the heao
of the league
Umpires do not make a daily re-
port as is the belief of many when
everything is moving smoothly, games
are being played with but few KICKS
and no players are being sent 10 tns
clubhouse, the umpire Is not caie -
upon for any literary efforts. II Is
when he gets into trouble that ne mas
to take his pen in hand and apprise
his boss of the facts. II the case is
a drastic one, he doesn't wait 1or inc
mails, but sends rush wire or q
night letter to get immediate aciioii-
Last season in a game at CleveIann
I sent Pitcher Finperan OF the rev
York club to the showers; because ne
as well as the pitching. II was on
a Saturday. The New York club was
scheduled to play a double-header the
next day. The team was DIT nara
pressed for playing talent. ,i hLo
house when I suggested that 1t might
be a more pleasant place than the
pitching rubber, that woulo nave
proba bly, ended the affair as far as
was concerned. Instead ne deIateo
the game about Ave or six minutes,
putting on his sweater. taking chew.
drinking q half dozen glasses OF
water, Ave of which he didn't want
and insisting on renewing the arsu-
rnent. after thought 1t had all oeen
settled.
II struck me after the game that a
message sent to the American League
office might not reach PRESIDENT
johnson Immediately, since he goes
not always come to his office sun
day 1t also struck me that Manager
Hurgins of New York would work
Finneran in the first game OF the
double-header the next day, oefore
Mr.. Johnson could get action re-
ceiying notice of a three or I'VE day
SUSPENSION would then mean nothing
to Finneran. since he would be laying
off during what would have been his
ordinayy rest between pitching days.
I nIayed ii safe, sending a wire. not
only to President Johnson's offiee. but
to his residence as well On my ar
rival at the park Sunday a message
was awaiting me notifying me Of the
indefinite suspension of Ffnneran-
walking out Of my dressing room 70
where I could get view of the neid.
noticed E.tnnsran vas va ,h war mansr UP
Hnggins would be placed at no d1s-
advantage I sent word to him thar
Ftnneran was through. He dion I
pitch again for about ten days
Another question often asked me
lis. why can't a player put out OF
the frst game of a double-header en-
tsr the second game Such a rule IL
not in the book, but il has been
adopted by both major leagues. The
intent is to make the penalty for be-
ing put out of the FIRST game so Sc
we're that managers will see that their
players on hot Gay wnen Game
excuse to kick themselves out Of the
game and seek the shade and the
showers Doing such . thing got TO
be a habit and was the cause of much
annoyance. But with the rule that