The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-07-09

to the man at the plate, the bat
er started to the bench. when
Johnson called the delivery Of the
pitcher ball. At this rank piece
OF judgment. Veneskey walked
| around the batter and at the same
time remarked TO Johnson that
that was hard luck, whereupOn
johnson forfeited the game. Now
this same thing occurred at Black
shere Park on last Sunday, only
with less expression on the part
Iof veneskey, and with more ven
geance on the part OF Johnson.
and the management understand
i! ing the nature Of this trouble would
not permit the public to be the
goat Of this personal affair. Per-
sonally, We feel that johnson is a
I perfect gentlem1c with a wide
scope Of experience in base ball.
but this is not the first time that.
the public has registered protests
! in regard to his administration
here. He at a former time, exer-
cised the privilege OF Starting a
quarrel with .McKenstry, By call
ing him yellow" and accused hi',.
OF Looking for an abb" when tn .
entire granistand behind the
catcherS box witnessed poor judg-
ment in a matter OF balls and
, strikes. and further, the sDecta-
! tors along the first base line over
heard him coaching the players Of
the opposite team. This statement
comes to us from number Of per-
sons who can prove it. On this
particular Sunday. McKenstrey sta.
ed 10 us that "this fellow has new
! er We. given him a DEAL" but add
ed that as he was our umpire, he
may be inclined 10 be fair, but the
results were just the opposite.
Now We sincerely regret such
Incidents. and fec! Justified Of the
stand We have taken in the ad-
ipstmeal Of this matter. The stand
that was taken by the MANAGE
''e1t Of both clubs was this: that
'hn general pab,ic was first 10 be
considered, second The manage.
.lcct was TO be satisfied, and that
the umpire and PLAYERS should re-
spact each other in the perform
lnce Of the S7or;. and when It be-
came apparent that this was NOT
DE prevailine spirit. We asked the
umpire to desist from any further
participation in the game. and it
was not until this time Johnson
stepped to he grand stand and an
rorncel 4 forfeit.
Now as for Veneskey's PERSONAL
character. will say that We probab-
" know him better than any one
else. We find him a big hearted,
GOOD natured Polish boy. born and
reared in America. a hard worker
and considerations in all his un-
dertaSingS, imbued with the Amer
lean spirit OF fair play. and tenac-
ity enough to fight for II. but not
being polished scholar, some
tines 0rerste)s the mark Of GOOD
ethics. He has played baseball
with Allegheny Steel. Mornassen
and Chalreroi which are AL Semi
pro teams and in his { years SER
vice to these clubs. has never had
a tilt with an umpire. With all
due respect for all persons con-
cerned in this matter. We wish
truthfully TO state that II was ap-
parent that his was more a matter
Of a personal grudge, taking into
consideration that venestey's ac-
ton amounted to nothing more
than throwing the ball into the
diamond with the remark 10 the
pitcher That's hard luck, Bill"
With these few remarks we con.
slider the incident closed, as we
feel that too much has already
been said o. this small affair, for
to use Richard Guys own state
ment Of this matter was Only a
tempest in q tea pot" and the pub
lie tires of making a mountain out
Of a mole hill.
verv respectfully yours.
A. Z. R0THLESBERGER,
Manager.