The Washington herald., 1921-04-05
GRIFFS LEADING,
81, WHEN UMPIRE
FORFEITS BATTLE
Argument Over Ground
Rules Prompts Bren-
mans Action.
ny JACK NYE.

between the Nationals and New
York Giants broke out afresh to-
day when they Joined forces for
their transforming trip northward
and threw this quiet city into an
dproar Of excitement
Umpire Bill Brennan, the hard
boiled gentleman who caused 80
much feeling between the two teams
during the 1913 spring training sea-
son. brought about the crisis when
Manager Mcbride refused to 'accede
TO one Of his decisions In the third
innins. Bill gave him three min
utes to leave the neid- At the enc
Of that time he forfeited the game
to the Giants BY q score Of . too
Fans swarmed on the field and
threatened violence to both teams.
Many of them had Travelled from
afar in their Fords and by rail to
see the FIRST meeting Of big league
teams within the confines Of this
city. Grinath and McGraw engaged
in a vordy alteration and almost
came to blows. You'll stand all
expenses for this trip" roared Nc.
Graw. '-for refusing to continue the
game"
The thunder we will" retorted
the. irate Grin. we didn't leave
the held. Your own umpire, the
man who Is travelling with your
club, broke up the game"
why, you're lucky To play the
Giants at ALL" said the bellicose
boss OF the Giants
osestssn Is-Swho."
who do you think these people
came to seer countered Grif. Not
to see your lousy club. they came to
see us and we can beat you any
time you stick through a game"
Tonight the teams took the same
train for Knoxville. where they are
billed to play tomorrow. The game
will be staged. but not with .3ren-
nan as the umpire. =
Grif declares he refuses to ac-
rept the Giants man" There 's ev-
cry reason to believe that the war
WIN be continued even though a
game Is played Both teams are
boiling with rage.
There was plenty OF spirit shown
before the crisis broke In this after
roon game. In the early stages,
Brennan. a powerful man with a
tog-horn voice. threatened the mer
on the National bench more than
rnce for Tagging him.
McBride's men were leading oy a
score Of three to one when the out
break came and appeared to be hav-
ing little troubls In hitting less
Barnes. They had already gathered
seven hits In three innings, includ-
ing triples by Judge and Lewis.
Erickson had held the Giants to two
eits.
The ground rules had been agreed
%. limiting the advance on a wild
pitch to one base In the last OF
he third Barnes singled, stole. and
went TO third on a wild pitch. With
he count three and two on Mon
roe. Erickson threw another one
wild and Barnes counted. Monroe
strolled to first and Brennan made
4 ruling that he was due two bases
IN what the rules define Is base on
balls.
Bre..a. Fires Mac.
Mac rushed TO the field to pro-
est. He cited the ground rules al
ready fixed and denied the right
II Brennan to change them arbi-
srarily.
brennan accused Mcbride Of in
yulting him. This the National
player denied and was substantial
ID BY . Giant player who was
standing near.
Brennan jerked out his watch.
1T you are not on the field in
.hree minutes. I'll ring the bell" !"
ae roared- Go ahead" said Mac.
Thirty seconds more" said Bren-
,an, when two minutes and a half
iropped by.
MCBRIDE refused to bulge. and
3rennan whipped on his mask. and
.orfeited the game. Then a wild time
snsued.s Fans rushed onto the field
demanding their money back. They
rot II.
Grif and McGraw almost came
% blows. and things looked rough.
Local citisens threatened to take
he matter before the city commits
ioner for . settlement. Somebody
vas out some coin and didn't know
whom to collect from.
Brennan. according to McGraw.
sa National League umpire. but
ne arbiter announced to reporters
pefore the game that he had al
eady signed with the Southern
.eague and was contemplating a
hange. GriR declares that he win
rot consent to Brennan working
gain during the series. McGraw
ays he win work. There's the rub.
Ains.t See Real Battle.
About 1900 persons gathered
rom miles around to see the battle,
title realizing that Il would termi-
aats In q real one. They packed
he stands At the Fair Grounds and
raw the Nationals outplaying their
ces until the end came abruptly.
Erickson seems to have the num-
var Of the Giants. while Barnes had
10 terrors for the Nationals.
Judge opened by hitting the first
,aIi pitched to right for three bases.
Ie scored on Harris single to left.
n the third, with one out. Lewis
sent long drive to left. which
burns could barely touch. He made
hrss bases and might have come
iome As Burma tuggled the sphere
lfter recovering It. Lewis held
,econd on Harris inheld single, but
oeeby Eoss leaned against II and
ent Il past the famous Goldie Rapp
ike . bullet. scoring the sunnelder.
In the FIRST inning. Erickson re-
iredsthe Giants In order. In the
.econd Kelly got . clean single,