South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-06
SPORT ANGLE

Recently John Sheridan, one Of
basebaIps leading critics. in COM
menting en- the progress OF baseball.
made the statement that the major
league umpires OF today ought 10
pay to get I'm the ball park.
Mr.. Sheridan was drawing a COM
parison between the task that the
umpire Of % years ago was up
against and the present-day woes Of
the umpire
True. baseball has progressed, and
with It the position Of umpire has
improved in some ways. I have had
IA years OF major league umpiring'
and can appreciate some Of the prog
ress that has been made. However,
lin other directions umpiring has be-
come much more difficult simply
due to the larger stakes That are
being played for.
In the old days there was no such
thing as world series. Neither
was there a sum allotted for the fin
fishing OF second and third in the
two major leagues
The coming of the world series in
creased the woes Of the umpire.
However. il I'm no way compares TO
the added duties that were brought
about by the division of money 10
the first three clubs
with the athlete first comes the
salary. then the base hits. Last
year Washington lost third place 10y
about "a half game. That half game
meant about $500 TO each Washing
ton player In the major leagues
today every game is a battle, because
'untl the last few weeks. usually
about six club have a chance to
finish inside the money.
Then there is tho world series.
Every now and then one reads what
soft picking it is for the umpires. ]
wish every one who so thinks could
umpire for a season and work in a
world series.
Tn this connection 7 have I'm mind
the series of 1921. Ollie Chill i'm his
first game worked perfectly. There
wasn't a ball or strike disputed. I'm
his second game he gave another
fine exhibition, only one ruling was
questioned.
In the first inning OF that game,
Chill called a pitch Of Waite Hoyt's
ball. 1t was a curve. HOyt kicked
loudly. IT would have retired the
batter and ended the inning without
score had it heen called q strike
The Giants made a run i'm that inn
ming and that run won the game.
Chill worked two great games. yet
because of one disputed decision vii
hear a lot about it next summer.
To those who think umpiring !.
soft. + would suggest they take 2
whirl at it, for it pays pretty GOOD
/ money.-B. r.
a recent news item carried the
/ statement that golfers who desired
( to compete i'm national amateur
I championship next summer would
J have tn convince the eligibility
committee that they are of cham
/ pionship caliber.
In other words. the COMMITTEES
/ on rating doesn't want any playel
/ other than q star TO try 70 entel
/ the championship event
That is a rather peculiar TroCe-
\ dure. since tho national open is
/ supposed to be an invitation to al
I golfers who believe they have &
/ chance.
Scores are not always the hes
way TO judge a players real worth
\ In real competition certain players
haze It all over others who. witt
nothing at stake. can play a gam'
I that is practically unbeatable.
1t IS claimed that experience ir
J national amateur events has showr
4 that nearly ha1f Of those who entel
the qualifying round have nj
\ chance OF surviving.
1t hardly seems proper to Judge
/ the fitness or play OF any entranf
without giving him a chance tC
/ prove his worth. That IS what the
| preliminary rounds are for.
! Tt doesn't seem fair for a commit
/ tee on eligibility TO tell any player
I who desires to enter that he cam
/ simply because said committee does
! not seem 10 think he is Of cham
pionship cauber.
! In most sports class will ultimate
I ~ prevail Golf is no exception.
/ To is a rarity for some unheralded
/ player tosmow down a big field. al
I though such things have happened
Certainly the year Quimet defeat
| ed Ray and Vardon, no one gave
lieved ne had a chance. Therefore
| start Of the tournament.
It would seem that no player
would care to enter unless he he
leved ne had &C nance. Therefore
it doesn't seem fair 20 have a com
mittee count him out before
I play-B r.
UNnTnu CrrAn no