New-York tribune., 1922-01-15
Big Ed alsb, Old White
Sox Pitching Hero, TO
Assume a New Role

Big Ed" Walsh, the old White Sox
hero and one of tho greatest twrlers
that ever toed the pitching slab, will
be in there the coming season calling
'cm as he sees cm as one of the Amcri-
can Leagues staff of umpires; "Ducky"
Holmes, an old White SoX outfield star,
who has been a Western League Off
cial for some years, probably will step
into d National League Job of umpir-
ing; "Kitty" BraHstield, the old first
base wonder Of the Pittsburgh Pirates,
is to don the mask and pad in the
Western League, and Jack Warner,
popular Giant catcher of years ago,
also is being touted for appointment as
an umpire.
Bransheld was appointed an umpire
once before, back in 1916, by John X.
Tener, the former National League
president. The list of former stars who
are now big league arbtcrs is long.
just few names one recalls off hand
are Bill Dinneen, George Moriartv. All
Orth, Nal Eason and Hank O'Day.
Bill Dinneen. a great pitcher not so
many years ago, when he had several
exceptional seasons with the ST. Louis
Browns and the Red Sox, handles the
indicator with about as little trouble
as the most Of them.
Mccormick Stood His Ground
George Moriarty, besides being an
umpire. also is a poet. However, his
lyric efforts are considered good and
he will be we'll remembered for his
work at third base for the Highland
ers and the Tigers and as the author
of popular songs.
In the case Of "Smiling AL" Orth, the
1ormer Senator and Yankee mounds
man, he ceased to be smiling one
after few seasons of umpiring, and,
like Nal Eason, the old time BROOKLYN
hurler, and Others has been practj-
cally forgotten
AS an umpire, an ex-pitchcr should
be just as good an arbiter as Billv
Evans or Bill KLEIN. AS a matter Of
TACT, the best umDires, as a rule. have
had very little professional baseball
experience.
Take Frank Wilson, who broke in
with the American League last season
Outside of a short trial with the Jac...
sonvllle club of the Southern League.
all Franks baseball experience was ac,
sulred in high school and on the Brook
lyn sandlots
Just why it is that former diamond
stars fail to make superior umnires ;s
hard to explain. Take twirler Who 20
has put in some years at his lob and
IT would seem that he had learned con-
troll, mental as we'll as physical; keen.
ness OF eye such as will permit the
finding of the plate corners almost to a
halr, and unrufiled calmness under fire
On the question of bravery few nm
p'res have ever shown the white feather
IN the big show. A little scene VIII
messed IN one of the games of the
Giants-Plrates series at Forbes Field
last summer is a fair example of the
sand OF an umpire. In this game. an
important one, on which the fpht for
hrst place hinged, Mccormick called a
close enc against Pittsburgh. AS he
walked hack to his station at first base
a pop bottle was hurled from the stands
and fell within few feet of the Off
cia. ''''
Walsh Should Make Good
or course it only needs one coward
OF TOOL to start the hoodlum element in
any large gathering. That first hottie
was followed by a regular shower. and
several of the bottles rebounded from
the turf one striking the umpire in the
leg But Mccormick merely stood
with his arms folded and his back to
the bottle beavers and never moved
from his position until the PITTSBURGH
players themselves begged him to take
up his station at second.
If Big Ed Walsh has the quick mem
tai grasp of the unexpected that is
i'able to come up during any ball game
ne should make good as an umpire. He