The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-08

zeal, it is position that offers few
possibilities for color.
Among the men who have umpired
in the major leagues for the past
two score Gears have been many
great umpires. but few real charac-
tiers. men with color. Tim Hurst,
SILK OLouGhlin BIZ Byron and Bill
Guthrie were few of the unusual
characters who have held the indi-
Gator Hurst and OLoughlin have
passed away, while Byron and
Guthrie are back in the minors.
In an official capacity | have been
identified with all four, each had his
own unusual style. Tim Hurst was
the master at rcpartee. Silk OLough-
lin was the autocrat OF the diamond,
no one dared doubt his statement
that he never missed one in his
life. Bill Byron was the singing
arbitrator. When the athletes
poured tales of woe into Byron's
ear he gave no heed, but sang to
them little ditties intended TO allay
their injured feelings, but which
usually stirred them up all the more.
A Unique Character
The last of the four unique UNI
pires who have graced the majors
was Bill Guthrie, who broke into the
American League with me late in
the fall of 1922 And believe me,
Bill Guthrie is mighty good UNI
pire. | shall never forget BilFs
L., %pl
in the dressing at Detroit
"Well, Kid, here | am. have been
shooting at this league for Is years
and finally made the grade" Then
a slight hesitation. "And now the
big question is, how long am l going
to stay here?'
In his very first game Bill chased
Catcher Picinich, then playing with
Washingt on, from the game. With
the sacks loaded an the count three
and two Bill\called the third strike
for the final out, curve ball that
broke over the plate. Picinich pro-
| tested loudly and then took his
| shower. The name Picinich was a
tongue twister to Bill and before the
| oldiL vi Itlc Sul!it Ilc udu oftOI tCiiCtA
it to Spinach. Here is how he ex-
! planned the passing Of Picinich when
we got into the dressing room.
Called Him Spinach
"What do you think Of Spinach
the vegetable catcher on the Wash
ington club? l called the third one
right in the alley and he turned
around and started to sing the Wa
bash Blues"
"What did you do?" I asked Bill.
81 told him that everything he said
to me was old stuff and unless he
| had new set of words to beat It to
the club house. lie did.
The first time Guthrie saw the
New York club he got into an argu-
ment on the very first play of the
game. Whitley Witt hit slo"
grounder to the infield and gave
Guthrie a her-line decision at first
Bill called him out. At Witt ran back
to protest, Miller. Higgins, who hao
been coaching at third base, also
rushed over to join Witt in the
chorus. Before either had chance
to say much, Guthrie shouted:
"The gate for you, Witt, and you
can take the bat-boy with YOU" said
Guthrie, as he pointed at the diminu
tive Higgins. The sally brought
forth smile from even the irritatet
manager Of the Yanks and he beat
it with Witt, almost before the game
had started
No Close Decisions
Like OIoughlin, Guthrie didn'
take much stock in the close ones, Il
him the decisions were either thi!
or that, the this being accompanied
with the umpires way of motionini
a runner out, and the that with thu
signal of safe. There We're no clos
ones, either this or that.
During the two months Bill Guth
RE worked with me he kept me con
I stantly in good humor. He was orig
inal in every way. Any ball playe
who ever Won on argument from
Guthrie deserved it. Bill was an un
usual character, one of the few tina
have graced the umpire profession
Had he stuck in the big show h.
would have earned a place will
: Hurst, O'Loughlin and Byron for be
: ing original. He would have fur
nished columns of copy.
was mighty sorry to see him de