Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-22
TO UMPIRE NO MORE

After 90 years Of umpiring in the
American league, in which have seen
hundreds of players come and go,
scores of them the outstanding stars
of their time, I have decided to quit
the mask and pad for the executive
end of the game.
( have called my last ball and strike
in the American league, my final out
and SAFE No more will have to
listen to the wall of the athlete who
feels that I have beaten him out Of
baSehit. No more will I have to
listen to the tale of woe of the pitcher,
who is certain had I not missed per-
feet third strike, the OPPOSITION
wouldn't have made the four runs that
followed. 1.t,l
Baseball is often game of alibi and
the umpire is the chief target for most
of the "it-might-h t-have-b been" stuff.
However, I have greatly enjoyed my
| % years as an umpire in the American
league. That may sound rather
strange, since of all professions that
of umpire often seems the least en-
] viable.
theory that all ball players are
gentlemen and should be treated
accordingly. / am pleased to say
that in only few instances have
/ been disappointed.
ASSETS UMPIRE NEEDS
j In umpiring, the greatest possible
asset is the confidence of the ball
player. s. e
Good eyesight is very essential, an
athletic physique is helpful, good
Judgment is most important, courage
is absolutely necessary. If an umpire
has these four assets, he can, after a
time, build up confidence with. the
men over whom he presides that will
make his work much easier.
When a ball player has confidence
in an umpire, he will let him get away
with terrible decision without try
ing to start a riot, simply because he
feels that is the way the umpire saw
it, that he rendered such a decision
| believing he was right.
+ I have worked any number ofeball
i games in the American league in
i which I knew / was not in the best
of form, yet would get through with
! scarcely kick.
+
/ Don't bother with Bill today,
1 know he's terrible, but he's call
ing them as he sees them," is an
expression 1 might hear "a half
dozen times during the game. The
players accepted in good spirit
what they believed were Off-cOlor
decisions because they had conf
dence in me.
ANSWERS MANY QUESTIONS
/ Since the announcement that woulc
quit the umpiring game to act as gen.
eral manager of the Cleveland team
of the American league, I have re-
ceived many inquiries asking me tC
detail some of the interesting happen
ings of my long career as an official.
What is the greatest pitching feat
YOU have ever seen? III.
What players of the last Is years
do you regard as the best at their re-
spective positions?
What fielding plays are OUTSTANDING
in your memory since you started UNI
piring in 1906?
These and scores of other questions
dealing with various incidents that
have come under my observation ap
pear to be of great interest to baseball
fans the country over.
That being the case, it is my
intention to write series of ar
ticIes which will give my opinion
on many things that have i'm
pressed me most in the various
departments of play. u,.1 r,
In my next article will discuss
the greatest pitching feat that
have ever seen-great not only be-
cause of its brilliance but also
because of the super strength re-
qlired in turning the trick.