New Britain herald., 1928-08-28
KLEIN AND EVANS GIVE OPINIONS
Answer Questions On Protests
 in Industrial League

Regarding two protests filed in the Industrial Baseball league. Billy Evans and Billy Klem, two recogniz- ed authorities on umpiring in the major leagues, have filed opinions which might settle the questions as they exist today. Both men were queried on the protests by Secretary Bryce Long of the league and they have promptly answered, Their answers will speak for themselves.
 The question on the protests as written by Mir. Long were as follows: Case No. l. With no one on base in the seventh inning, hitter of team A knocks a long fly to left cen ter field, which hit a small child ren- dering it unconscious. Both tielders of Team B picked up the child and carried it to it's mother. In the meantime the hitter ran around the bases and the umpire allowed home run. This was the winning score for Team A. Team has pro- tested and bases its protes. on Sec ton ? of Rule "A which reads: An umpire shall suspend play in an ex- | traordinary circumstance.' There weSe no ground rules covering a case of this kind. What is your opin- ion of the above?
 Case No. 2. Can game be for feited by an umpire under Rule 26, section 4, without warning, if in his opinion a team is wilfully delaying the game, or must he. as per section 5 of Rule 26, first warn the offend- ing team before calling the game"'
 Klem answered as follows: Mol. The umpire was correct and tune should not have been called in such a case until that play had been com- pleted,
 No 2. Yes. he can, but warning is usually given in any instance. Sec ton means protection flor in- stance" to a player that may not know he is violating a rule.'
 Evans answers as follows: ln case No. 1 when a batted ball hit q baby running loose in the outficld, rendering 1t unconscious, it was nat ural that the fielders should pick up the child and take it to its mother; however, it was unfortunate that both fielders, instead of one, did SO
 It would have been much better had one player taken care of the baby and the other chased the ball. Ol course, when the rule makers made
 rules they had no idea that babies
 would be roaming in the outtiel6 and, consequently, there IS no spccla
 provision except the one which re
 fcrs to extraordinary circumstance:
 and it is my belief that this claus' does not cover your play. If l Wal ] in charge of such a game, l would have permitted the ball to remain il play. This seems inhuman, of course call time when players collided run nng after ball. or such situation as YOU state, there would be con stant feisning of injury only to hav' time called.
 "In the second case, it is custom
 arv to warn the team when an um pire believes it is wilfully delayin the game. AS a matter of fact um pires not caring to forfeit ball game usually warn a team several tsne D trying to avoid forfeiture if the continue their dilatory tactics. How
 ever, 1 am sure if an American lea . gue umpire saw fit to forfeit gam | and failed to notify the team, h would be upheld in his judgmen Yet, in an amateur game, to protet e himself and to prevent the defeate team from having an alibi, I woul C say the umpires should always war e the alleged offending team at lea' II once"
 These letters will be discussed ; :, an early meeting of the lndustrl; i league managers.