The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-08-22
Seeing Big League |
BASEBALL
W |
BY BILLY EVANS
II Sportswriter, Big League Umpire
and General Manager of the
Cleveland Indians

Close students of baseball, fans
and baseball experts. have often asked
me If umpires have any set methods
to which they consistently adhere as
to the handling of the players. In
this connection / might say that few
umpires have many things in COM
mon. Each one handles the game
according to temperament and DISPOSE
ton. OF course all must follow the
same set of rules. but in the handling
of the same situation, the umpires
would differ widely. Any umpire to
succeed must be backed to the limit;
his authority must be supreme. How
ever. / believe that it is possible to
everyday the power that is granted
the umpire. 1t should be used with
the greatest of discretion.
Some years ago there was a certain
star player In the American league
who did not relish batting against
Russell Ford. then a past master in
using an illegal delivery known as the
emery ball. 1t will be remembered
that Ford roughened the ball by
means of piece of emery paper con-
being cut in same. With rough
ball he could make it take all kinds
of dizzy dips. In the very first inning
of the game | called the star player
out on three pitched balls. all of them
perfect and at none of which he
offered. | knew the player didn't like
to bat against Ford. 1t was league
gossip. l also realized that thousands
of fans were out to see this player in
his battle of wits with the great Ford,
then the pitching sensation of the
American league.
AS l called the third strike, l pro-
ceeded to brush off the plate, although
1t was devoid of dust. l realized l
was going to have an argument on my
hands and l wanted to have reason
for the delay that / knew was GER
tain to follow. AT such times nothing
offers a better excuse than the home
plate. l sure busted that platter
clean and managed somehow to keep
flecking fresh dirt back on it, SO
there would still be reason for my
continuing the job. In the meantime
conversation was passing between US.
Three terrible strikes"
81 didn't think So"
mot one of them within six inches
of the plate"
'All three cut the heart. If there
were ever three perfect strikes in all
the world just called them on YOU"
''Umpiring like that is what drives
people from the ball park"
unless you start on your way to
the bench mighty quick it is certainly
going to drive you out of it."
I'm going to stick around here just
as long as l please. No threats that
you make are going to hurry me
away. I'm entitled to tell you what
/ think of you after that terrible ex-
hibition."
well, / don't intend to listen to
much more of your conversation. II
you're still around here when finish
tainly going to get a ticket to the
club house"
iii be here"
realized full well that the player
wanted to be put out of the ball
game. 1t was a Saturday afternoon
and the crowd numbered about 10000,
mighty big gathering in those days.
! didn't want to chase the star if
could possibly avoid it. After wear
ing off most of the whisk broom and
getting the plate scrupulously clean,
found my friend was still with me.
You're through" | quietly re-
marked. l had resorted to every pos
sible means to keep him in the game !;
now to maintain discipline it was
necessary that | put him out. AS
uttered the fatal words he hurried to
the club house without further COM
ment. / realized that | had been the
goat of the situation but l had no
alternative.
A.