New Britain herald., 1930-03-29

leagucr and in recent years man. aser of teams in the New England league. Burkctt, so the story goes, was swinging three or four bats pre- paratory to taking the place of player as pinch hitter in a tight game and Rorty doffed his mask to inquire the players name. Burke.t was not exactly sweet on Forty, personally or otherwise, and he would not give him the satisfaction of an answer. Not daunted in the least, Rorty swung around to face the packed stands and announced so that all could hear: "Burhett batting for exercise" In baseball circles the story has been the rounds thousands of times and nev- CT fails to draw q laugh, but to this day 1t is said Burllett has never for the joke A few months ago Buri- cit officiated at a roller hockey game at the Stanley Arena and sure enough, he had not been on the i playing surface five minutes before l someone in the bleachers reminded i of his inch-hitting' experience. Bobby" Stowe, who played short stop for Bridgeport in the old Con-
 necticut league 20 years ago, took three healthy cuts at "Chappie'
 Wards curve at Electric Field, the
 home grounds of the late Billy
 Hanna's New Britain club, and started the long trail back to the
 bench without q murmur one Satur-
 day afternoon. There was no dis
 putting Rorty's decisions for Stowe there was to it. but in the next in ming the shortstop had the temerts
 to shout from his position That's one you missed, Rcd" when the um
 pire called a ball on Almeida, New Britain's classy batsmm. If h.
 thought Rorty would let it go be.
 cause of the distance between home
 plate and the shortfeld, he was mis. taken, for Hughie believed out, be Itween pitches, Yeah? Well vol
 missed three better than that q few
 minutes ago."
 Liked New Britain
 "Rcd" Rorty always liked Nev
 Britain. He enjoyed coming here whether to umpire a baseball gam2 referee a roller hockey game. O just to indulge in a fanfest with hi
 friends, of whom he had many her as elsewhere. He was an admire of Maurice QWrk. local player wh did considerable umpirng in anna , teur and scmi-pro games for a mum Der of years, and he had the great est respect for the judgment of tn late Patsy" Burns on ball players
 It was Burns who recommends, , John "Shauno" Collins to the Chi cago White SoX and Collins stayet
 with the team almost twenty years
 returning few years ago to becom manager of the Pittsfeld team il the Eastern league. Burns also gay :. Merwin Jacobson his start in leagu , baseball and Jacobson did not eve, - know who Burns was until he ha, r , pany. Rorty often said Quirk woul [, have made the grade as an umpir D in professional baseball.
 , Hughie's health has not been goo = for some time as his many friend 2 noticed during the recent rolle s hockey season. Last summer, q Q supervisor of umpires in the East s ern league, he was called upon t l umpire only q few times. He car n ries many brtlise sustained on tn n ball field and has been seriously in = Jured several times, but like th e game fellow he is. he played ol $ his string and went back for nor
 every time until Dame Natures or
 slaught finally would not be hel T off. Baseball can stand many mor Il Hugh Rortys.