Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-31
.SNAPPY. REPARTEE
PUT KICK" IN GAME
Joe, Great Diamond Figure,
Always Ready to Make
Sparkling Retort.
BY GEORGE MORIARTY,
Big League Umpire.

TOE CANTnLON, who dice
today at Hickman, KY, was
one Of the most forceful ano
extraordinary characters Of
the old school in base ball.
AS an umpire and later as a
manager, he contributed a quail
ity of courage and wit that has
made him one of the beloved
figures of the profession.
Cantillon was one Of the first
to shatter the belief that small
umpire could not give satisfaction
on balls and strikes when off,
ciating behind big catcher. He
is short on stature but long on
skill and fortitude, and has had
the reputation of being both
kindly and austere to fit the vary
ing situations of ball game.
In the business of making snappy
come-backs and wise-cracks, Cantillon
ran a close second to the volatile
Tim Hurst as the wit of the ball field.
When a protest has called for q retort
courteous or otherwise, Cantillon has
seldom missed the target. His jewels
of repartee have often been flashed
around the country to the immense en-
10ymenJ OF the IahS.
A Sparkling Wit.
1t was during his managerial career
at washington that he loosed one of his
gems. His club had been in last place
long enough TO call 1t home. Cantillon
was after re-inforcements. Scouts were
few IN those days, so Cantillon pressed
one of his catcners into service as an
ivory-hunter The catcher was q no.
toriously poor batter. His instructions
to the backstop followed:
You are going down to the Southern
League to look over q pitcher ! have
been tipped-od to buy. The first morn
ing after you arrive, put on uniform
and warm-up with the home players.
When this recommended pitcher is on
the rubber, I want you to 60 up and
bat against him-and If you get as
much as foul OF him, don't buy himl"
Cantillon bore the continual losses of
his laSt-place club with philosophical
grin and bear it" attitude. One night
the team was on q Pullman en- route to
Ats next scheduled stop. A terrific
storm was raging. The next morning,
one of the trainmen informed Cantillon
that mere matter Of being one minute
late. saved the. train from being struck
by a bolt of lightning. Just our luck"
was his bland reply, "if the train had
been on time, could have had whole
new ball club
EngIe Had Passes.
Here's another. Joe Engle, at present
with the washington club as one Of the
highest salaried scouts in base ball, once
stitched for Cantillon at Minneapolis.
Engle was noted for his wildneSs. On
this particular day, Engle had just
issued his twelfth base on balls to the
opposition. Just then q fan accosted
Cantillon and asked If he could spare
pass to the game for the following day.
See Engle," dryly chirped Cantillon,
she Is giving them but by the dozen"
/ well recall Cantillon's advice to me
in 1917, my first year as an umpire.
BE careful; don't start umpiring the
wrong way" he confded. THE old
methods of umpiring l1avk g0ue. Modern
ball players have advanced, and are
They realize the difficulty of the job,
and win 60 half way with you, so avoid
the hardyboiled idea.
Speak to and treat players with con-
sideration, and half Of your trouble is
over. Show them you can umpire. Get
on top of the play. and give it as you
see it, If trouble is unavoidable, forget
it when the game is over. Leave the
close decisions in your dressing room,
and shut the door on that ball game"
Joe Cantillon said it all in those few
terse sentences.
(Copyright, 1890. BY the North American
Newspaper Alliance.)