The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-27

JUG enlist or artist can
exceed. Such man is this umpire
who for more than 30 years has
practically lived on the baseball
fields of the majors. To him base
ball comes pretty close to being a
religion.
So when he went up to Coopers-
town alone on day off to walk
over the hallowed ground where
scurrying feet raced from base to
base for the first time in history he
was moved not so much by curiosity
as by deep, honest emotion for a
fine sport which he feels has helped
him to become a successful man
and good citizen.
He can tell you all about the origi-
nal field, all about the little town
itself and all about Abner Double
day, the young West Pointer who
put the bases in baseball.
Authority on Doubleday
In fact he is by way of being an
authority on Doubleday, having fa-
!niliarized himself with the gentle
at the Point to the sunset of his
life.
I refer to Umpire George Moriarty
of the American League and doubt
that have succeeded in giving an
adequate picture of the fellow and
his affection for baseball. He is in
New York now with a motion pic
ture which he wrote and directed
for the American League, a follow
up Of similar exhibit which he
made and showed to more than
100000 fans year ago.
This is another evidence of the
mans great interest in the game
that has been his life's work. He
felt such a film would be important
as a mobile, fluent missionary
throughout the country a tireless
spokesman that could appear night
after night in the high schools, COL
leges and clubs-and free, with the
compliments of baseball.
Cigars for His Trouble
His work on the first film was
entirely gratuitous, though I believe
the league did give him brisk hand
shake and a couple of good cigars
for his trouble on the new picture.
AS a general rule there isn't much
interest in an umpire. He is &C
Cepted as a necessary evil.
The cheap ball player uses him
as an alibi to cover up his own
shortcomings For the most part the
club 0WnerS don't even know he is
arom unless he happens to boot
one against the home club on
Saturday that cuts into the Sunday
attendance.
No sympathy From Prick
At the last World Series this
same Moriarty, whose integrity has
never been questioned and whose
passion for baseball Gas I have tried
to show is as great if not greater
than that Of any man in the sport,
was subjected to a blisternig TRADE
by the opposition, originating with
the players and extending to the
league president himself.
The league president, Ford Prick,
a reformed radio artist, charged
that Moriarty's behavior had got
the Chicago Cubs so confused they
just didn't know where they were
and as very natural and shame
full consequence they were beaten
for the championship by the De-
troit Tigers.
The implication being that Mo-
riarty. an American Lacquer, was
hostile to the National Leaguers.
TIE Chicago newspapers, crediting
the source of their information to
certain high officials" ran stories
thljt Moriarty would be forced out
of baseball
All of which just goes to show
you what can happen to a capable
umpire and an earnest apostle of
the game. No umpire ever had
more tough decisions-or tougher
ones-to make in world series than
Moriarty did last fall. And the
general critical opinion was that he
called them all as they should have
been called, Unhappily, most of
them went against the National
Leaguers.
The dollar-minded ball players
squawked savagely, of course. What
could they lose? The year before
the st, Louis Cardinals pre-serieS
strategy called for batting Umpire
Brick Owens and they wound UP
winning the championship