The Washington times., 1936-01-16
KemLikes
.Umpires
On Toes
Bv KIRK MILLER
Times Sports Editor

AHSSO SSSNSS ASNS
HIALEAH PARK, MIAMI,
Fla, Jan. 16.-Holding court
meath a hibiscus festoon on
the spacious patio of Hialeah's
gorgeous clubhouse as Amer
ica's dream track opens its
fifth season to thoroughbred
racing, is weather beaten Cat
fish" Bill KLEIN, dean of Ma
tional League umpires and a
man who has officiated in
more baseball games than any
one living, or otherwise.
In his encourage are couple
Of ball players who have had
their ups and down with OF Bill;
but they like him and gravitate
toward him in this gay setting,
quite as naturally as your lodge
brother would stop and chat II
he met you in Little America.
There is Max Carey, old Pirate
outfielder, whose sterling work
helped turn back the Griffmen
in that mad 1925 world series,
and there is pebble" Freddy
Lindstrom who was something Of
the goat of the final game Of
the 1924 world seres that saw
the New York Giants go down
before the courageous pitching Of
Walter johnson, who stood out
there on the mound, gray-viSaged
as an electrocutioner, in what
was probably his greatest baseball
test.
A Stray Sheep
Also up StrollS the comparatively
young Harvey Trabund, secretary
treasurer Of the National League,
% you may imagine what treach'
erous ground it was for a reporter
who has more of the American
League penchant, but who, some
how, has learned to speak both
languages.
And if you, too, are American
League in your perSuaSions, per-
haps a word will do about Cat
fish" Bill Kem's odd monicker.
Whoever was the Dizzy Dean Of
Che National League two decades
ago, seems to have tagged His
NibS thus, during an argument on
the field. The fresh, young wise
cracking player was Immediately
thumbed to the clubhouse, where
he hastily improviSed a big card
board cartoon Of fish and, open
ing the clubhouse door which
faced on the field, hung it on the
outside where KLEIN and all the
world might see.
Your imagination will tell you
the consequences Of this brash
act!
Ground Is Broken
This has been a significant week
In the fifty-odd years OF Bill
Rem's life.
Last Monday morning he per-
Sonally stuck a spade in q little
plot Of land over on San Marco
Island, and turned the first clod
of earth to make way for the home
where he will sooner or later retire
to spend the rest of his days IN
domestic happiness-he and his
helpmeet, Marie.
You see, last December the Ma.
tional League installed retire
ment system for its umpireS, and
while Bills eyes are still keen
and his body quite agile (what
from sunbaths of Miami beach,
he intends to have a home in the
spot of this country he loves the
best, to retire to when his umplr'
ing days are behind him.
This week he signed his thirty
second contract for umpiring, and
he's hoping to round out 40 years
before he throws off the shin
guards and chest protector for
good.
Idea About Umpiring
Quite naturally, KLEIN has ideas
about umpiring. He has broken
In many of the Junior arbiters in
his league today and he also
broke in many who, like ball
players, couldn't make the grade.
He is proudest Of Albert Dolly"
Stark, the dimpled florid-featured
umpire who devoteS his winters
to coaching basketball at Dart
mouth. Stark, a year ago, was
voted baseball'S most popular UNI
pire.
KLEIN thinks an umpire should
weave with the ball. That is to
say they should be on their toes,
just like an infielder, as the
pitcher delivers the ball, enabling
himself to move in any direction
or turn toward any part Of the
field, being partly in motion with
his body as the pitch goes.
He has no use for umpires who
stand flat-footed as the pitcher
winds up. He says a first base
umpire should straddle the foul
line and that the plate umpire
should not stand directly in back
Of catcher, but little of the right
or left, depending on which way
the batter hits.
Can't Block Off View
A catcher, he says, can't block
off a view of the plate, when the
umpire is a little to one side or
the other on calling balls and
strikes.
You will gather something Of
the esteem in which KLEIN is held,
in both leagues, when I remind
you he has been selected as world