The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-09

Fame for
Umps
Bv FRANK BUCK" O'NEILL

By FRANK BUCK" O'NEILL
The widest dreams Of Khu are
the facts of Khatmandu. if Kip
ling is right, and now we step
right up and tell you that the
of baseball have a friend.
He is Ferguson Fague, an old
timer with almost half a cen
fury Of baseball tradition and
lore at his finger tips. He steps
right out and suggests that q
special section Of baSeball'S Hall
of Fame, which will be erected at
Cooperstown, N. Y, be reserved
for the umpireS.
"DO me q favor" states Mr..
Fegue in his letter accompany.
ing his team selection In tho
baseball contest being con-
Quoted by The Washington
Times. "See the architects Of
the Hall of Fame and have =
them reserve a special section,
right as you enter, for the inn
mOrtals, and three from each
league is not too many.
NAMES HIS CHOICES
81 refer to Tommy Connolly,
"Silk" OLOughlin and Billy
Evans Of the American League.
Hank ODay, Bob Emslio
and Cy RigIer are my selec-
tons from the National
League"
It seems to this writer that Mr..
Fague has scored a direct hit. No
half dozen men in baseball have
contributed more to the game
than the men in blue named by
this veteran fan. They were UNI
pires in the old days when an
official was fair game for nag
ging ball players and missile hurl-
ing fans. They called every ball
and strike, every play as they saw
them. Without men of their fear
less courage and integrity, base
ball could not have endured.
There seems to be a slight
doubt as to the method Of pro
cedure in this contest. A fan tele.
phoned this morning and asked
If it were necessary 60 pick 1o
players in each position, or just
10 outstanding players. Now let's
Straighten this matter out. You
can name five pitchers and five
infielders if you desire. The con
test is to select the best 10 play
erS of all time.
Many Choose Chase
One of the DEVELOPMENTS In
this contest that has intrigued
this writer is the disposition or
the part Of the fans to SWEEP
aside all barriers and base thei1
selections on sheer ability of the
players.
We find fans across the coun
try selecting Hal Chase as the
teams first baseman. The fact
that Chase today is a shaughran
from baseball, a wandere:' of the
wastelandS ard deserted by his for
mer associates matters little to
baseball fans. He was the first
baSeman supreme, and fans have
swept aside all other conSidera
tons.
The same broad spirit voiced In
the matter of Chase is voiced or
Buck Weaver, whose alleged
guilty knowledge of what was
happening at the time the world
series of 1919 was played. led tc
his release and subsequent dis
barment from major league
baseball Weaver was one Of
the great infielders of all time
None was greater.
In the discussion of men whose
debatable activities brought about
untimely endings to their careers
may be included Happy Felsch
and "ShoeleSS" Joe Jackson
When it came to ability, they
had few equals. But-alaS pool
fellows. Their heritages went fol
a couple of mesSes-and the
meSSes were not porridge.
Contest Ends Tomorrow
Well, this contest is your con
test, and the opinions are your
opinions. You have only today
and tomorrow to put your opin
ions in writing. This Hall Of
Fame contest closes on Friday
night at midnight. Your letter
must be stamped before IL O'Clock
midnight.
Be sure and send in a letter
with your selection. Your rea
sons for selecting the team will
count in your favor. And If you
win, a season ticket for Griffith
Stadium for the season Of 1886 is
yours.