The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-11
BY RICHARD MCCAIN NEA Service Shorts Writer

BY RICHARD McCANN
 NEA Service Sports Writer
 Perhaps the most important and certainly the least appreciated hired hands in baseball are the ufnpires.
 The fans roar approval of Char ley Gehringer's ouble.play pivot They get hysterical about Dizzy Deans goings-on. They claw and clamor like women at 6 bargain. counter for Joe DiMAgglos auto- graph. And they go away from the ball park uttering the praises of Carl Hubbell's fine days work.
 But have you eyer had a man in the next chair aw the barber shop turn over and exolaiin, "9ay wasn't that c swell-umpired game today9 Did you ever see Bill Klen turn In . finer johe"
 No, you never have heard any such talk. And, unfortunately, you probably never will because aii uFn. pire considers that he has done his best job when you 60 away uns aware that he was in the stadium. {.
 But, though they never hear any of the cheers and don't got Into the headlines except when they are conked with c pop bottle thrown by the village idiot, the umpires orc the backbone of baseball. Upon their unquestioned honesty, the billion. dollar industry is built
 Must Be Fearless and Falr
 Forever on the hunt for talent. the major leagues are most careful in their selections. Empires are sought, bought, farmed out, and trained much the same as players.
 However, the qualifications are SO exActing. and the pay SO small considering their responsibilities, and the Job SO thankless, that the field s naturally quite limited.
 Tommy Connolly, as chiefsof staff of American league umpires, and Ernie Cuigley, as chief Of the Na- tionai's arblters, are in charge Of the search for and instruction Of young umpiros.
 "When we hear of promising minor league umpire" says Mir. Con. molly, "the first thing we do is to pry into his private life--we must learn whom he associates with, watch what he does away from the ball park, 60 if he pays his bills.
 "ff he IA honest and reliable we then run down to look him ever In action. He must Dc fearless and fair. We don't want men who hold grudges. The umpire can't think . about what happened last season, fin the last game, in the last inning. on the last pitch. Each decision is based on each piay-what has gone before must be forgiven and forgotten"
 Earned Out Same As Players
 Knowledge Of the rules and uIn- plring technique are not demanded Of the prospective candidate,
 we can teach him those things" says Mir. Connolly. "ff he meets our mental requirements we'll buy him tpurchase price runs from ei0o up to $500 depending on ciaasifica- ton Of league) and farm him out to c higher loop for seasoning. We like to have . man work A couple seasons in q Glass A league bee cause there he meets the old.tlne pig ieagueers and gets good experi' ince."
 The American League has about q half dozen rockies farmed out right now. Among them are Eds dio Rommel. Pat Charity, and George Pipgras, former league stars . We like to hire as many Of these deserving fellows as possible" says Mfr. Connolly. "TheBo three like the work, but 6 player seldom makes q good umpire. Fred Mars berry. for one, didn't like having to give up his friends among the players"
 The umpire. you see, doesn't travel with players, nor stop iii the same hotel, and avoids aii social contact with them Co prevent charges Of favoritisin and, Of course. argus ments.
 He doesn't however, lead the lone. y life you may suppose. Most big league ufnpires are entertaining companions with bright sense Of. humor and have friends ell over the circuit. ,,
 The rookie umpires' pay k o.. 600. After five years this has mounted to about 97,000. 0utstands Ing umpires like Bill kiem viii get as high as ei2,000.
 Unlike the players. the umpifes l, must buy ell their equipment tinask chest protector, uniforms, sfoss) 2. and they have to pay their fieab and hotel bills while on the read about i76 days. Figure this Up at 2 say, e760 per day and you eaii see 7 the poor old urnps doesn't haves much left.
 He would seem perfect prey for the noneyswaving gambler. But don't whisper anything like tiiat around one Of the 24 staiwart, cieaTs eyed gentlemen.
 He won't cell you oit--he'li knock you out into the middle Of the next inning.
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