The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-06
Lee Of White Sox Makes Comeback After Series OF Ailments
Al Barlick, 27, Majors Youngest Umpire, Never Played Pro Ball
Hired At 25, His Technique Pleases Klen1
By BURTON BENJAMIN NEA Service tSaR COrrespondent

OAN ASA1AN0 AA4AAAAN
 NEA Service tSaff Correspondent
 New York, August 5-Al Barlick has a thick mop of black hair (no grey' no bald spots), a strong, we'll chiseled face (no lines, no wrinkles) an even, pleasant smile (no missing teeth, no bridgework, and a sunny disposition (no tantrums, no rug chewing).
 Barlick is 27, solidly-built gen. tlema nof 5-feet, 11-inches and l9O pounds, quite normal in every re- spect (no ringing noises in his ears, no hot and cold flusheS) and likes his work.
 All this is unusual. MT Barlick IS major league umpire.
 TWO years ago, at the unheard of age of 25, Al Barlick began yelling 'yerr ouuut," as only he can, at National Leaguers who were sharp ening their spikes and chewing to- bacco when Al was still driving a mule in the coal mines of Spring field, Ill
 Yet no player or manager had the temerity to sheer at his youth. One reason was the aplomb and efficiency with which he worked The other was Bill Klem.
 COLORFUL ACTIVE
 HE PLEASES CROWDS
 Barlick operates with dashing color. He has the mobility of youth, IS no overStuffed landmark peering over the belly to make a decision. He vowed American League fans, who watched him work at the All- Star-Service Team game in Cleve- land, with bis picturesque technique.
 He calls men out with motion that suggests 8 roundhouse hook to the jaw. He bellows his deci- s1onS in a voice that makes the scoreboard 8 luxury. His brisk con- f1dence discourages argumentative souls.
 Bill Klem, chief of National League umpires, gave him brush up course at the Old Arbitrator's Miami Beach plantation before the opening of the 1941 season.
 He's going to be the greatest umpire in baseball history observed Klem "He has 8 love of his work, a pride in 1t and the physical quail if1cations. Young? Certainly. But there's something wrong with an umpire who serves long time in the minors !"
 Barlick never played anything but semi-professional ball. He was a mediocre outfilder, knew he would never go anywhere as 8 player He first remembers calling balls and strikes while a friend pitched ker- nels of dried corn at a stick in the fields of Springfield.
 Soon he was umpiring instead of playing and in 1887 he hitch hiked to Arkansas to take job in the Northeast Arkansas League.
 The next year found him at Pied mont, 8 class B league, and in 1889, at the age of 24, he made the big jump to the double. A International. After being farmed out briefly to the Eastern League, he returned to finish the season.
 Ernie Quigley, 8 former National League umpire, secuted Barlick. When Klem hurt his ankle in the fall of 1940, the kid in blue was brought up to the big time. SOME PLAYERS
 ARE NEVER OUT
 Barlick expounds on umpiring:
 Disputes: i've thrown six play CTS out of games since I broke in. Usually it's abusiveness can't swear at them. Why should let them swear at me?
 If they come out fairly to dis cuss the thing, I'll listen. If they get nasty-they get the gate I call from 300 to 400 pitches 8 game. Why should an argument on one bother me?"
 Crowd: We never hear the crowd Finely can boo, cheer scream it makes no difference. I've had cases of pop bottles tossed at me in the minors. What did I do? Stand there. What else could do?"
 Disposition: Don't be an umpire if you're sensitive or thin-skinned."
 Decisions: Some ball-players are never out. I remember one time when batter began to jaw about the third strike being outside and his manager ran off the bench yell ing it was low. When each heard what the other was shouting, they swallowed and sat down.
 Tt was a double header and after the first game the manager came over to me and said:
 "A., if tliat guy ever yells about 8 pitch like that again, throw him out of the game
 "'Why, hell, even could see that pitch wasn't outside"
 Hogan Man To Beat