Evening star., 1951-02-26

n 6M forgot to carry this day. Nevertheless, he
MMM withdrew hand, partially closed as If
actually holding timepiece. One by one,
FRANCIS s the dscredted Dodgers and headed for
the catacomb leading to the dressing
But Dodger KLEIN than the Others noted that
Bill held watch merely studying the palm of his
hand But you amt got watch u.s. he yelped There
amt nothing in your hand"
"Neyer mind" Klein thundered .aThe time goes"
anything Brookyn's bench cleared faster than
KLEIN actually held watch The Dodgers weren't certain that
he wouldn't give them fast count off his empty PALM
THE "oLD ARBITRATOR" hardly is likely to sail again
under Kems pennant The "old Arbitrator" is
fastened KLEIN He cottoned to
it and thus named his boat modest pleasure cruiser
many baseball especially National Leaguers kiems
familiar boat Once the old gaer now IT, used
special mid winter party at his home on Star Island
small chunk of land between Miami and Miami Beach There
bridge road ung off to Star Island from the Venetian
Causeway but KLEIN liked to send his od Arbitrator aleer
his guests
He was an outstanding just he outstanding
umpire Gracious and coloruly conversational
But when he the blue KLEIN was yrant who ran
any game umpred protege of the equally legendary
Silk OLoughli he liked to draw lines on the held with the
spikes of his shoes when argument ragged.
To that line to be doomed KLEIN would sten 10
beef and when he'd heard enough he scratched his line ana
stepped to behold the hery FRANKIE
Frisch among Others when his line Fsch would
stand edge that mark like eetering on the
precpc and bark nvective But he rarely crossed
IT WAS KLEIN who put Larry MacPhai in his place.the
MacPha who generally credited with having ounoozeo
Commissioner Happy Chandler into suspendng Leo Docne
for year charges
MacPha was running Brooklyn Club having completed
tempesuous Cincinnati Kems title was supervisor
of National League umpresahough he preferred the term
chiefand he sitting the Ebbets Field press box AS
KLEIN could hear MacPhan iouoly crIe te "oA
of the umpres on the field.
KLEIN listened with resolute patience finally he could
stand no maesticaly and addressed MacPha
follows
"sir, you applehead."
Then he press box plus sputterng speechless
MacPhaN
BECAUSE HE WAS respected KLEIN frequently was asked
by players managers to rule on trick de-
OF these he was suspicious and MS STOCK reply was
to ask:
"Did such a play actually happen?"
"No" it was admitted, "but it might
"When it happens sir" KLEIN would roar, III make
ruling it, -
But the respect which KLEIN held may have been
best Illustrated by incident that happened years ago. wnen
Uncle Wilbert Robinson managing brooKyh ole
noon Casey stengel hunted ball and KLEIN roared
stenge raced to first base, anyway and oy queer ~s.
the ball rolled Stenge screamed in righteous rage ano
Uncle Robbie waddled from the dugout.
whats going on?" he asked
maybe called it too soon" KLEIN confessed
Uncle Robbie turned to his man, Stengel and SAID:
"Don be damned fool. Get back to that plate ana MT
THERE ARE ENDLESS anecdotes concerning Klein and
m the hest are contained there's story that
fingers and the earday Bill KLEIN and Fred Clarke
who then was managing and playing lett nelo ol
Next to John who first stumbled on kems aversion
+ha nictname of Catfish" probable that Bill dishkeo
Clarke the most a,,,,, 80 =; vogue
and Clarke went to away with oenniton ne
never seriously considered ieModel small replica OF an
object" ,.. np, vou,re
model umpire" Kems sweled as he ate IL up a oue
why that the goal of every umpire! ~.
pt the following day after Clarke had handed Klein ns
batting order trotted to left held Klein caleu 'ie W
the first pitch He beckoned to Clarke ,o
aTbe word model could several things the umpire
said as the puzzled Clarke met him at the pla,e
"oh 50 YOU got dictionary" Clarke SAID
"yes KLEIN said got dictionary last night NO" I'm
going to give you the rest OF the aleelnooi W " '' ~