Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 223, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1913 — FEW QUEER DECISIONS [ARTICLE]

FEW QUEER DECISIONS

American Association Umpires Make Some Odd Rulings. Why a Player Shouldn’t Slide Into Flrat Base—Charlie Irwin Tells Good Story on “Germany" Schaefer of Senators. #■ - . Whatever the merits of the respective controversies, x tWO of President Chivington’s umpires in the American association have succeeded in creating talk over what were heralded as “freak decisions. Umpire O’Brien called “Dixie" Walker out in a recent game at St. Paul when he slid to first oase and was quoted as saying he would give a similar decision on any player employing those tactics. Umpire Johnstone was credited with putting Player Booe out of the game for looking behind him and trying to get the catcher’s signals. President Chivington says that the report from Umpire O’Brien says the play on Walker was not even close and that no other decision would have been possible. While President Tom does not go to the extent of saj Ing a player would be called out if he actually was safe in sliding to first, he sides with his umpire in the controversy on the ground that a player slides to first only to confuse the arbiter and really loses time thereby, as he hap to slow up to make the slide. In regard to Johnstone’s case, the league head says that in the absence of definite information his opinion would be that the player was put out of the game for turning back and talking to the umpire instead of trying to get signals. - While discussing the O’Brien! decision in league headquarters, President Chivington and Umpire Charlie Irwin got to talking about old-time umpires and their verdicts, and how the decisions which once “went” would not do for modern baseball. One instance was cited in which Manager Joe Cantillon of Minneapolis, once an umpire, figured. As the story was told, “Germany" Schaefer, now comedian of the Washington American leaguers, was protesting pretty hard for a youngster on nearly every strike called. With the call two and two, one which seemed to cut the corner of the plate was thrown and Schaefer was called out by Cantillon. “What you trying to do run me out of the league just because I’m a young fellow trying to break in andearn my living?” howled “Germany.” “Did you think that was a bad one, blandly Inquired Cantillon. “Couldn’t reach it if I had' beeri an acrobat,” stormed Schaefer. “All right, we’ll give you another one,” said “Pongo” Jse. Thereupon Cantillon motioned to “Dummy” Taylor, who/ was pitching, to throw another ball. Taylor came rushing in from the slab, gesticulating wildly and wanting to know what it was all about. Cantillon smiled at Taylor aiid by signs the situation was explained to the mute. Grudgingly he threw another ball which cut the heart of the plate? Schaefer, thoroughly enraged, swung at it with all his might and missed it by six inches. “Now, go over to the bench and sit down. If you do less talking and m4re batting, you won’t be so likely to get run out of the league,” was Cantillon’s parting shot at Schaefer. After that incident, Schaefer was a great admirer of Umpire Cantillon. Imagine an umpire in these days giving Ty Cobb or Joe Jackson another" chance to" hit" because they protested when they were called out on strikes. Possibly the police would be able to save the arbiter from the mob.