Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 128, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1914 — GOOD STORY ON KLEM [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GOOD STORY ON KLEM

HOW "HIB UM PS” LANDED ROY THOMAS OF QUAKERS. Credit for Terin "Catfish” Given to Al Bridweil, Shortstop on St Louis Federal!—Expression Brought Tin Can. * ' Rill Klem, umpire In the National league. Is a prolific source when It comes to stories and rapidly Is taking the place of Tim Hurst —formerly of the American league—in this specific respect This is told on Klem .by “Red” Dooin, the scrappy manager of the leading Phillies. “Klem was umpiring a series for us at Philadelphia and our teams were having considerable trouble with his decisions. He - seemed to have an off day or perhaps we had. But anyhow, nothing went right It got so Bill began canning men from the game right and left We didn’t dare to even open our faces or out we’d go. "Roy Thomas was playing center field for us then. As most everybody knows, Roy was one of the most peaceable players who ever wore a uniform. He never caused any trouble for an umpire. “On this particular day Thomas Vowed to himself he wouldn’t even look at Klem. He was bound to stay In that game no matter what happened. Perhaps Klem knew this. “Anyway Thomas was called out on strikes and we all thought the third one was rather high and wide. But Thomas didn’t say a word. He turned abruptly from the plate and started back for the bench with Klem after him. Evidently Bill was looking for Roy to start something, but Thomas kept bls face straight ahead. “They walked this way about 30 feet Still Roy kept his peace. Fin-

ally Klem drew closer and whispered, so Roy could hear: "‘lf I had a million dollars I bet I could lick you, Thomas.' “Roy paused and turned hall around. “ ’lf you had five million dollars you couldn't begin to* pay your debts.’ "Up went Klem’s arm. ‘Get out of the game,’ he yelled. This was just what he wanted. So Roy went There’s another player who Is mild by nature on the St. Louis Feds. His name is Al Bridweil and he’s some shortstop, too In all his years of big league ball playing he has been fired from the game exactly three times. Klem has had the honor of forcing every dismissal. It seems they were both In the same minor league years ago, and graduated at the same time to the National—one as umpire and the other as shortstop. In this minor league the players had started calling Klem “catfish” whenever they were especially peeved. Naturally the term didn’t suit Klem. It jarred bls nar ture. Every time the expression was used a dismissal from the pastime would follow. This became known In the National league when Klem arrived. Evidently he believes Bridweil tipped It off. Only three times In three years has Bridweil raised even the slightest commotion when Klem is around. These three times brought him the tin can.

Umpire Bill Klem.