Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 219, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1916 — LOT OF THE UMPIRE NOT EASY THIS YEAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LOT OF THE UMPIRE NOT EASY THIS YEAR

“The heat wave and the hot race have combined to make things lively in the American league—the lot of an arbitrator in that circuit isn’t a soft one this year. We fail to notice any flowery beds of ease.” —Bill Deneen, veteran umpire. The pitching in the American league is good in spots, this veteran says, and the huriers are beginning to warm to their tasks. He has been through the mill and knows whereof he speaks. Dineen helped win a world’s flag for Boston in 1903. In a fanning bee Dineen and Connolly admitted they expected lots of trouble from scrappy ball players, but both were glad they had a man with an iron will back of their decisions. “Say, I’d rather be in Mexico than be out here umpiring a game of baseball in the American league this year,” said a fan. “There are worse posts than that of an arbitrator,” replied Connolly. “One doesn’t have to look far to see them, either.” “Yes, and there are the fellows in

the trenches in Europe—guess they’d be willing to take a chance behind the plate,” chimed In Dineen. Then the subject turned to the question of brass bauds playing in baseball parks of the American league. “I want you umpires to stop bands from tooting while the are playing,” said President Johnson. “Let them blow away all they want to between innings, but the lid is on music after the game is resumed. Fans come out to see high-class baseball and don’t want to be disturbed by a medley of discords. They can go to the amusement parks apd hear good music for a dime.” There Is one form of music President Johnson and the umpires of his circuit will not attempt to stop, and that Is whistling on the part of ball players. Ray Schalk Is probably the ablest warbler in the Major leagues and whistles constantly in the heat of a spirited battle. It is one of Schalk’s methods of gingering up and encouraging the pitcher with whom he is working.

PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN LEAGUE AND TWO UMPIRES.