Clipping:An objection to umpires behind the pitcher
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| Date | Wednesday, June 5, 1889 |
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| Text | [a letter from John I. Rogers to Nick Young] “I desire to enter my protest against umpires standing inside the diamond, unless in case of double umpires. They are so afraid of the balls hit that they stand within ten feet of second base and think they can umpire balls and strikes from that distance. It is utterly impossible for them to do so, and I see no warrant in the rules permitting them to umpire anywhere except behind the home plate. The diagram of a ball ground attached to our rules, and which we have by repeated publications approved, puts the umpire back of the catcher. It is impossible also for the umpire, standing in the diamond, to tell whether the ball is hit fair or foul, if a grounder close to the line. To get around this difficulty umpires have been appointing one of the players at the bat as a substitute, to tell them whether the ball is fair or foul. This is a severe test to a man if the ball be close to the line, and the man waiting his turn to bat should not be led into such temptation. Umpires, of course, will take instructions only from you, and I therefore most respectfully, but earnestly, request you to instruct all umpires to umpire behind the bat and to run down as far as they can when bases are being stolen. The present system is the laziest and saves the umpires using his legs, but it is destructive to all satisfactory systems for fairly calling balls and strikes and deciding foul balls.” President Young says there is much wisdom in the above suggestions and he has accordingly instructed the various League umpires to render their decisions from behind the plate and move around in the vicinity of the bases when base plays are being made. The Sporting Life June 5, 1889 [editorial matter] One of Umpire Gaffney's innovations has been discarded by the League umpires by order of President Young, who has instructed them to hereafter umpire from behind the plate altogether. This order is due to the many complaints received about the impossibility of judging fair and foul hits correctly from behind the pitcher, and was really inspired by Col. Rogers' argument for it in a letter to President Young. Under the new order, of course, fair and foul hits will be somewhat better gauged, while close points at second base will have to take care of themselves. Of course, some games are won and lost by decisions at second base, but that is nothing compared with the importance of having the records of the players in the matter of hits which may decide games, as well as the important matter of properly calling balls and strikes, well looked after. All things considered, the change is a good one, although the better and more lasting improvement would be the double umpire system, which would enable all points of play to be well covered, but that's too expensive, you know. The poor and struggling major leagues would rather have the everlasting umpire troubles, with undoubted loss of some patronage, than put their hands into their pockets and provide the panacea—the double umpire system. The Sporting Life June 5, 1889 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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