Clipping:Calls for a paid umpire corps
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Date | Sunday, May 19, 1872 |
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Text | Having pointed out the evil of an indiscriminate selection of umpires, we will now suggest a remedy. And this is the appointment of certain persons by the annual convention to act as umpires, and who will receive a certain sum–say $10 and their traveling expenses–for every game they umpire. They need not necessarily be players, but must be intelligent men, who are, or who will make themselves acquainted with the rules–men respecting whose good faith there will be no doubt. Gentlemen like Charley Mills, Rob. Ferguson, or Theo. Bomeisler, would be just the persons to act; and let them have instructions to enforce the rules strictly, irrespective of whether they are too strict or too lenient; we will then have a regular system of umpiring by men whose business is will be to keep themselves acquainted with the rules, and from whose gradually ripening experience greater correctness may be expected. The contending clubs can each pay a moiety of the expenses, and it will fall heavily on neither. New York Dispatch May 19, 1872 The recent squabbling over the decisions of umpires—the two most prominent examples of which have been the Boston-Mutual match in Boston a couple of weeks ago, and the Athletic-Baltimore game in Baltimore on Monday—together with the increasing difficultly in obtaining any person willing to take the position, appears to call for some action on the part of the representatives of the professionals nines. One way out of the difficulty would be to appoint a certain number of official umpires, say one for each ground, and allow them a certain fixed compensation for the services. Of course no active member of any of the professional nines would be appointed to such a responsible position. Indeed there is no reason why the person so appointed should have ever played ball at all providing he knows the rules of the game, and is honest, quick, and firm in his interpretation of them. If something is not done for once this “umpire” muddle will lead to further trouble. Baltimore American May 28, 1872, quoting the New York World May 26, 1872 Another improvement is certain. Umpires will be paid, and they shall not be players. They will, eventually, be selected because they are gentlemen, and, as such, independent of gamblers, and worthy of confidence. Evening City Item October 1, 1872 |
Source | New York Dispatch |
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Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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