Clipping:Criticism of the umpire's calling of balls and strikes
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| Date | Thursday, September 12, 1872 |
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| Text | [Boston vs. Baltimore 9/11/1872] Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining an umpire, and it is to be regretted that the efforts in that direction were not entirely unsuccessful. Mr. Beals, of the defunct Olympics of Washington, acted as an umpire. Artistically speaking, Mr. Beales is not very good. He called balls and strikes, it is true, about once in ten minutes, on principle, like the man that ate crumpet; that is, he considered it his duty to all them at certain periods in the game, not because they ought to be called at that particular time, but simply to carry out the traditional idea than an umpire must do something. His views of the nature of called balls and strikes appeared to be somewhat muddled. Generally when he called balls he should have called strikes, and vice versa. It is charitable to suppose, however, that he acted upon the old maxim that “what is sauce for the good is sauce for the gander,” but as it turned out, the old saw did not cut both ways, but only on one side, and hence the Baltimores were beaten. In the sixth inning a foul ball knocked his hat off, instead of his head, which was a pity, as that appendage seemed to be of but little use to him, and its displacement might have entirely changed the result of the game. His decisions at the bases were generally very correct, though on two occasions adverse to the Baltimores. Doubtless his aim was to be thoroughly impartial, but he was fearfully slow and lethargic, and the disappearance of his Greeley in the seventh inning failed to instill into him the life which all had reason to expect. The Baltimore players would stand at the home plate and wait for proper balls until their patience was exhausted, and in sheer desperation they struck when there was no hope. Out of fifteen balls, most of which struck in front of the home plate, two balls were called. The game, though not as skillfully played as some that have taken place on the same grounds, was feverishly exciting from its commencement to its close. In fielding and hitting the Baltimores far outstripped their opponents, and had an umpire been chosen at all acquainted with the rules Harry Wright would have been compelled to deliver fair balls instead of rolling them along the ground as he did during the greater part of the game. Baltimore American September 12, 1872 [Boston vs. Baltimore 9/11/1872] In repeated instances ball after ball would fall in front of the plate, but no notice was taken of them, though the rule imperatively demands that any ball which falls in front of the plate shall be called. Baltimore Gazette September 12, 1872 |
| Source | Baltimore American |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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