Clipping:Gaffney on umpire behind the pitcher; between the batter and the catcher
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| Date | Wednesday, May 23, 1888 |
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| Text | Manaer Gaffney says that he was led to take his stand behind the pitcher, when there were men on bases, while still manager of the Washington Club. During that team's practice work in the morning he would take his stand behind the pitcher and watch him delivering the ball. He soon found out that unless the catcher was standing close to the batsman he could not gauge the height of the ball. As to whether the ball was over the plate or not he could tell that just as accurately as though he had been in the usual position between the catcher and batter or behind the catcher. As soon as his mind was made up on this point he resolved to carry it into effect, as an Association umpire, at any time when there were men on bases. Otherwise he still stands between the batter and the catcher. The first game he umpired in this manner was between Detroit and Birmingham, Ala., during the practice season. The experiment met with favor, both from the management and members of clubs. Deacon white, after seeing the system tried, came around to Mr. Gaffney's way of thinking and advised him to put it in practice. He did so, and has had the satisfaction of seeing his plan adopted by one of his associates. In speaking of his custom of running to bases where a play was being made, the umpire said that the plan was afterwards conceived, and in practice worked fully as satisfactorily as his first innovation. “Umpiring in this way is hard work,” he said, “but it is satisfaction to know that the umpire's decisions are seldom, if ever, disputed. It saves trouble, and I shall continue practicing it, especially as the system dispenses with the second umpire sometimes called to assist. |
| Source | The Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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