Clipping:An infield fly
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| Date | Thursday, May 1, 1890 |
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| Text | [New York vs. Brooklyn PL 4/30/1890] The umpiring of Barnes caused much dissatisfaction, both to the players and the spectators. Barnes was once the greatest second baseman in the world, but the chances of his earning such a reputation as an umpire are slim. … With two men on bases, Joyce [3B] muffed a little fly sent up by Ewing, and O'Rourke dashed for second. Barnes decided that Ewing was out, and also called O'Rourke out. The decision was an original one, and may never again be seen on the ball field. New York Tribune May 1, 1890 Connor was on third and O'Rourke on first, with none out. Ewing then batted a fly to Joyce, who made an inglorious muff of it. He picked it up and threw to Bauer, who touched O'Rourke just as the latter was coming into second base. Barnes called both men out under the rules, which declares that when a runner is on first base and a fielder touches a fly ball with his hands the batter is out whether the ball be held or not. Barnes could decide no other way, but why he gave the decision and not Gaffney is a query. Ewing kicked over the decision for ten minutes and would not let the game proceed. He appealed to Gaffney but Gaffney upheld Barnes. Finally Barnes called for the next batter, who was Slattery. Slattery started toward the plate, but Ewing ordered him back to the bench, and “Slat” obeyed the director rather than the umpire. In vain did Barnes order up a batter. None came until Buck finally got out of breath and jerked his head to signify that the game might proceed. New York Herald May 1, 1890 “What do I think of Umpire Barnes's decision in the game on Wednesday? Nothing but a case of stupidity, that's all,” said Jim O'Rourke to a Sun reporter yesterday. “The decision was contrary to the spirit and letter of the rules. In the first place, it was not an infield hit of Ewing's, and therefore neither Ewing nor myself could be declared out. Now, what do the rules say regarding infield hits? Rule 2 of the Players' National League says that the infield must be a space of ground thirty yards square. That means the entire territory within the base lines, and not a foot more. Now, the ball that Joyce dropped was outside of the third base line by fifteen feet.” “But hasn't it always been the case that hits stopped by the basemen and short stop while standing in their usual positions were considered infield hits?” asked the reporter. “Yes, but the interpretation of the rules in that respect have been wrong. A ball sent to any of the infielders in the place they usually play cannot, under any circumstances, be considered an infield hit. It must be a hit to be played, even within the base line. Section 9 of rule 41 says: “If, where there is a base runner on the first base and less than two players on the side at bat have been put out in the inning then being played, the batsman makes a fair hit so that the ball falls within the infield, and the ball touches any fielder whether held by him or not before it touches the ground, the batsman shall be declared out.” “See what latitude would be given an infielder to make such plays like that of Joyce and which Umpire Barnes says are according to rule if the enlargement of the infield other than that stated in the rules was allowed. Why, a short stop or baseman could run into the outfield for a ball, miss it, and then throw to a base catching the runner. Under Umpire Barnes's rulings, that would be an intentional miss, the same as Joyce's was decided. There's got to be a distinction made somewhere between the infield and the outfield and the rules have always made it. You can't say that even an inch outside of the base lines is in the infield. “I am perfectly satisfied that Joyce's miss was not an intentional one. He made a supreme effort to get the ball but failed. How, then, do you think under these circumstances that it is reasonable to give Joyce so much credit for that play as for one of a scientific character. That's what he received by Umpire Barnes's decision.” New York Sun May 4, 1890 |
| Source | New York Tribune |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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