"A Motion as Near Flying as Any Human Being Could Attain": The 19th Century Umpire as Sprinter

Abstract

Nineteenth century baseball witnessed a whirlwind of change, and none of its participants was buffeted more than umpire. Up until Civil War, he was a ceremonial figure who sat in comfort of an easy chair and rarely was called upon to make a decision. By end of century, however, he was expected to be all things to all men and to be in all places diamond at once, which led to a dramatic expansion in requirements of position. One of most intriguing of his new requirements was great foot speed-a requirement that spurred world-record holder in 100-yard dash to join ranks of major league umpires during 1890s. This is story of how that odd episode came to pass.The early game's rules were structured so that umpiring generally required a minimum of effort. There were no called strikes or balls, and players strove to be honest about calling themselves out or safe since their reputation as gentlemen hung in balance. As a result, made decisions only relatively rare occasions when a player requested him to do so by calling out Judgment! And once match ended, no matter what, members of both nines regaled him with three hearty cheers.Befitting this role, one early player recalled that earliest umpires were accorded utmost courtesy by They were given easy chairs, placed near home plate, provided with fans hot days and their absolute comfort was uppermost in minds of players. To ensure his comfort, always received choicest bits of food and largest glass of beer-in case he cared for such beverage. he didn't, he needed but to express his desires in thirst-quenching line before game started- and he got it.1The umpire's chair was placed at a safe distance from home plate, and, according to another early player, on sunny days, he was entitled to an umbrella, either self-provided or a special one of vast circumference, fastened to chair and with it constituting one of fixtures of game. The had, in essence, best seat in house. Although he was free to get up and move about, the prerogative was rarely used.2 Who can blame him?But then a volley of rapid changes to game's rules and customs swept away all of comforts initially associated with umpire's position. Balls and called strikes were both introduced by end of Civil War, forcing umpires to make far more decisions than ever before. In turn, baserunners and fielders became less inclined to acknowledge an unfavorable result and began appealing for a ruling every play. Before long, it was taken for granted that would render a decision at end of each play. The consequences were revolutionary.At first, there was an effort to ensure that was treated with as much courtesy as ever. Sportswriter Henry Chadwick was an especially passionate crusader for civil treatment of umpire. After an 1866 game, he chastised Eckford Club of Brooklyn for asking a man ... to oblige them by acting as umpire only to have returned his kindness by disputing his decisions, and rating him all way home.... Why, thing is simply disgraceful.3 When National League was founded in 1876, its constitution warned: is sole judge of play, and is entitled to respect of spectators, and any person hissing or hooting at, or offering any insult or indignity to him, must be promptly ejected from grounds.But these high-minded principles proved unenforceable, and before long verbal abuse of became norm. As one sportswriter put it in 1879, If a man wants to find out how much he doesn't know and what a dishonest, mean, miserable cuss he really is,- let him a game of base ball and then stand around and hear losing club discuss him.4 Even physical intimidation and abuse were not unheard of. One newspaper editor, upon learning that a rival town's editor had nominated him to a game between two towns, replied that other man's reason for desiring us fatally injured is more than we can conjecture. …