Salt Lake Herald-Republican | 1907-10-20 | Page 22 | When Silk Turned Umpire

IllEN SILK TURNED U Was Poorest Batter on Team Made Madea a Hit and Then Quit Heres Here s a H story stor that Silk O the th erak umpire of the American league tells on himself I l Dla td on an au ants ama amateur tear team in Rochester and my position was left field Im not a bit hit swelled when I say sa that I was a outfielder I was fast judged a fly ball w well H and ami could throw more than fairly But at bat batting batting batting ting I was a frost Jack Townsend for formerly merly of the Cleveland land team always re rr reminded 1 minded me of m myself self He lie hits em eat just about as I did didWell Well Weil eil we were playing placing pla ln a hot match at Silver Lake La Ie near Rochester one day dav and I 1 had my accustomed place In the batting order ord r above the tIte pitcher In the ninth we got two men on bases one ane out and me tip up We tle had only one aue utility lilt hit hitter ter and the manager after thinking for fora a long lon time decided d to send me up and let lt the extra man bat for the pitcher Strike out he said and thus avoid a double play pia That made me sore gore and I 1 went up to the plate pinte blind with determination When the first ball came up I shut my eyes and swung at It By some m mysterious chance I shot It over oer the head of the first base baseman baseman baseman man and the swat won the game for Cor us ns Right there I 1 retired as a pla player er The Th fellows were good enough to ta that I should sta stay but I was obdurate I finally compromised b by consenting to umpire for them and In this way I suppose I J worked Into the job Ive got now no