Show Billy Evans Evan T Tells ells Int Interesting resting resting- S S SS I S 5 Story of True Sportsmanship Bill Carrigan Re Receives Praise of F Famous amous S Umpire in Final of Series Series' S By Billy Evans Evans Evans- 9 In n s some me quarte quarters s' s there exists the belief that sports sportsmanship is a So trait I that has has' no place plade in professional athletics I cannot refute such an opinion too strongly During the twenty- twenty two t years carsI I have sI spent in the American Amer Anier- lean ican league ague I have s ca any number number num nuni- ber bei oC of bits a of true sportsmanship that compare favorably with the tho very best college brand It seems to me very fitting that my final sport superlative should be dedicated to not riot a play game me menor nor individual but to this trait o of sportsmanship Of ot course it i Ig ill necessary ne that some particular person person t typify sportsmanship and I take great pleasure in handing the honor in inthis inthis inthis this Instance to Manager Bill Carrigan Carrigan Car Car- rigan of the Boston Restock ne Red fled Sox PLAY THAT TROUBLED It all happened some years ears ago when Bill BlU was winning pennants and worlds world's championships for Bost Boston Bos Bos- t ton ri instead a of occupying a cellar berth Some Sonic ten years ears back the tho double umpire system was in vogue In the American league It happened that my partner was ill III and I was workIng working working work- work Ing alone I was suffering at the time from an an injured knee otherwise otherwise other other- wise this episode o of which I 1 am about to white never would have happened S 5 My injured knee made it difficult for me to cover much ground With the bases empty I worked back off of f cat catcher her but with w-ith men on the bases I st stationed tIo ed myself behind d th the pitcher S S During the tile days clays s 's In which I umpired umpired- alone there w was s one play that always ays trou troubled led me mein fri in fact fac worried all umpires in In tho the days day when a lone official was In charge I have reference to hard liar hit ball balls down th or third base line linc From a position back of tho the pitcher it is physically Impossible to ge geover get over o on the play and judge with wit any degree of at accuracy balls hit over ove the bag S AGREED TO ASSIST With a bum knee I realized d th the risk 11 k was all the more more difficult I happened to comment on the tho facto fact fac to Bill CarrIgan who was was was' catching the game I If you care to havo me any any tim time you ou arc in doubt I I will ill call them for or you said Bill Knowing Bill Carrigan ris as I did didI I knew he would call them as h he saw saw- sa call cm ern right I told him If I was as in doubt I wouldn't mak maka leo leoa a ruling Until unlit I glanced In his direction direction dl di- di and got the sign If II the balwas ball bal was fair fall he was was' to raise his right hand Boston won the pennant that tha year In those days Detroit was s. a strong rival Late in the game the eighth Inning g with Boston leading 2 1 Detroit had runners on second and third and two o out l. l A base hi hlf would p put t the Tigers In the lead DECIDED AGAINST HIMSELF rhe The Detroit batsman batman Jilt a ball bal down the he line which j I believed was just foul and and Intended to so o call it I IThen Then I remembered my agreement with Carrigan I glanced toward the home plate There he was was his arm in the air all indicating the ball was fair The hit scored two runs just enough to win the game A As I called it fair fall the Boston third sacker rushed at me to protest I simply said I had to to tomake make a long distance S guess Ask Bill Carrigan an he lie knows whether it is fair Ir or foul The I player did and Carrigon n yelled back his answer The ball was fair That one game might have cost Boston a championship I know of no incident that bettor better typifies the sports sportsmanship of professional base base- ball bail I would have you yot ou know it isn't the exceptional either I I Editors Editor's note This i is the last of the special series by Billy Evans Evan's dealing with his career as as' as an ump um um- p pire ire |