CHAPTER XV
THE BEWILDERED UMPIRE
But whatever the umpire’s name might have been, he only resembled Solomon in one respect. He was inclined to compromise and cut the play in two, giving one part to the major leaguers and the other to the Oakland team.
He was not to blame for being bewildered, for the baseball magnates who had framed the rules had never contemplated the special case of a player catching the ball in his pocket.
Between the opposing claims he pulled out his book and scanned it carefully but with no result.
“It’s easy enough,” rasped McRae. “He tried to catch a ball and muffed it. It goes for a hit and Curry scores.”
“Not on your life,” barked Everett, the manager of the Oakland team. “He got the ball and it never touched the ground.”
“Got it,” sneered McRae. “This is baseball, not pool. He can’t pocket the ball.” 129
There was a laugh at this, and Mackay, the third baseman, looked a little sheepish. The baited umpire suggested that the whole play be called off and that Curry go back to third while Larry resumed his place at the bat.
Larry set up a howl at this, as he saw his perfectly good three-baser go glimmering.