NASO: TimelessTips

A recent auction of the book referenced below went for $200, so this is good stuff for umpires.

from NASO.org
NASO > What We Do > Newsroom > NASONewsWatch > 7TimelessTips:

"During the first years of his career, in the days of Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb and Nap Lajoie, Evans formed his ideas of what made a good umpire: "Good eyes, plenty of courage - mental and physical - a thorough knowledge of the playing rules, more than average portions of fair play, common sense and diplomacy, an entire lack of vindictiveness, plenty of confidence in your ability."

Umpiring From the Inside may be dated in places, but the years have not tarnished the overall goal of the book. The book was, as Evans wrote, "conceived for all umpires in the hope that it will make for better officiating and more efficient umpires." It contains strong, universal mechanical advice such as:

" Call all plays at a dead stop, not on the run.

" Call obstruction and interference plays firmly to tone down the inevitable argument.

" Don't call plays too quickly and never anticipate a play (call)."


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Billy Evans 1947 "Umpiring from the Inside":

http://sports.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=47051&lotIdNo=28012

Billy Evans 1947 "Umpiring from the Inside" Signed Hardcover Book. For 22 years, Billy Evans was perhaps the most well-respected umpire in all of the American League, boosting his morale with a true "tough but fair" philosophy. The Hall of Fame ump wrote what he called his "thesis on umpiring" in 1947, a book entitled Umpiring from the Inside. Here we offer a VG example of a hardcover first edition of the book, with some underlinings scattered throughout the book and various press clippings pertaining to Evans pasted inside the covers. Photographic dust jacket has suffered a good amount of damage, with tears throughout. A truly tough perfect 10 signature resides just inside the front cover, making this a great find with a tough Hall of Fame signature. LOA from PSA/DNA.

These seven brief statements culled from Evans' book are easily remembered, full of wisdom, easily applicable to any official and stand the test of time.

1. You can't be too thorough a student of the playing rules. Ready and accurate knowledge of the rules helps run the game. As true today as it ever was, thorough rules knowledge is the first step toward confidence on the field or court.

2. Never take your eye off the ball. According to Evans, you will stay out of trouble if you know where the ball is. That advice came from a man who worked the first part of his career as the lone umpire at the game.

3. Never flaunt your authority. Ever the diplomat, Evans maintained a smile is better than a scowl, and because no umpire is infallible, you should always listen to reason on the part of manager and player alike.

4. Always work on the theory that the fans came out to see the players perform.Evans would say to Cobb and Ruth and other superstars whose behavior was pushing for ejection, "Look at the stands, these people paid to see you play, not to see me umpire." Sobering advice for those tempted to showboat.

5. Never look for trouble. How many times have umpires heard that? Evans, who in a moment of weakness once lost a fistfight to Cobb after a game under the stands, understood that concept. The Hall of Fame umpire said trouble is always around the corner and, "There is enough trouble for the umpire in baseball without looking for it." A corollary to this point is Evans' insistence that each game is a new game and vindictiveness and baseball do not mix.

6. Treat players with the same consideration that you expect from them. Evans stressed diplomacy and told colleagues to never use language toward a player that you would not tolerate being used against you.

7. Hustle every minute you are on the ballfield. Evans believed hustle would cover many mistakes and keep an umpire out of trouble. Again, wisdom of the ages with modern day meaning.

Perhaps the best tribute to Evans' work came from White Sox manager and frequent adversary Fielder Jones, who commented on Evans' ability, "We always liked to meet up with Evans on the road and know he was to umpire."

Umpiring From the Inside is out of print. Some booksellers have used copies available and a few university libraries keep the classic in their collections. It is worth the effort to read it from cover to cover, take its content to heart and receive advice from a fine old time umpire.

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