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 Rh play, to 'pitch for the umpire' in a match, as well as against the batsman; and by this nothing is meant in the way of making that important official the pitcher's adversary; but, on the contrary, to work on him in such a manner as to gain his good will to the extent of inducing him to decide in favor of the pitcher rather than the batsman when there is a doubt in the matter of rendering a decision on called balls and on strikes.

"For instance, when the pitcher sees that the umpire is more concerned about avoiding being hit by the ball, than about the accuracy of his rulings in calling 'balls' and 'strikes,' he should avoid, as much as possible, sending in balls which are neither directly over the base nor yet so clearly not over as to leave a doubt as to the line of their delivery; because under such circumstances all such doubtful balls are apt to be more frequently called against the pitcher than in his favor. Nervy and plucky umpires, who can cooly use their keenest judgment when facing the hot fire of a swift delivery, are sadly in the minority; and when a pitcher finds himself in the hands of an official who is apt to be disconcerted at times, he must suit his pitching to the exigencies of the case, and, to a certain extent, pitch for the umpire, and not so as to annoy or intimidate him. Moreover, it is the height of folly on the part of a pitcher to work against the umpire by repeated appeals for judgment on strikes, as it is simply a tacit questioning either of his judgment or his impartiality. The pitcher should, by word as well as action, give the umpire to understand that he has implicit faith in his impartiality, and relies fully on the soundness of his judgment; and if he can make just such a favorable impression on the umpire as this apparent faith in his ability leads to, the calling of balls will not be as frequent as called strikes. A pitcher who, by word or action, incurs the prejudice of an umpire in a match, is simply working against his own interests. To play points against the umpire is simply to outwit his judgment, and to avoid giving him any cause for irritation or ill will." This point of play in pitching is worthy the earnest attention of every pitcher who desires to excel in 1894.

The record showing the leading quartette of pitchers of each of the twelve League clubs, who pitched in not less than ten games during the championship season of 1893, together with the aggregate of percentage of victories of each quartette, is as follows: