Early 1900's Mechanics Resources

[humanbackstop19]

I was wondering if anyone had a link or leads to resources on umpire mechanics from the early 1900's, more specific late teens, early 20's.  I have the opportunity of a lifetime to work the first ever collegiate game played on the Field of Dreams movie site and my partners and I are going for a time-accurate look, both in style and the way we call the game.  Any video links or literature would be helpful.  Thanks all!

[834k3r]

[LRZ]

If anyone would, it's Senor Azul. Send him a message.

[Lou B]

Do a YouTube search of baseball games from 1920s, there are many.  Some of Babe Ruth show him at the plate and you can see how the umpire was dressed and how/where he stood and his plate mechanics.

[BrainFreeze]

And let us know what you find, and how it went!!!

17 hours ago, Lou B said:

Do a YouTube search of baseball games from 1920s, there are many.  Some of Babe Ruth show him at the plate and you can see how the umpire was dressed and how/where he stood and his plate mechanics.

 

[mw94]

https://www.loc.gov/resource/ggbain.20096/   

 

This might help

[SeeingEyeDog]

Umpire mechanics? From the early 1900's? So...you will be working the game by yourself then?

[...shows himself out]

~Dawg

P.S. Seriously, congratulations! Please take pics and post your experience here!

[LMSANS]

[Senor Azul]

Mr. humanbackstop19, here are some random bits of information from the book The SABR Book on Umpires and Umpiring. I hope they will be of help to you.

“…Before the first public-address system arrived at the Polo Grounds in 1929, umpires would announce lineups or changes in lineups by using a megaphone.”

“By 1908, many observers believed it was time for a change and Johnson (American League president) declared that two umpires would officiate games in 1909 and thereafter. The National League finally adopted two umpires in 1912.”

“While umpires had developed fundamental techniques, professionalization and standardization came with the establishment of formal umpire training schools.”

“This began to change, however incrementally, in 1935 when the first umpire school was opened by George Barr, a National League umpire…Mandatory attendance at an umpire school was still many years off, and in fact, when Bill McKinley, joined the ranks of major-league umpires in 1946, it was the first time an umpire-school trainee had reached the major leagues.”

Also you can check out the 1909 Spalding Base Ball Guide (it is available online)—there is an article found on its page 351 titled Semaphore Signals by the Umpires with accompanying photos of how umpires signal ball/strike and safe/out. Another book, if you can find it, may be helpful because it was one of the first books detailing the development of umpires—written in 1947 by James M. Kahn titled The Umpire Story.

[LC Ump]

How to umpire : Evans, William George, 1884- [from old catalog] : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Found this and thought it might be of help. Even has some diagrams showing the positioning of the base umpire in a 2-man system.

[beerguy55]

Don't forget the rocking chair

[Jay R.]

A bit earlier than you were looking, but "Haney's Base Ball Book" from 1867 includes rules and instructions to the umpires. 
This edition is from 2004 and reasonably priced: https://www.amazon.com/Haneys-Reference-Henry-Chadwick-2004-10-01/dp/B01FIWYYO2

[SJA]

See if anyone can find the history of what was the sometimes-known nickname as the "Chico Strike" mechanic. . . in the early '30s > '40s have fun! 🙂 

[humanbackstop19]

On 8/14/2022 at 6:25 PM, Senor Azul said:

Mr. humanbackstop19, here are some random bits of information from the book The SABR Book on Umpires and Umpiring. I hope they will be of help to you.

“…Before the first public-address system arrived at the Polo Grounds in 1929, umpires would announce lineups or changes in lineups by using a megaphone.”

“By 1908, many observers believed it was time for a change and Johnson (American League president) declared that two umpires would officiate games in 1909 and thereafter. The National League finally adopted two umpires in 1912.”

“While umpires had developed fundamental techniques, professionalization and standardization came with the establishment of formal umpire training schools.”

“This began to change, however incrementally, in 1935 when the first umpire school was opened by George Barr, a National League umpire…Mandatory attendance at an umpire school was still many years off, and in fact, when Bill McKinley, joined the ranks of major-league umpires in 1946, it was the first time an umpire-school trainee had reached the major leagues.”

Also you can check out the 1909 Spalding Base Ball Guide (it is available online)—there is an article found on its page 351 titled Semaphore Signals by the Umpires with accompanying photos of how umpires signal ball/strike and safe/out. Another book, if you can find it, may be helpful because it was one of the first books detailing the development of umpires—written in 1947 by James M. Kahn titled The Umpire Story.

Great stuff right here!  Much appreciation to all input from everyone!

[humanbackstop19]

On 8/12/2022 at 8:24 PM, mw94 said:

https://www.loc.gov/resource/ggbain.20096/   

 

This might help

We have the hats!  Might simplify the rest of the look.  Depends on the weather.

[humanbackstop19]

On 8/12/2022 at 10:52 PM, SeeingEyeDog said:

Umpire mechanics? From the early 1900's? So...you will be working the game by yourself then?

[...shows himself out]

~Dawg

P.S. Seriously, congratulations! Please take pics and post your experience here!

Pics just posted in the Photography section.   Here is a teaser though.  It is my favorite.....

[BLWizzRanger]

Did you use early 20th Century equipment like the Wilson too?

Ok, that one was for MadMax.... Its almost beer time....

[SeeingEyeDog]

@humanbackstop19, wow...thank you so much for sharing that image! You are absolutely classing up an already abundantly classy joint. Many happy returns to you, sir.

~Dawg