NY Times
BOSTON - Wednesday - August 18, 1920. The explanation by Carl Mays of the New York Yankees that the killing of Ray Chapman, star shortstop of the Cleveland Indians, was due to a rough spot on the ball which caused it to take an unexpected twist, was the subject of a statement today by umpires William Evans and William Dinneen of the American League.
"No pitcher in the American League resorted to trickery more than Carl Mays in attempting to rough a ball in order to get a break on it which would make it more difficult to hit," the statement said. "Until the new pitching rules came into force which put a severe penalty on a pitcher roughening the ball, Mays constantly used to drag the ball across the pitching rubber in order to roughen the surface. Hundreds of balls were thrown out every year because of this act."
The umpires took notice of a remark attributed to Mays that umpire Thomas Connolly, who was behind the plate, was responsible for the accident because he permitted a rough ball to stay in the game. The umpires characterized this alleged statement as an alibi that came with poor grace from the pitcher.
"A short time ago," they added, "the club owners complained to [American League] President Ban Johnson that too many balls were being thrown out. President Johnson sent out a bulletin telling the umpires to keep the balls in the games as much as possible, except those which were dangerous."
The players of the Boston and Detroit clubs who were at the point yesterday of signing a petition to have Mays banned from the game, today awaited word from manager Tris Speaker of the Cleveland Indians as to his opinion of the pitch which killed Chapman and his views on their proposed action. Several asserted that regardless of any general action, they would not go to bat against Mays again. The remarks attributed to umpires Evans and Dinneen apparently were the result of a mistaken impression concerning a statement which Mays did not make. Like all other attacks on the pitcher, this one comes from persons far from the scene of the tragedy. As far as is known, Mays has not attempted to put any blame on umpire Connolly or anybody else for the unfortunate accident which resulted in the death of Chapman. Most of the harsh words against the New York pitcher to date have been uttered from Boston. The Cleveland players, who witnessed the accident, have yet to show any feeling against the pitcher, and manager Tris Speaker has told the owners of the Yankees that he will discourage any such feelings if they should arise. Meanwhile the attacks on Mays continue and the player, already prostrated by the accident, is being made to suffer more.
