Schott Fails to Make Peace With Umps

Cincinnati Red owner Marge Schott went on the field at Riverfront Stadium on Sunday just as a game was about to begin to apologize to the umpires for her comments about John McSherry’s collapse on opening day.

Schott walked up to home plate umpire Larry Vanover a couple minutes before the start of the second game of a doubleheader against Houston, took his wrist and started talking. She spoke to him for about a minute, took a few steps toward first base, then turned and left the field.

“Larry Vanover told us she came out and she wanted to apologize to the umpires,” crew chief Harry Wendelstedt said. “She said she blamed the media. She said the media stirs all this stuff up.”

Schott’s on-field appearance didn’t delay the game, but left the umpires mystified.

“It’s a very poor place to try to make an apology, when the guy is warming up and ready to throw the first pitch,” Wendelstedt said.

On opening day, the game was postponed when McSherry--the home plate umpire--collapsed on the field and died less than an hour later of heart failure. Schott later told The Cincinnati Enquirer: “I feel cheated.”

Schott asked Vanover to apologize to the other umpires, Wendelstedt said.

“She said, ‘Will you tell them?’ He said, ‘No, I think you need to tell the umpires. You need to make an apology to the umpires’ association,’ ” Wendelstedt said.

At that, Schott started toward Wendelstedt, who was stationed at first base. Wendelstedt backed away, then turned and started walking toward the outfield. Schott gave up and left the field.

When a reporter noted that Wendelstedt backed away, he said, “I didn’t come down with the last rainfall.”