What is the role of the umpire?

ll modern baseball has its origins, at least in part, in the Constitution of the New York Knickerbocker Baseball Club and its 1845 rules drawn up by club member Alexander Joy Cartwright. At that time the umpire was a revered and respected participant in the "field exercise" of "base ball," with the power to fine members for breaches of their club charter and to collect the fines on behalf of the club before the participants decamped. His chief function was to make all decisions on the plays during "field exercise."

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