Quote by Christy Mathewson
Many baseball fans look upon an umpire as a sort of necessary evil to the luxury of baseball, like the odor that follows an automobile.
Summary
This quote suggests that while baseball fans may not necessarily appreciate umpires, they recognize their importance to the game. Comparing them to an unpleasant odor following a vehicle implies that umpires are an unavoidable aspect of baseball that fans may find bothersome or irritating. Despite any complaints, fans understand that umpires are necessary for the smooth functioning of the game, even if they might not always agree with their decisions.