{{short description|1948 painting by Norman Rockwell}} {{Infobox artwork | title = Tough Call<br><small>(Game Called Because of Rain)</small> | image_file = Norman_Rockwell_-_Tough_Call.jpg | artist = Norman Rockwell | year = 1948 | medium = Oil on canvas | height_imperial = 43 | width_imperial = 41 | height_metric = 109 | width_metric = 104 | museum = National Baseball Hall of Fame }} '''''Tough Call''''' – also known as '''''Game Called Because of Rain''''', '''''Bottom of the Sixth''''', or '''''The Three Umpires''''' – is a 1948 painting by American artist Norman Rockwell, painted for the April 23, 1949, cover of ''The Saturday Evening Post'' magazine.<ref name=center>{{cite web |url=https://www.rockwell-center.org/essays-illustration/game-called-because-of-rain/ |title=Game Called Because of Rain |first=Corry |last=Kazenberg |website=Rockwell Center |date=August 13, 2009 |accessdate=May 9, 2017}}</ref> The original painting is in the collection of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com/norman-rockwell-baseball-memories/ |title=Edgerton shares Norman Rockwell baseball memories |first=Paul |last=Post |website=Sports Collectors Digest |date=October 12, 2016 |accessdate=May 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10890174/rockwell_painting_hof/ |title=All in the POST STRIDE |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=June 8, 1949 |accessdate=May 10, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> It is considered the best known of Rockwell's baseball-themed works,<ref name=gerlach/> and appears in at least ten Rockwell commentary books.<ref name=best>{{cite web |url=http://www.best-norman-rockwell-art.com/norman-rockwell-saturday-evening-post-cover-1949-04-23-game-called-because-of-rain-three-umpires.html |title=''Game Called Because of Rain'' or ''Three Umpires'' by Norman Rockwell |website=Best Norman Rockwell Art |accessdate=May 11, 2017}}</ref>
The painting is set at a ballpark, where a group of three baseball umpires is looking skyward, as rain is starting to fall. Behind them is a scoreboard showing the game to be in the bottom of the 6th inning, with the Pittsburgh Pirates leading the Brooklyn Dodgers by a score of 1–0. Also shown is a Brooklyn coach or manager in conversation with his Pittsburgh counterpart.
==Creation== During the {{mlby|1948}} season, Rockwell visited Ebbets Field, home ballpark of the Dodgers, with a photographer. The photographer took pictures of the umpires, some players, and the ballpark, which Rockwell used for reference in painting a ''Post'' cover image that he completed in California that winter. While in California, Rockwell also visited Ralph Kiner, to view his Pirates uniform for additional reference.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10932109/kinerisms_liven_dull_moments/ |title=Kiner-isms liven dull moments |first=Stan |last=Isaacs |author-link=Stan Isaacs |newspaper=Asbury Park Press |location=Asbury Park, New Jersey |date=June 29, 1985 |accessdate=May 11, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
Two reference photographs<ref name=p928>{{cite web |url=http://collection.nrm.org/search.do?id=546928&db=object&view=full |title=Reference photo for Game Called Because of Rain (35890) |website=Norman Rockwell Museum |date=1948 |accessdate=May 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name=p912>{{cite web |url=http://collection.nrm.org/search.do?id=546912&db=object&view=full |title=Reference photo for Game Called Because of Rain (35889) |website=Norman Rockwell Museum |date=1948 |accessdate=May 9, 2017}}</ref> feature a lineup that the Dodgers used only on September 13, against the Chicago Cubs:<ref name=913box>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1948/B09130BRO1948.htm |title=Brooklyn Dodgers 6, Chicago Cubs 4 |date=September 13, 1948 |website=Retrosheet |accessdate=May 9, 2017}}</ref> {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left" ! scope="col"| No. ! scope="col"| Pos. ! scope="col"| Player |- | 35 || LF || Marv Rackley |- | 42 || 2B || Jackie Robinson |- | 1 || SS || Pee Wee Reese |- | 7 || 3B || Pete Reiser |- | 6 || CF || Carl Furillo |- | 10 || C || Bruce Edwards |- | 14 || 1B || Gil Hodges |- | 22 || RF || Gene Hermanski |- | 26 || P || Rex Barney |}
Reiser, normally an outfielder, played only four games at third base during the season,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1948/Ireisp1010061948.htm |title=The 1948 BRO N Regular Season Batting Log for Pete Reiser |website=Retrosheet |accessdate=May 9, 2017}}</ref> and only on September 13 was Barney also the pitcher.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1948/Ibarnr1030041948.htm |title=The 1948 BRO N Regular Season Batting Log for Rex Barney |website=Retrosheet |accessdate=May 9, 2017}}</ref> Other reference photographs show the three umpires who worked a doubleheader between the Dodgers and Pirates on September 14.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1948/B09141BRO1948.htm |title=Brooklyn Dodgers 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 5 (1) |date=September 14, 1948 |website=Retrosheet |accessdate=May 9, 2017}}</ref> The scoreboard also lists an upcoming Wednesday doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, which was played on September 15.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1948/VBRO01948.htm |title=The 1948 Brooklyn Dodgers Regular Season Game Log |website=Retrosheet |accessdate=May 9, 2017}}</ref>
The above are all consistent with the reference photographs being taken on September 14,<ref name=helgeland>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10890031/rockwell_painting/ |title=Kernels from the Field of Sports |first=Les |last=Helgeland |newspaper=The Daily Republic |location=Mitchell, South Dakota |date=April 21, 1949 |accessdate=May 10, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> before the first game of the Pirates doubleheader, with the scoreboard still displaying the Dodgers' lineup from their prior game against the Cubs.
An early version of the painting was found in 2017,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidseideman/2017/08/16/family-discovers-norman-rockwell-baseball-print-is-an-original-painting-worth-up-to-1-million/#445014193712|title=Newly Discovered Version Of Norman Rockwell's 'Tough Call' Up To $360K In Auction|last=Seideman|first=David|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-05-07|language=en}}</ref> and was sold for $1.68 million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.liveauctioneers.com/news/auctions/auction-results/heritage-sells-rockwell-study-record-1-68m/|title=Heritage sells Rockwell study for 'Tough Call' for $1.68M|date=2017-08-22|work=Live Auctioneers {{!}} Auction Central News|access-date=2018-05-07|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Composition== The painting features five people, standing from left to right, who each posed for reference photographs;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10914925/meyer_in_bottom_of_the_sixth/ |title=Sidelights on Sports |first=Al |last=Abrams |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=April 18, 1949 |accessdate=May 11, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> * base umpire Larry Goetz<ref>{{cite web |url=http://collection.nrm.org/search.do?id=546961&db=object&view=full |title=Reference photo for Game Called Because of Rain (35893) |website=Norman Rockwell Museum |date=1948 |accessdate=May 10, 2017}}</ref> * home plate umpire Beans Reardon, holding his outside chest protector<ref>{{cite web |url=http://collection.nrm.org/search.do?id=547047&db=object&view=full |title=Reference photo for Game Called Because of Rain (35883) |website=Norman Rockwell Museum |date=1948 |accessdate=May 10, 2017}}</ref> * base umpire Lou Jorda<ref>{{cite web |url=http://collection.nrm.org/search.do?id=547038&db=object&view=full |title=Reference photo for Game Called Because of Rain (35882) |website=Norman Rockwell Museum |date=1948 |accessdate=May 10, 2017}}</ref> * Brooklyn coach Clyde Sukeforth, holding his hat and largely obscured by the umpires<ref>{{cite web |url=http://collection.nrm.org/search.do?id=546971&db=object&view=full |title=Reference photo for Game Called Because of Rain (35894) |website=Norman Rockwell Museum |date=1948 |accessdate=May 10, 2017}}</ref> * Pittsburgh manager Billy Meyer<ref>{{cite web |url=http://collection.nrm.org/search.do?id=546905&db=object&view=full |title=Reference photo for Game Called Because of Rain (35888) |website=Norman Rockwell Museum |date=1948 |accessdate=May 10, 2017}}</ref>
Three Pittsburgh fielders are visible in the distance. While lacking reference photographs, they are identified, standing from left to right, as;<ref name=gerlach>{{cite journal |first=Larry R. |last=Gerlach |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |date=June 13, 2014 |title=Norman Rockwell and Baseball: Images of the National Pastime |url=https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/university-of-nebraska-press/norman-rockwell-and-baseball-images-of-the-national-pastime-9CYZXeCJ5p |url-access=limited |journal=NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=41–63 |doi=10.1353/nin.2014.0036 |s2cid=152523725 |issn=1534-1844 |access-date=May 11, 2017}}</ref> * second baseman Danny Murtaugh, with arms akimbo * center fielder Johnny Hopp * right fielder Dixie Walker
On the scoreboard, part of the Brooklyn batting order can be seen, and number 20 is listed as being at bat, while the line score shows just a single run in the game, scored by Pittsburgh in the top of the 2nd inning.
Not all details of the painting match actual game events of September 14, such as; * Pittsburgh did not have a 1–0 lead in either game of the doubleheader * Johnny Hopp played first base in both games * no Brooklyn player wearing number 20 played that day
==Reception== The cover image was well received by the public.<ref name=center/> It has been the subject of confusion, however, and it caused some controversy between Rockwell and the ''Post''.
The source of confusion is the depiction of Sukeforth and Meyer, and the score, which has Pittsburgh leading. If the game is ended by the umpires due to rain, Pittsburgh will win, given that they have the lead with five innings already completed. If so, why does Sukeforth (Brooklyn coach) look happy, while Meyer (Pittsburgh manager) appears unhappy?<ref name=center/><ref name=gerlach/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10892025/rockwell_bottom_of_the_sixth/ |title=Kids, don't try this at home |first=Stan |last=Hochman |newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News |date=May 10, 1991 |accessdate=May 11, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The ''Post'' provided an explanation for their readers; :In the picture, Clyde Sukeforth, a Brooklyn coach, could well be saying, 'You may be all wet, but it ain't raining a drop!' The huddled Pittsburgher—Bill Meyer, Pirate manager—is doubtless retorting, 'For the love of Abner Doubleday, how can we play ball in this cloudburst?'<ref name=center/> thumb|right|bottom|1982 postage stamp Other explanations are also possible; since the manually operated scoreboard at Ebbets Field was only updated after each team had batted, it's possible that Brooklyn is actually leading (due to scoring two or more runs in the bottom of the 6th inning), yet the score hasn't been updated yet.<ref name=gerlach/> Ultimately, the painting is open to interpretation as "a fictional creation intended to do nothing other than elicit emotions of the moment, leaving the viewer to extrapolate various scenarios."<ref name=gerlach/>
The source of controversy was changes the ''Post'' made to the image, without Rockwell's consent.<ref name=center/><ref name=gerlach/><ref name=best/> The ''Post'' used an artist to adjust illustrations prior to publication; for example, to remove brand names. That artist adjusted Rockwell's original image to lighten the sky, and also darken the Pirates' uniforms. This upset Rockwell, who complained that the ''Post'' "had the piece of sky added when I still feel it was better as I conceived and painted it"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://collection.nrm.org/search.do?id=564091&db=object&view=full |title=Curtis Publishing Co 1949: Saturday Evening Post correspondence |website=Norman Rockwell Museum |accessdate=May 11, 2017}}</ref> in a letter to their art editor. After a total of four Rockwell paintings were adjusted by the ''Post'' in 1948 and 1949, Rockwell's objections resulted in the ''Post'' changing its policy.
==In popular culture== The painting has been widely reproduced on numerous souvenir items,<ref name=gerlach/> and was featured on a postage stamp issued by the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1982.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10931635/three_umpires_stamp/ |title=Tributes to baseball from the world over |first=Dominic |last=Sama |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 23, 1986 |accessdate=May 11, 2017 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> In 2008, the image was shown on the television series ''The Bronx Is Burning'', allegedly without permission, which resulted in a lawsuit against ESPN.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10931727/three_umpires_lawsuit/ |title=Company sues ESPN over use of Norman Rockwell illustration |newspaper=The Des Moines Register |date=May 4, 2008 |accessdate=May 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://theartlawblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/caught-stealing.html |title=Caught stealing? |first=Donn |last=Zaretsky |website=The Art Law Blog |date=May 5, 2008 |accessdate=May 11, 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://collection.nrm.org/#view=list&id=7c2b&modules=ecatalogue&TitMainTitle=game%20called Reference photos for ''Game Called Because of Rain''] via Norman Rockwell Museum
{{Norman Rockwell}}
Category:1948 paintings Category:Baseball in art Category:Paintings by Norman Rockwell Category:Sports paintings Category:Works originally published in The Saturday Evening Post Category:Oil paintings on canvas