This figure is a familiar sight in almost any ball park whenever the great game of baseball is being played.

It is not hard to make except, perhaps, around the faces. Watch the photos and work slowly, especially around the hands of the ballplayer, where most of the grain is short and might break unless your knife is sharp and pointed. Make V cuts for fingers, bracing the back while cutting. Notice how the hands are overlapped on the umpire.

Use two blocks of wood-the umpire block, 1 3/4 inches thick, 2 inches wide, and 4 inches high; the ballplayer, 1 3/4 inches thick, 1 3/4 inches wide, and 4 1/4 inches high. Figure 160.

On the ballplayer, begin carving at the shoulders and arms, Figure 161. Cut out between the legs with a saw and rough-carve the legs and trousers. Move to the back of the figure and whittle out the arms - shirt sleeves slightly indented. Figure 162.

Figure 160

The side view of the ballplayer shows that the figure is curved forward.

The width through the head from ear to ear is 3/4 inch. Do not attempt detailed facial carving. Carve the open mouth and try to make the hands expressive. (See back view, Figure 163, for umpire's arms.)

When carving the umpire, begin at the padded protector, Figure 164, and then move back to the arms around the body. Figure 165. Keep the body and legs full to indicate plumpness.

Figure 161

Figure 162

Figure 163

Figure 164

Figure 165

Figure 166

Observe Figure 165 for shoulder straps which hold up the protector. Give the face a jutting jaw. Finish as on the color chart, Figure 166.