As They See em Weber, Bruce

In the bestselling tradition of George Plimpton''s "Paper Lion, As They See Em" gets down, dirty, and loud with professional baseball umpires--granting readers unprecedented access to the hidden game inside America''s favorite pastime.

From the Publisher:
A New York Times reporter describes the perspectives he gained into the game of baseball while attending umpire training school and umpiring games firsthand, in an insider fan's account that also draws on the experiences of dozens of professional umpires. 40,000 first printing.

Annotation:
There is one thing that fans of both the Yankees and Red Sox, or Giants and Dodgers, or Cubs and Cardinals can all agree on--the umpires stink. Human psychology dictates that the thousands of plays the umpires routinely get right instantly disappear from our collective memory as soon as the boys in blue make a mistake. In this amusing and intuitive report, New York Times reporter Bruce Weber finds out what the game looks like from the other side of the mask, and uncovers a shocking revelation about umpires--they are actually human. Weber talked with umpires from all levels of the sport, and found them to be intelligent, rational people with a great love for baseball and better-than-average eyesight. Then, Weber himself entered umpire school, which has some surprising similarities to military boot camp, and eventually pursued the destitute, nomadic life that umpires must endure in the minor leagues. Overall, this intelligent and entertaining book may actually cause true baseball fans to feel a tinge of sympathy for the most hated men in baseball, at least until the next questionable call.

Praise

"Out of [his] exhaustive research, and after strapping on the gear himself, Weber reveals how exceedingly demanding the profession can be...[in this] outstanding book that demands a place on any sports shelf." (starred review) - Alan Moores 02/15/2009

"[R]eading this....wonderfully detailed look at the craft of umpiring....has given me a new appreciation for the men in blue...[who have] encyclopedic knowledge of constantly evolving rules;...the ability to make snap decisions under pressure; the endurance to stand for three to five hours in all kinds of weather; the personality required to deal with endless criticism; and the presence necessary to command a game." - Jim Bouton 03/22/2009

"[AS THEY SEE 'EM is a ] vivid piece of reporting....[R]eaders may be glad to meet professionals who have the character to make tough calls and take responsibility." - Scott Simon 03/12/2009

"[I]n his hugely entertaining book,.... [Weber] makes you see baseball in a whole different way." - Allen Barra 04/02/2009

Product Attributes

Book Format:		Hardcover
Number of Pages:		0341
Publisher:		Scribner Book Company

BloomReach Content

As They See 'em a Fan's Travels in the Land of Umpires (Hardcover)

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