The Men in Blue

Conversations with Umpires

By: Larry R. Gerlach

Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin

Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

The philosopher Jacques Barzun thought that "whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball". And whoever wants to know baseball had better learn about umpires. As Larry Gerlach points out in The Men in Blue, these arbiters transform competitive chaos into organized sport. They make it possible to "play ball", but nobody loves them.Considering the abuse meted out by fans and players, why would any sane person want to be an umpire? Many reasons emerge in conversations with a dozen former major-league arbiters. While nobody loves them, they love the game. Gerlach has elicited entertaining stories from these figures under fire - about their lonely travels, their dealings with umpire baiters, battles for unionization, breaking through the color line, and much more. From Beans Reardon, who came up to the National League in 1926, to Ed Sudol, who retired in 1977, here is a witty and telling portrait of baseball from the boisterous Golden Age to the Jet Age of Instant Replay.

©1980 Larry R. Gerlach (P)2014 Audible Inc.

A Classic Sports Book

I have been an Audible user for around 4 years, lately I have not been listening to a ton of audio books. This book was the perfect choice to get me listening again. This book has so much heart, I love what the umpires talk about and what was important to them at that time. I think this book is a snapshot of what an umpire's life was like and it gives you an appreciation of the job they do and the role they play in baseball. The narration is absolutely perfect, James Patrick Cronin does a great job capturing the feel of the words. If you like sports books and are worried about getting a tired run of the mill book that has no fire, worry not. This book is wonderful.

Autobiographies of the Most Hated Men In Baseball

Would you consider the audio edition of The Men in Blue to be better than the print version?

Yes. It's like you are sitting down with each of these men and listening to them recollect their times in the show.

What other book might you compare The Men in Blue to and why?

They Call Me God by Doug Harvey. Another story of an umpire and their life in the MLB.

Which character – as performed by James Patrick Cronin – was your favorite?

John "Beans" Reardon. He is the first umpire interviewed in the book and perhaps the most pictured umpire in history (as the home plate umpire in Norman Rockwell's famous painting.) His story is heartfelt as he tells of goods times from being a young umpire in the local sand lots to being the most respected umpire in baseball.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The stories shared by the umpires make you realize their humanity and their extreme skills in their jobs.

Any additional comments?

This is the autobiography of 12 different umpires from the 1920's through the 1970's. Through their stories you see the growth of the game of baseball and the country from the hard nosed dangerous days of fans throwing bottles on the field through integration of both the players ranks and the umpires.
This is not a book on how to be an umpire but each umpire gives their opinion on what makes a good umpire and you can't help but take their advice to heart if you are an umpire at any level. This is required reading for anyone who steps behind the mask, who watches the game of baseball or who loves to jeer at the men in blue.

Great

You will enjoy it if you love baseball. I loved the layout and history. I recommend.

A much deserved historical presentation

As a lifelong baseball fan, who has yelled at the umpires in the past, this book has offered me a new perspective and appreciation for these undervalued and unsung individuals. Officials in any sport have abuse hurled at them constantly, and the majority, willingly accept it. This book offers an inside look into how it affected their psyches without being analytical.

Larry Gerlach let the stories flow, and James Patrick Cronin did an impeccable job of sharing these men's voices.

I bought this book to listen with my nephew on a car trip. He loved it as much as I did. Bravo!

A 'Glory of Their Times' for umpires.

Great stories from baseball throughout the twentieth century. Captivating oral histories of a tough and colorful profession.

Mispronounced

Enjoyed book,if you're a big baseball fan you should like it.One problem that was annoying was the narrator mispronounced several names and a few words.

A tale stuck in time

Aside from the mispronunciations, the book’s subjects are entirely from formative professional baseball’s yesteryear. Nothing past the age of Ted Williams is told, and a wealth of the language stylings are outdated as well. Perhaps best suited for more veteran listeners and aficionados.