Darkside Umpire

I just got done listening to "Ruling Over Monarchs, Giants, and Stars" and I must say that it is a great book for anyone interested in the umpire experience in the Negro Leagues. It is a very colorful book (meaning with stories and with language) and goes extremely fast. Bob Motley claims to be the last living Negro League umpire, as can be seen on his facebook page. While the book has a lot of the same qualities as Doug Harvey's "I am the Greatest Umpire Ever" story, his braggadocio is tempered by a history of people trying to keep him down but his pride not allowing that to happen. I got it on Audible but it is also available in print elsewhere. Highly recommended.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Men-Blue-Conversations-Umpires/dp/0803270453/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1426342143&sr=8-1 It's available from Amazon in paperback with Prime shipping for $21.76. There are also penny versions, probably old library editions. When I bought the paperback version, it came complete with a note saying, "Bean Reardon is my hero." I tend to agree. Can't go wrong with basically just paying shipping to get this great book.

I have listened to this book 6 times on audiobook thus far and it is one of the best reads I have ever had on the art of umpiring. Yes, Penny Barber is quoted in the back of the book as this being a life-changing book in the afterwords. I can't help picking up umpiring tips from these gentlemen who aren't looking on making a manual on how to be a good umpire but share how they worked the game. The book is on audible if you don't have time to read it but can listen to it on those long commutes to games out in the boonies.

Greetings I am a volunteer Little League umpire and love it. This is my 8th season umpiring. I love the interaction I have with the kids, the coaches and other umpires and live to train umpires on how to do the job better. I also have a dry sense of humor which I look at situations that occur on the field and take them to their illogical conclusion. I umpire in Southern California so the weather is always great for a game. I have tried my hand at travel ball but I didn't really care for it and decided that Little League is the place for me. I am always striving to be a better umpire, looking for ways to become better each game. I usually pick one area to work on extensively from year to year. In past years, I have worked on plate mechanics, crisper basic 6 mechanics, and strike zone. This year, I have decided that I will be working on my footwork to make it more fluid and look less like I'm trying to catch up to something. I do have a twitter account that I use during the baseball season, especially during the Little League World Series and the MLB playoffs, to make ludicrous statements that I really don't believe but think would be funny or poignant when the situation deems the statement needs to be made. I don't like making kids cry; I don't like ejecting coaches; I don't like belittling parents. My Evil Umpire persona loves these things though. I look forward to being part of the community and learning whatever I can to do the game I love justice.