Everything happens in Chillicothe.......

[martyjmprescott]

Everything happens in Chillicothe: A summer in the Frontier league with Max McLeary, the one-eyed umpire. By Mike Shannon

An interesting book about this one eyed umpire in small town USA. Umpiring for hardly any money, travelling, and scoring a few beers after the game before driving a couple of hours home. The story doesn't dwell on Max' one eye but does have some funny stories about his eye. Interesting to me in that I got a look into the lowest level of minor league ball as an umpire and as a player trying to just stick to a team. Years ago when we were young a lot of decisions were made that we have to live with today. The players in the book are all at this point in their lives. Brought me back a few years. Writer is a big baseball fan which helps but he is a wordy guy. Could have shortened the book a little and still came away with a good story.

[jnazz]

I'm 4 chapters in. Not a bad read, but you're right -- he is a little wordy. And I wonder if Max was alright with all the references to drinking and driving??

[Majordave]

Just finished this one in my odyssey of umpire book reading during my self-imposed exile in Afghanistan. I really like it. I think I would like working with a guy like Max. He does some things I would never do but then again, he is who he is and is or has worked at that level for a lot longer than me. As a former coach I would have like him working my games. He seems to be in it for pure love of the game.

All that being said, I found this book to be more of a baseball book than an umpire book. There are plenty of stories and chapters where the umpire/umpires are barely discussed. It was still a good book.

I lived in the Central Kentucky area a bit south of where Max lives for almost all of my life and until 2009 I had never heard of the Frontier League or if I had it didn't register that it was professional baseball. I did work a game at Bosse Field in Evansville, Indiana and saw the Evansville Otters information at the stadium but it still didn't register that it was a pro team playing there. My loss. I admit that I am really into amateur and collegiate baseball much more than professional. I absolutely would not put up with the commentary and "lip" the pro players and coaches seem to believe they have a license to spew at professional baseball umpires.

I do recommend the book. It was a very enjoyable read.

My two cents..........