Stories from the Strike Zone

We’ve villainzed umpires for their imperfect calls and theatrical outcries, but a new book, Bruce Weber’s As They See Them, shows us what life is really like behind the caged mask. The New York Times calls the book a “vivid piece of reporting,” as Weber, who was once the Times’ theatre critic, went to umpire school to research and presided over a few minor league practices. And While Weber is "too wise to turn what he learned about umpiring into a set of lessons for life," readers will enjoy getting to know some of the masterminds of the game.