The history of baseball umpires
Larry R. Gerlach sets out to tell the story of the often-obscure figure of baseball umpire Bob Emslie. Today, Major League Baseball provides umpires with formal training and protection from unruly fans, players and managers. But as Gerlach points out, that wasn’t always the case. In fact, there was a time we didn’t have four umpires assigned to a game.
Gerlach provides fascinating research on the evolution of baseball umpires through Bob Emslie’s captivating career in baseball. Did you know they first started calling strikes in 1858, and balls in 1863? The author takes us back to the early days of organized baseball, where the selection process for umpires was strikingly different.
Emslie seemed destined to becoming a star pitcher in his playing days, but reoccurring arm injuries ended his budding hopes prematurely. Gerlach tracks his path in becoming a well-respected man in blue. In the process, Emslie would deal with volatile managers such as Cap Anson and John McGraw. Additionally, umpires faced brutal critics in the newspapers, dirty play, and being attacked by fired up fans.
Gerlach eloquently describes Emslie’s passion for baseball, which helped him survive the turbulent 1890s. Emslie umpired an astonishing 4,231 games over 35 Major League seasons. He spent 56 years in the game he loved but has been overlooked by Baseball’s Hall of Fame. If you enjoy the history of the game, this is a book you will enjoy.
By: Larry R. Gerlach
Narrated by: Marlin May
Length: 14 hrs and 46 mins
Release date: 08-06-24
