Officiating Books or Books by Officials
 

I'm really into reading books written for officials, specifically basketball and baseball/softball, and books written by officials about their careers.

What are some books that you have enjoyed or have been recommended to you?


Already read:
Calling the Shots - Earl Strom
Calling the Shots - Bruce Hood
Durwood Merril's (MLB Umpire) autiobiography
Men in Blue (MLB Umpire)
Dave Pallone's (MLB) autobiography
Physchology of Officiating - Weinberg & Richardson
Several of Ron Luciano's books


On my list to find and read:
Center Field on Fire - Dave Phillips, Rob Rains
Three and Two! - TOM GORMAN
The Worst Call Ever - Kyle Garlett, Patrick O'Neal
Planet of the Umps - Ken Kaiser

What else exists out there?

Planet of the Umps was entertaining. I have also read Pam Postema's book, You've Got To Have Balls To Make It In This League. It's amazing what she dealt with. I read through parts of The Worst Call Ever in the store. I got the impression that the authors thought they knew what the rules were rather than actually figuring them out.

I thought Durwood's was pretty funny, especially when it backs up some of the stuff in Luciano's books you thought was too good to be true.

"Covert" by NBA ref Bob Delaney. Not really about officiating, but it's a great book.

The Best Seat in Baseball, But You Have to Stand by Lee Gutkind chronicles a year (1974 I believe) with a National League crew.


Please Don't Kill the Umpire by John Massaro. An entertaining read by an amateur umpire from NY

AR

There's a new book out about baseball umpiring...

"As They See 'Em - A Fan's Travels in the Land of Umpires" by Bruce Weber

I've almost finished it and really enjoy it.
Weber is a NY Times writer who attened the Jim Evans Umpire School and then traveled the county following minor league umpires and tells their stories quite well.

As They See 'Em is a fantastic book. I also thought Best Seat In Baseball...was a good look into how a crew interacts with each other, being together every day over an entire season.