Called Out but Safe

February 15, 2014

Kids do not dream of being umpires while playing pickup or Little League games. Nor did Clark. With sportswriter Schlossberg, he outlines his baseball life from being the son of a Yankees beat writer dreaming of suiting up for his beloved Bronx Bombers to becoming an entirely impartial umpire, calling pressure-packed World Series contests. Clark posits that each game is not comprised of two teams but rather three, including the officiating staff. He talks about his experiences umping and the key role of umpires in every game--having to be in the correct place at all times. He also delves into his dismissal from MLB and his four-month stint in a correctional facility for mail fraud--an ironic circumstance considering his policing role on the field for three decades. VERDICT Not your usual baseball book, but complementary to the myriad titles on players and teams. Clark, having called well over 3,000 MLB games, offers a perspective that is engaging as well as steeped in personal experience. It will be of interest to any baseball fan.--Brian Renvall (BRen), Mesalands Community Coll., Tucumcari, NM

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