Kill the Umpire

By Grant Dunlap

KILL THE UMPIRE is not a mystery novel. But, its no mystery that Ransome Burton, the sensation of the Texas League in 1949, had every reason to wish for the death of Dutch Foster, the dean of League... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571689079
• ISBN13: 9781571689078
• Release Date: May 1998
• Publisher: Nortex Press
• Length: 105 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A great blend of detailed baseball information and plot.

I enjoyed every word of KILL THE UMPIRE and was surprised at the technical sophistication. Its major virtue is its authenticity as a baseball novel, the likes of which I have never read before. I have read other baseball books, but in none of them was baseball-the-game anything more than an un-detailed sketchy background to the stories. I learned quite a lot about the game, especially pitching, batting and managing. However, I was surprised and hugely impressed with some other aspects: the descriptions and effective development of character; the unfolding of sex as an integral part of the story without overdoing it; and the way the baseball information blended with the main plot involving the characters, the sketches of actual baseball stars, and the humorous incidents. As I read, sometimes I felt that I myself was bouncing along on the bus, worried about the next game, my whole future career, my adequacy, my girlfriend, and my relationships with the manager and teammates. I concur with the author's decision on limiting cuss words. I think explicit language, even though authentic, would have come through in print as a repetitive destraction. KILL THE UMPIRE is a really satisfying book.

excellent story and vivid picture of baseball in the minors

The author apparently was a player in the texas league in the late 1940's. He captures a striking and unusual set of events ending in in a home plate confrontation never since repeated. While keeping the story strong and focused, he paints a vivid image a collection of characters whose only real common ground is their passion for the game. The feeling of the texas towns, the life of the ballplayer are given life through the games and the story. A good read.