The Umpire Is Out

“A rollicking new memoir… . Scott is cheery yet candid about the indignities of umpiring.”-John Swansburg, New York Times “The Umpire Is Out offers so many inside stories on great names in baseball history. Scott is honest in how he explains each encounter. He’s a man you can’t help but to root for in his coming years as a private (baseball) citizen. Scott truly is one of the better ambassadors of the game.”-Don Laible, Bradenton Times “[The Umpire Is Out] is highly recommended as a biographical memoir of umpiring and the game itself over the past forty years, and also as a … candid portrait of gay life in American sports over the same era. It is generous, humorous, enjoyable, and is a great source for learning about both subjects-“The Wedge,” as it were, of Scott’s professional and personal life.“-Tim Wiles, NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture “Dale Scott was both consistent and approachable, perhaps the two most important qualities for an umpire. Dale’s personal story is inspirational, but his book also features vivid game stories from a truly great run at the top of his profession.”-David Cone “Dale’s personal story differs dramatically from those of his umpiring colleagues. And yet, what also shines through is what he and so many of us have in common: an abiding love of baseball and an appreciation for what the game has meant to our lives. This is a textured story, both entertaining and meaningful. And told with uncommon grace.”-Bob Costas “As the late, great Ernie Harwell once said to me about Dale, ‘A great umpire is like a great driver in traffic: you never notice they’re there.’ That was Dale Scott. He had a great, consistent strike zone, and I don’t recall him ever missing a call on the bases. But as good an umpire as Dale was, he’s also one of my all-time favorite people.”-Harold Reynolds “Dale Scott umpired for more than thirty years in the big leagues. He’s seen it all, and most of the best parts seem to have wound up in these pages. But heck, I’d buy the book just for the chapter on the JosÉ Bautista Bat Flip Game!”-Dan Shulman “For more than ten years, Dale Scott made me laugh every day. As a mentor, he taught me how to not only survive but excel in the Major Leagues, and I am forever grateful for his friendship and leadership. This memoir delivers the humor, excitement, and knowledge that only a true insider can provide. Make the right call and read this book!”-Dan Iassogna

Dale Scott’s career as a Major League umpire included three World Series, three All-Star Games, six League Championship Series, twelve Division Series, and more than ninety postseason games. He lives in Palm Springs, California, with Michael, his husband, and their yellow Lab, Wylie.

Rob Neyer serves as commissioner of the West Coast League and has written or cowritten seven books, including Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game.

Billy Bean (1964–2024) was vice president and special assistant to the commissioner of Major League Baseball.

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