In the pageantry of baseball, one select group is virtually unknown in
the outside world, derided by fans, faced with split-second choices that
spell victory or defeat. These men are up-close observers of the action,
privy to inside jokes, blood feuds, benches-clearing brawls, and
managers' expletive-filled tirades. In this wonderful memoir, Hall of
Fame umpire Doug Harvey takes us within baseball as you've never seen
it, with unforgettable inside stories of baseball greats such as Willie
Mays, Sandy Koufax, and Whitey Herzog.
This colorful memoir takes the listener behind the plate for some of
baseball's most memorable moments, including:
- Roberto Clemente's three thousandth and final hit
- The "I don't believe what I just saw" heroic three-and-two pinch-hit
home run by Kirk Gibson in the '88 World Series
- The nail-biting excitement of the close-fought '68 World Series, when
Doug called St. Louis Cardinal Lou Brock out at home plate and turned
the trajectory of the series
But beyond the drama, Harvey turned umpiring into an art. He was a man
so respected, whose calls were so feared and infallible, that the
players called him God. And through it all, he lived by three rules:
Never take anything from a player, never back down from a call, and
never carry a grudge.
A book for anyone who loves baseball, They Called Me God is a funny
and fascinating tale of on- and off-the-field action, peopled by
unforgettable characters from Bob Gibson to Nolan Ryan, and a treatise
on good umpiring techniques. In a memoir that transcends sport, Doug
Harvey tells a gripping story of responsibility, fairness, and honesty.
