The rowdy adolescence of baseball, told by the game s first autobiographical umpire.
Harry "Steamboat" Johnson brought to early baseball great integrity and a pugnacious stlye.Toughness--being able to "stand the gaff"--was essential during his long career as an umpire. From 1909 to 1935 Johnson umpired in exhibition games and minor leagues (except for the 1914 season in the National League) from Los Angeles to Toronto.When fans screamed "Kill the umpire " he responded he'd rather die on a baseball field than anywhere else.
With disarming directness and humor, Steamboat Johnson...