Planet of the Umps: A Baseball Life from Behind the Plate

Ken Kaiser doesn't care for baseball, but he doesn't have to cause he's an umpire. This book chronicles former American League Ken Kaiser's journey through the lowest minor leagues to the "lavish" life style of the majors, up until the infamous umpire strike that led to his ultimate firing. Full of hilarious stories that you'll never hear about on ESPN, Ken Kaiser shows you the other side of baseball we rarely here about. If you love baseball you will love this book.

I enjoyed this book very much. Many funny and insightful stories. You really get a feel for what the life of an umpire is like...the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I loved this book. It literally made me laugh until I cried. I couldn't put it down. I loved reading about behind the scenes in baseball and I especially enjoyed walking down memory lane picturing Ken Kaiser on the field. A great read, highly recommended, and a note to Mr. Kaiser..........I hope you win your battle with MLB, you deserve it. You were a great umpire, hang in there. As a great lover of baseball, I still can appreciate the job you did, even if I didn't always agree. Good Luck! Everyone else.........buy the book and give it as gifts. It makes a wonderful reading experience.

Mr.Kaisers book is a must for anyone at all interested in what those men in blue do. I for one, did not know,but was extremely curious as to what goes on when a batter,manager,pitcher,or even a fan yells at a umpire. Kaiser tells it like you would be behind the mask yourself. I think the patience to be a umpire is only second to being a high school teacher. Having a somewhat career as a pro-wrestler helps in both cases. This book is the best I have read about the life on and off the field and the struggles to become a major league umpire.

This book was laugh-out-loud funny. Not that it is all one-liners, but the humor is spread throughout the book and often catches you off-guard. I would compare it to Dana Carvey (if you like him) -- good humor that is increased by one's ability to put yourself in another's shoes.I have never umpired professionally, but I have umpired enough amateur games to know that Kaiser is right on the money on much of what he writes. That might make the situations more humorous for me than a "typical" reader, but I doubt it. The writing is easy and friendly and requires very little knowledge of baseball (I would say none, but that might be a stretch).Definitely glad that I read the book!