Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball (Signet) [Paperback]

Dave Pallone (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pallone became a National League umpire during the 1979 arbiters' strike; during his 10 years in the majors, he encountered animosity for his original ``scab'' status and rumors of the homosexuality he tried to conceal. When his name was linked to a scandal involving teenage boys, he was asked to resign at the end of the 1988 season. According to PW, ``Pallone seemingly holds nothing back, giving readers the most candid and riveting sports autobiography since Navratilova's Martina. '' Photos. Author tour.

Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Pallone's "double life"--a gay working as an umpire in the macho world of professional baseball--led to his release in 1988 by the National League, which claimed he had exhibited "unprofessional behavior." Pallone talks honestly about his controversial career, including his confrontation with Pete Rose during a 1988 Mets game, which cost Rose a 30-day suspension and a $10,000 fine; unfortunately, it cost Pallone his job. Pallone provides interesting comments about calling the pitches of such great pitchers as Steve Carlton and Nolan Ryan and theories on different aspects of the game, as well as revealing anecdotes about his gay love life. The book captures Pallone's torment: he wanted to admit his homosexuality publicly, but feared the consequences because of baseball's ingrained homophobia. Recommended for public libraries.
- Ron Chepesiuk, Winthrop Coll., Rock Hill, S.C.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Signet (April 3, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451170296
• ISBN-13: 978-0451170293
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #980,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars candid, gutsy account of a very difficult career, December 20, 2000

By 

J. K. Kelley "literary mercenary" (Eastern WA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball (Signet) (Paperback)

It's really hard to rate _Behind the Mask_ without dividing it into two categories: as a book about gay life, and as a baseball book. I found it interesting and valuable in both areas.

Pallone, it must be remembered, came of age in the seventies, when the idea of being 'out' was difficult for anyone--much less a professional sports official. His story has the ring of truth and honesty, and would in particular be a good read for young people wrestling with sexual identity issues: it does not contain explicit sex scenes. Probably PG-13. Of special value is Pallone's own self-analysis; he has come to understand why he handled life the way he did, and the picture we see is of a man who has regrets about some things but is at peace.

With regard to baseball, we get a lot of closeups of Pallone's colleagues. Like anyone else, some good, some not so good; some competent, some not so competent. The degree to which umpires will engage a vindictive streak to the detriment of the game truly stunned me, and I'm generally a defender of the officials. The politics and union/management wangling that go into deciding just who gets to be a big league umpire are laid bare. Pallone contends that he was fired for being gay, and I don't think he necessarily makes the case for this very well; while I wouldn't put it past the league owners, it's also possible that he was fired for being controversial, and that his revelation of his sexuality was simply the one more bit of awkward press that baseball didn't want. Either way, it took a lot of courage for him to pursue his career in the face of a lot of adversity, and I'd proudly shake his hand.

A good read from either standpoint.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, inspirational, and Touching, August 11, 1999

By 

Tom Adams (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball (Signet) (Paperback)

This book should be on the shelf of every gay person in America who is in doubt of his or her sexuality. For you baseball fans, there is the inside story of the famed "Pete Rose" incident, but you don't have to be a baseball fan, or gay to enjoy this well written book. It's out of print, but well worth the time and effort to hunt it down or check it out of your local library.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest and Insightful, April 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball (Signet) (Paperback)

A well-written, honest, insightful book. Dave Pallone should be congratulated on his work, both as a professional in the baseball world and as a first time author. In the same "boat" as Dave Kopay, Pallone rises above and allows the reader to feel and to be ok with being who you are.