Customer Reviews

Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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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.

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.

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.

David Palone does an excellent job of showing yet another aspect of the numerous issues facing gay individuals, particuarly those involved in jobs or activities typically associated with stereotypical masculinity. I was touched by his candor and willingness to share. I recommend it to any man or woman trying to live a "normal" life which includes intimacy, trust and happiness who also happens to be gay.

This story is a well written account of a gay man's life in the world of baseball. The coping with being gay and staying the closet to protect
your loved ones and to keep a job you excelled at and loved.
Can be enjoyed reading for everyone.

I am not a huge baseball fan, but I was intriqued when I discovered I found a copy of this book in my basement. Since I read Billy Bean's autobiography last summer, I figured why not read this one too.

Dave Pallone does a good job bringing the reader into the world of baseball and its politics. I enjoyed learning about the world of umpires, something I never really gave much thought to before.

He also presents his side of his case well about his career and the sex scandal he was accused of being involved in but was never charged due to his innocence.


He writes about his parents, his first love, his gradual coming out process, and his understanding of himself and his lifestyle.

I salute him for his bravery and honesty.

I read this years ago and recently looked at it again. It's inspirational!
The best for me is gay biography - the sharing of real life stories - there is nothing better. Dave is down-to-earth and shares with us an experience worth telling.

This intelligent and somewhat angry autobiography gives a candid look at baseball from the view of an umpire. Readers learn about seldom-reported areas as relations between players and umpires, how officials take command on the field, the coolie wages paid to minor-league umpires (and many players), and the loneliness that umpires experience from being on the road for months at a time. Mr. Pallone also tries to settle scores with the baseball establishment for having fired him, and with certain pro-union umpires that harassed him for having crossed the picket line during the bitter 1979 umpire's strike. But this book is also about Pallone's sexual identity, which he hid lest he get fired for being gay - as allegedly happened prior to the 1989 season. Many readers will sympathize with Pallone's insecurities and love for baseball, but might choose to fast forward through the brief descriptions of his romantic life.

Pallone is straightforward about baseball, umpiring, plus his emotions both on and off the field. This is an intelligent and hard-hitting biography.

I WAS HESITANT TO READ THIS AT FIRST. I KNEW OF MR PALLONE FROM WATCHING GAMES AND FROM THE ATTENTION HE GOT FROM THE BIG TUSSLE WITH PETE ROSE. DID I REALLY WANT TO READ ABOUT A GAY UMPIRE? WELL I OPENED MY MIND AND I AM SO GLAD I DID. THIS IS A VERY OPEN AND WELL TOLD STORY OF HIS LIFE ON AND OFF THE FIELD. DAVE WAS A TAKE NO CRAP FROM ANYONE TYPE OF PERSON WHICH SHOULD THE WAY AN UMPIRE SHOULD BE. HE ALSO DISCOVERED HE HAD AN ATTRACTION TO MEN. ONCE HE REACHED THE MAJOR LEAGUES HIS SECRET HAD TO REMAIN A SECERT OR HE WOULD CERTAINLY BE RELEASED. DAVE HAD A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP BUT THE YOUNG MAN DIED FROM INJURIES IN A CAR ACCIDENT. DAVE WAS SHUNNED AS AN UMPIRE FOR BEING A SCAB WHILE BEING HIRED DURING AN UMPIRE STRIKE AND WOULD BE TREATED ROUGHLY MOST OF HIS CAREER. WELL DAVE WAS LINKED TO A CHILD MOLESTING CRIME AND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NOT ARRESTED, IT COST HIM HIS JOB. THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING AND WELL WRITTEN BOOK. I SALUTE DAVE FOR HAVING THE GUTS TO TELL HIS STORY.