Book description
Dale Scott's career as a professional baseball umpire spanned nearly forty years, including thirty-three in the Major Leagues, from 1985 to 2017. He worked exactly a thousand games behind the plate, calling balls and strikes at the pinnacle of his profession, working in every Major League Baseball stadium, and interacting with dozens of other top-flight umpires, colorful managers, and hundreds of players, from future Hall of Famers to one-game wonders. Scott has enough stories about his career on the field to fill a dozen books, and there are plenty of those stories here. He's not interested in settling scores, but throughout the book he's honest about managers and players, some of whom weren't always perfect gentlemen. But what makes Scott's book truly different is his unique perspective as the only umpire in the history of professional baseball to come out as gay during his career. Granted, that was after decades of remaining in the closet, and Scott writes vividly and movingly about having to "play the game" maintaining a facade of straightness while privately becoming his true self and building a lasting relationship with his future husband. He navigated this obstacle course at a time when his MLB career was just taking off--and when North America was consumed by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Scott's story isn't only about his leading a sort of double life, then opening himself up to the world and discovering a new generosity of spirit. It's also a baseball story, filled with insights and memorable anecdotes that come so naturally from someone who spent decades among the world's greatest baseball players, managers, and games. Scott's story is fascinating both for his umpiring career and for his being a pioneer for LGBTQ people within baseball and across sports.
Sass Burst
I'm blown away by the quality of narration on this app β it's like being in the story. This app has broadened my literary horizons, introducing me to new authors. I'm hooked on this app's curated content β it's like having a personal librarian. I'm blown away by the silky-smooth playback, even for high-quality formats like FLAC. Top-notch performance!
Slint FUBAR
With ListenBook, I can keep track of my audiobook consumption and explore new content with ease. π Say goodbye to boredom during long drives β this app makes road trips fly by! ππ With support for various formats, I can finally listen to my diverse audiobook collection. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
Hemlock
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Milan Call Back
πββοΈπ Running with purpose β this app keeps my mind engaged as I conquer my fitness goals! πββοΈπ The intuitive chapter navigation and quick access to controls make my audiobook experience seamless. I love the statistics feature. Itβs fun to see how much Iβve listened. This audiobook exceeded all my expectations! The narrator's ability to convey emotion through voice alone was remarkable. I laughed, I gasped, I might have even teared up at points - all because of the incredible vocal performance. The story came alive in a way reading alone couldn't achieve.
Mauve Cactus
With ListenBook, I can now listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. The app is perfect for people who love to read but donβt have the time.
Referee
I love that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features, catering to all types of users. I'm blown away by how this app has revolutionized my reading experience. is a breeze. It's incredibly convenient for building my collection. ListenBookβs CarPlay support makes listening in the car a seamless experience.
Twix Bond
Thanks to ListenBook's extensive statistics, I can track my audiobook consumption and celebrate my progress. ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. ListenBook's ability to extract artwork and metadata automatically adds a visual touch to my audiobook collection. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature turns any environment into a cozy listening haven. ListenBookβs support for Apple Watch is a great touch. I can control my audiobooks on the go.
Stacker of Wheat
ListenBook's commitment to delivering an exceptional audiobook experience is evident in its thoughtful features and design. Audiobook pleasure at its finest! This app's sleek design and efficient organization ensure that every story is accessible and delightful. ππ
Abyss Tamer
I'm amazed at how effortlessly this app has made reading a constant in my life. π₯ Simplifying my reading routine β the app's functionality ensures I'm always one click away from literary adventures. ππ Audiobooks on demand? Yes, please! With this app's robust features, I'm always just a tap away from immersing myself in captivating narratives. ππ±
Dorothy Solitaire
I can't imagine my daily activities without this app β it's my go-to for staying informed and entertained. Supports all audio formats I use without issues. Very happy. The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes.
Demolition Queen
ListenBook's library organization features have transformed my chaotic audiobook collection into an organized masterpiece. π Long road trips? No problem β this app keeps me entertained mile after mile! ππ βοΈ Who knew cleaning could be this exciting? This app turns chores into adventures! π§Ήπ° I'm blown away by the silky-smooth playback, even for high-quality formats like FLAC. Top-notch performance! Adjustable playback speed and volume control are top-notch.
ThoughtTraveler
This app's ease of use has made my daily tasks so much more enjoyable. Finally, an app that supports all audiobook formats! Flawless playback. The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Hyper Kong
I've found my new favorite way to relax β cuddled up with an audiobook. I love that ListenBook Pro allows me to customize the tone of the sound β it adds a personal touch. πΆπ The harmony between simplicity and functionality in this app is truly impressive. Audiobooks have never sounded this good! π΅π§ Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share stories and connect with friends. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a fun and convenient way to share the magic of storytelling with friends and family, sparking meaningful discussions.
Pink Hopper
π Embracing a new reading habit with this app's seamless accessibility. Say goodbye to boredom! π±π Audiobook multitasking simplified β this app's functionality is a triumph. ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It keeps me entertained and motivated during exercise. ListenBook has become an essential part of my daily routine. It's like having a library on my phone!
Criss Cross
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Video Game Heroine
Integration with Apple CarPlay has made long road trips so much more enjoyable. ListenBook's drag-and-drop download feature simplifies the process of adding new audiobooks to my collection. The adjustable playback speed is a revelation. It's like having a personal audiobook narrator at my pace. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction makes sure that background distractions don't interfere with my listening. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to an impressive degree.
Moon Peaches
I'm amazed at how this app seamlessly integrates into my life, enhancing every moment with stories. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy for me to connect with fellow audiobook enthusiasts. ListenBookβs playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Steel
With ListenBook, I can effortlessly manage and organize my audiobook library. Bravo to the creators of this app β they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design are a win. ππ I love the ability to change the background color. Itβs a nice touch.
Steel Solstice
I love how this app brings stories to life, even during my morning jogs. π Making each day a new chapter β this app keeps me hooked from morning to night! ππ ListenBookβs interface is clean and intuitive. Itβs a joy to use. The app is lightweight and doesnβt drain my battery.
Darth 44
Audiobooks on this app have made my daily walks a time of reflection and inspiration. Adjusting the tone of the voice adds a unique touch to my listening experience. I love the personalization! The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience