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.
Dahlia Bumble
The statistics feature in ListenBook adds an element of self-awareness to my audiobook consumption. ListenBook has broadened my horizons by introducing me to a diverse range of audiobooks. It's a gateway to endless knowledge, entertainment, and inspiration.
Mechani-Man
I'm hooked on this app – it's like Netflix for book lovers! ListenBook's audiobook player is a true workhorse – chapters, controls, and filters are all seamlessly integrated.
NemesisX
Audiobooks have made my long commutes enjoyable, and I'm always eager to see what's next. This app's features, from bookmarking to customizable playback speed, are fantastic. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice adds a layer of personalization that I never knew I needed. ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
PixelPathfinder
🎉 This app's functionality is a masterpiece – it seamlessly integrates audiobooks into my daily routine. 📚🎨 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances my immersion in every audiobook, regardless of surroundings. AirDrop sharing makes it easy to share audiobooks with friends.
Feral Filly
The app's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a true companion for all occasions. Middle-of-the-road experience. The audiobook was fine—good narration, decent story—but it didn’t leave a lasting impression. If you’re looking for something low-commitment, this works.
NexusNomad
This app has revolutionized my daily routine – I can't imagine life without it. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear listening in noisy environments. ⏰ Starting my mornings with inspiration – audiobooks make waking up a joyous literary experience! ☀️🎧 Noise reduction feature is magic. Now I can listen to recordings even in noisy settings.
Springheel Jack
Kudos to the app for making literature accessible to those with busy schedules. ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I can always find what I'm looking for. Audiobooks have never been this accessible and enjoyable. This app's compatibility with various formats and its emphasis on user experience have made it an essential tool for me. 📱🔊 I can't get over how smooth the playback is. Even high-quality files play flawlessly.
Frosty Snazz
ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can access my content in the way that suits me best. This app's intuitive features and easy navigation make it the perfect companion for any audiobook lover. Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique touch – it's like having a personalized reading. The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Lucifurious
The seamless integration with my car's audio system is a road trip dream. With this app, I've unlocked the secret to reading even on the busiest days. The app's performance is exceptional, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted audiobook experience. It's clear that it's designed with audiobook enthusiasts in mind. ListenBook has become my constant companion. It's like having a personal audiobook assistant. Makes audiobook listening super easy and enjoyable. Thank you!
Clover Dragon
ListenBook has brought the joy of audiobooks back into my life in a whole new way. ListenBook's extensive format support makes it the ultimate audiobook app for any audiobook lover. ListenBook's user-friendly interface and quick controls make it my preferred choice for audiobook enjoyment. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it. This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!
Hog Butcher
I can't believe I waited so long to start listening to audiobooks – this app has converted me! With ListenBook, I've unlocked a world of educational and entertaining content right at my fingertips. ListenBook has turned my audio content into an immersive, personalized, and unforgettable experience. ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use. I love how I can create playlists. It’s perfect for organizing my books.
Wonder Lady
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. I'm thrilled to finally have a way to enjoy books while keeping up with my busy schedule. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Mosquit-No
I can't believe how easy it is to dive into a new world with this app. This app has transformed my daily routine into moments of literary delight. Audiobook pleasure simplified – this app's functionality is a reader's delight. I'm blown away by the silky-smooth playback, even for high-quality formats like FLAC. Top-notch performance! Excellent support for various audio formats. Very satisfied.
Toe
Every moment is an adventure with this app by my side. Its intuitive features and diverse format support ensure that my audiobook journey is seamless and exciting. 🌌🎧 I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Aqua Monsoon
Effortless audiobook exploration – this app's functionality is a true delight. ListenBook's commitment to a seamless user experience is evident in its sleek design and intuitive controls. Love how I can adjust playback speed and audio volume. ListenBook caters to all my needs. The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player. The perfect balance between dramatic reading and natural storytelling. Felt like a friend telling me an amazing story rather than someone just reading words.
Friday Fox
The chapters feature on ListenBook enhances my audiobook exploration – it's like flipping through pages. Downloading audiobooks over WiFi is super easy. Saves time. Middle-of-the-road experience. The audiobook was fine—good narration, decent story—but it didn’t leave a lasting impression. If you’re looking for something low-commitment, this works. The narration elevated an already good book to greatness! The performer's subtle vocal variations conveyed nuance I might have missed while reading. Their ability to maintain consistent character voices across many hours was impressive. Technical quality was flawless throughout.
Diamond Gamer
I'm amazed at how this app has seamlessly integrated reading into my daily rhythm. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature. Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didn’t have any major complaints, but I also don’t see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
Spellbinder
Listening to audiobooks has turned mundane tasks into enjoyable experiences. I'm amazed at how effortlessly I can immerse myself in stories with this app. 🎉 This app is a testament to thoughtful design – its functionality seamlessly blends with my lifestyle, making reading effortless. 📚✨
CyberScribe
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch is a game-changer for my on-the-go listening. 🌟 This app is a game-changer – its intuitive design and seamless functionality make listening to audiobooks a joy. 🎉🎧 I'm on a literary adventure wherever I go, all thanks to this app. Its extensive format support and effortless navigation make audiobook listening a breeze. 🌟📚 Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a game-changer. It transforms the way I enjoy my recordings. AirDrop sharing is a very convenient feature. Thanks, ListenBook!
Pepper Prada
🧘♀️☕ Unwinding with a cup of tea and a captivating audiobook – relaxation meets intellectual stimulation. 🍵📖 Finally, an app that caters to audiobook enthusiasts like me. The diverse format support and user-friendly design are a game-changer. 📱🔊 This audiobook spoiled me for others! The narrator's professional delivery set a high bar - perfect diction, ideal pacing, and emotional authenticity. The recording quality was equally impressive with no distracting artifacts. I finished it far too quickly because I couldn't stop listening.
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