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The Call: A Baseball Novel
As one of the first female umpires in the minors, Margie puts up with insults and worse from people who think women don’t belong in baseball. Forget making history—Margie just wants to do her job and be part of the game she loves.
She’s ready for the rude comments. The lousy pay. The endless traveling. But when she suspects a big-name slugger of cheating, she has to choose: let the dirty player get away with it, or blow the whistle and risk her career…and maybe her twin brother’s major-league prospects, too.
Now it’s up to Margie to make the call.
She’s ready for the rude comments. The lousy pay. The endless traveling. But when she suspects a big-name slugger of cheating, she has to choose: let the dirty player get away with it, or blow the whistle and risk her career…and maybe her twin brother’s major-league prospects, too.
Now it’s up to Margie to make the call.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2017
64 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Boris
28 books164 followers Laurie Boris is a freelance writer and copyeditor. At one time, she was a magician’s assistant, although she was very bad at it. She has been writing fiction for thirty years and is the award-winning author of Boychik, The Joke’s on Me, Drawing Breath, Sliding Past Vertical, The Call: A Baseball Novel, The Kitchen Brigade, and The Trager Family Secrets series. When not hanging out with the universe of imaginary people in her head, she enjoys baseball, reading, and avoiding housework. You can learn more about Laurie and her work at http://laurieboris.com.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 3, 2017
Margie Oblonsky has dreams of following her father and twin brother into a baseball career. However, she is going in a different direction and goes to umpire school. She graduates second in her class and works in the minor leagues. What she encounters in these games and the situations she faces are told in this entertaining novel by Laurie Boris.
Margie and her twin brother Tim, a pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds organization, both begin their trek toward the majors around the same time, but Tim, as a third round draft choice, gets called to the show much quicker than Margie. She had encountered hostile umpiring partners; including one who helped instigate a brawl in a game that they worked. The brawl was part of a cover-up for something even darker, in which Margie and a reporter who was writing about her had to look out for their safety.
Set in the early 1980’s, the novel read a bit choppy for me, but the stories of Margie, Tim and his best friend Dan are easy to follow and engrossing. There is a love interest in the book as after Margie ejects Dan from a game, he asks her to dinner afterward and from there they start a slow but steady romance. Unlike some romances in otherwise “straight” sports fiction, this one becomes a key part of the story instead of a distraction.
The baseball scenes are well-written and realistic – everything from Margie’s experience in school to Tim’s pitching in the major leagues. The reader will feel like he or she is either behind the plate or working with Margie on the bases with the details. The less glamorous parts of the job, such as the long travel, “crappy motels”, and monotonous paperwork when players are ejected, are covered as well. In the acknowledgments, Boris thanks Perry Barber, one of the first female umpires in professional baseball, for her assistance. That kind of information proved to be very valuable for this book as it made the story much more realistic.
Many topics about the sport of baseball are covered – the drug abuse that was prevalent in that time period, the use of performance-enhancing drugs, the atmosphere in the locker rooms of both players and umpires and bureaucracy that both players and umpires face in order to advance are all illustrated throughout the story. The evaluations that umpires must have in order to move up to higher leagues are very well covered and makes the reader relate to Margie’s struggles to advance. Even scenes with fans are written well, such as the cute scene when two little girls ask Margie for her autograph because they recognize her as an umpire. It is made even better when she tells the girls to keep the thumb inside the fist when making an “out” call, one of Margie’s early lessons. This is an entertaining novel in which all of the main characters are realistic and easy to cheer for and is recommended reading for all baseball fans.
I wish to thank the Ms. Boris for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
Margie and her twin brother Tim, a pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds organization, both begin their trek toward the majors around the same time, but Tim, as a third round draft choice, gets called to the show much quicker than Margie. She had encountered hostile umpiring partners; including one who helped instigate a brawl in a game that they worked. The brawl was part of a cover-up for something even darker, in which Margie and a reporter who was writing about her had to look out for their safety.
Set in the early 1980’s, the novel read a bit choppy for me, but the stories of Margie, Tim and his best friend Dan are easy to follow and engrossing. There is a love interest in the book as after Margie ejects Dan from a game, he asks her to dinner afterward and from there they start a slow but steady romance. Unlike some romances in otherwise “straight” sports fiction, this one becomes a key part of the story instead of a distraction.
The baseball scenes are well-written and realistic – everything from Margie’s experience in school to Tim’s pitching in the major leagues. The reader will feel like he or she is either behind the plate or working with Margie on the bases with the details. The less glamorous parts of the job, such as the long travel, “crappy motels”, and monotonous paperwork when players are ejected, are covered as well. In the acknowledgments, Boris thanks Perry Barber, one of the first female umpires in professional baseball, for her assistance. That kind of information proved to be very valuable for this book as it made the story much more realistic.
Many topics about the sport of baseball are covered – the drug abuse that was prevalent in that time period, the use of performance-enhancing drugs, the atmosphere in the locker rooms of both players and umpires and bureaucracy that both players and umpires face in order to advance are all illustrated throughout the story. The evaluations that umpires must have in order to move up to higher leagues are very well covered and makes the reader relate to Margie’s struggles to advance. Even scenes with fans are written well, such as the cute scene when two little girls ask Margie for her autograph because they recognize her as an umpire. It is made even better when she tells the girls to keep the thumb inside the fist when making an “out” call, one of Margie’s early lessons. This is an entertaining novel in which all of the main characters are realistic and easy to cheer for and is recommended reading for all baseball fans.
I wish to thank the Ms. Boris for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
August 13, 2022
I've really grown to like historical fiction, and this book was no exception. A piece of history I knew nothing about. It prompted me to check out how many female umpires in the MLB today -- I was (and wasn't) surprised that as of 2018, there were only two! Wow. Talk about a good ol' boys club!
April 10, 2018
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a novel in which the main protagonist is a young female umpire. That, right there, puts The Call in a singular category!
And I don’t say that blithely. As an avid reader of fiction, I find that far too many books cover the same well-tread ground in terms of what their protagonists do, what their goals and aspirations are; what drives them and what holds their attention. This book ventured into refreshing territory on all counts and I, for one, was appreciative.
This is the story of 20-year-old Margie Oblonsky, the twin sister of Tim, an up-and-coming baseball pitcher, and the daughter of a well-respected league umpire and his beleaguered baseball “widow,” who endured the push and pull of building family life around big league baseball. The sport is in their blood and despite her age and gender, Margie is determined to break barriers, and whatever ceilings get in her way, to pursue her dream of being a league umpire herself. This is the 80s, long before #MeToo and Twitter and open discussions of where women fit in the big picture in certain “male” professions, and Margie’s journey is a cold-water dip into some decidedly harsh realities.
I’ve read Laurie Boris’s work in the past (a big fan of her book Sliding Past Vertical) and not only enjoy her facility with words and plot, but her skill at setting time, place, and tone. In The Call, she puts her story in an earlier era, the 1980s, but for whatever reason, it actually read a little older than that to me. The old-fashioned sensibilities of some of the characterizations and relationships felt of a time even earlier than the 80s, but perhaps that has more to do with my lack of knowledge of the industry than anything else. But this is, truly, a small criticism to the overall.
And frankly, that “old-fashionedness” offered sharp juxtaposition to the story’s interwoven issues of corruption, workplace harassment, and blatant sexism, none of which Boris soft-pedals. The sharp edges of those offensive behaviors felt all the more grating given the almost sepia-tone of the unfolding narrative and the feistiness of the main character. One could only admire the resilience of a woman so young enduring and persisting in the face of vile, aggressive behavior from men who simply did not want her anywhere near their game.
That, in fact, is one of the most successful elements of the story: the page-turning plot line involving doping, corruption, and potential threats of violence against Margie for simply doing her job right. It had me guessing throughout.
And, beyond a really good story with some richly drawn characters, you’ll probably learn more about baseball reading this book than you’d even expect from Sports Illustrated! Personally, I love being immersed in professions, industries, and locations with which I’ve had little exposure prior, so enjoyed the arcane and clearly well researched foundation for the book.
A great read… a strong recommend.
And I don’t say that blithely. As an avid reader of fiction, I find that far too many books cover the same well-tread ground in terms of what their protagonists do, what their goals and aspirations are; what drives them and what holds their attention. This book ventured into refreshing territory on all counts and I, for one, was appreciative.
This is the story of 20-year-old Margie Oblonsky, the twin sister of Tim, an up-and-coming baseball pitcher, and the daughter of a well-respected league umpire and his beleaguered baseball “widow,” who endured the push and pull of building family life around big league baseball. The sport is in their blood and despite her age and gender, Margie is determined to break barriers, and whatever ceilings get in her way, to pursue her dream of being a league umpire herself. This is the 80s, long before #MeToo and Twitter and open discussions of where women fit in the big picture in certain “male” professions, and Margie’s journey is a cold-water dip into some decidedly harsh realities.
I’ve read Laurie Boris’s work in the past (a big fan of her book Sliding Past Vertical) and not only enjoy her facility with words and plot, but her skill at setting time, place, and tone. In The Call, she puts her story in an earlier era, the 1980s, but for whatever reason, it actually read a little older than that to me. The old-fashioned sensibilities of some of the characterizations and relationships felt of a time even earlier than the 80s, but perhaps that has more to do with my lack of knowledge of the industry than anything else. But this is, truly, a small criticism to the overall.
And frankly, that “old-fashionedness” offered sharp juxtaposition to the story’s interwoven issues of corruption, workplace harassment, and blatant sexism, none of which Boris soft-pedals. The sharp edges of those offensive behaviors felt all the more grating given the almost sepia-tone of the unfolding narrative and the feistiness of the main character. One could only admire the resilience of a woman so young enduring and persisting in the face of vile, aggressive behavior from men who simply did not want her anywhere near their game.
That, in fact, is one of the most successful elements of the story: the page-turning plot line involving doping, corruption, and potential threats of violence against Margie for simply doing her job right. It had me guessing throughout.
And, beyond a really good story with some richly drawn characters, you’ll probably learn more about baseball reading this book than you’d even expect from Sports Illustrated! Personally, I love being immersed in professions, industries, and locations with which I’ve had little exposure prior, so enjoyed the arcane and clearly well researched foundation for the book.
A great read… a strong recommend.
May 17, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Call and knowledge and love of the game is on every page of the story.
The tale of Margie taking on the male umpiring establishment is told in a low-key undramatic style that is reflected in the characters and their actions. Of course there is conflict and tension in the plot, but Margie and her family face every ball pitched at them with a stoicism and determination that feels authentic; as if Laurie Boris is writing a memoir instead of fiction.
The simple, direct dialogue choices, baseball terminology and food descriptions all combine to give the novel a good old hometown American atmosphere; you can almost smell the hush puppies and grits.
I did find that the third-person narrative and Margie’s contained personality prohibited a feeling of intimacy with the story, and so whilst I was interested in the outcome I didn’t feel overly emotionally invested in the fate of the characters. For example, a critical point in the plot is introduced via a secondary character watching it on video, rather than from Margie’s point of view. This made the events more shocking to the reader, increasing the plot tension, but also created an arm’s-length reaction, whereas had we seen the events directly via Margie the emotional impact might have been stronger instead.
This does not detract from the storytelling at all, in fact it all adds to that flavour of peeking into the lives of reserved private individuals whose defining public persona is their love of the sport they live for.
I would definitely recommend The Call to any baseball fans, feminists, and anyone fond of a good, realistic family/sports story.
Bill cut a glance at her, took his time answering. “Heck, I could always use a sharp kid. But I’m wondering if you’re selling yourself short.”
Margie puzzled over what that meant. He motioned her closer. “You love baseball. Anyone who talks to you for five minutes can see how much you love it. You know the rules. You’ve got a good eye…”
“And…what? I’m a girl. They’re never gonna let me play.” But if they won’t let me play… “It would be pretty sweet to be a coach. You’d have to have some kind of baseball experience first. Like you, right?”
He tapped a finger against the table. “Or. You could become an umpire.”
– Laurie Boris, The Call
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The Call and knowledge and love of the game is on every page of the story.
The tale of Margie taking on the male umpiring establishment is told in a low-key undramatic style that is reflected in the characters and their actions. Of course there is conflict and tension in the plot, but Margie and her family face every ball pitched at them with a stoicism and determination that feels authentic; as if Laurie Boris is writing a memoir instead of fiction.
The simple, direct dialogue choices, baseball terminology and food descriptions all combine to give the novel a good old hometown American atmosphere; you can almost smell the hush puppies and grits.
I did find that the third-person narrative and Margie’s contained personality prohibited a feeling of intimacy with the story, and so whilst I was interested in the outcome I didn’t feel overly emotionally invested in the fate of the characters. For example, a critical point in the plot is introduced via a secondary character watching it on video, rather than from Margie’s point of view. This made the events more shocking to the reader, increasing the plot tension, but also created an arm’s-length reaction, whereas had we seen the events directly via Margie the emotional impact might have been stronger instead.
This does not detract from the storytelling at all, in fact it all adds to that flavour of peeking into the lives of reserved private individuals whose defining public persona is their love of the sport they live for.
I would definitely recommend The Call to any baseball fans, feminists, and anyone fond of a good, realistic family/sports story.
Bill cut a glance at her, took his time answering. “Heck, I could always use a sharp kid. But I’m wondering if you’re selling yourself short.”
Margie puzzled over what that meant. He motioned her closer. “You love baseball. Anyone who talks to you for five minutes can see how much you love it. You know the rules. You’ve got a good eye…”
“And…what? I’m a girl. They’re never gonna let me play.” But if they won’t let me play… “It would be pretty sweet to be a coach. You’d have to have some kind of baseball experience first. Like you, right?”
He tapped a finger against the table. “Or. You could become an umpire.”
– Laurie Boris, The Call
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
August 30, 2018
Sports are commonly known as a man’s activity or at least it had always been that way – including umpiring! For Margie Oblonsky her passion was baseball – it was in her blood! Her father was a baseball player, her twin brother is a baseball player, and Margie has the passion and love of baseball. Instead of playing for a women’s team she went through Big Al’s Academy to be an ump. She passed with flying colors! She was going to be involved with the game she loved!
Her first game and subsequent ones give her an insiders peek into the dark secrets of the baseball establishment where ethics are questionable, there is no place for a woman in the sport, and where players can get away with anything – cheating, drugs, and more. Margie simply wants to do the job she loves but finds that her being ethical and revealing the cheating going on could not only jeopardize her career but her twin brother’s major league options. Furthermore, her twin brother, Tim is facing self-doubt and other struggles. Margie has fewer outcome options so whatever she chooses to do will damage her career.
Faced with formidable odds, Margie must make decisions that allow her to be true to herself and the game she loves while proving that a woman has what it takes to be on the field.
Laurie Boris brings to light the gender biases that run amok in sports and other male-dominated fields. Boris tells the story with clarity, compassion, and ruefulness that clearly presents the issues and shows the strength of one woman.
There were several times I had to put the book down, not because it was boring but because it made me angry – I felt the frustration of Margie, her fears, her doubts which I believe Boris wanted! Boris’ writing style is smooth, her plot development was strong, and she built each character with care and attention to detail. The reader is caught up in the storyline and the characters almost immediately. Realistic plot, dialog and real-life situations make the story captivating. The tone of the novel, beliefs of the time period and other aspects of the book are spot on.
Her first game and subsequent ones give her an insiders peek into the dark secrets of the baseball establishment where ethics are questionable, there is no place for a woman in the sport, and where players can get away with anything – cheating, drugs, and more. Margie simply wants to do the job she loves but finds that her being ethical and revealing the cheating going on could not only jeopardize her career but her twin brother’s major league options. Furthermore, her twin brother, Tim is facing self-doubt and other struggles. Margie has fewer outcome options so whatever she chooses to do will damage her career.
Faced with formidable odds, Margie must make decisions that allow her to be true to herself and the game she loves while proving that a woman has what it takes to be on the field.
Laurie Boris brings to light the gender biases that run amok in sports and other male-dominated fields. Boris tells the story with clarity, compassion, and ruefulness that clearly presents the issues and shows the strength of one woman.
There were several times I had to put the book down, not because it was boring but because it made me angry – I felt the frustration of Margie, her fears, her doubts which I believe Boris wanted! Boris’ writing style is smooth, her plot development was strong, and she built each character with care and attention to detail. The reader is caught up in the storyline and the characters almost immediately. Realistic plot, dialog and real-life situations make the story captivating. The tone of the novel, beliefs of the time period and other aspects of the book are spot on.
December 23, 2017
For me this was a great read for many different reasons. Some of those reasons might be things that would apply to you too.
The main appeal is that this is a good story. The struggle to be as good as you can be at your chosen profession, the difficulties that sometimes complicate that, and figuring out how to deal with it, is something many of us can empathize with. I’ve also read a couple things lately that talked about how fiction can help us better understand the lives of people not like us, and this was good for me to imagine the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated profession. I suspect men and women are going to benefit from reading this kind of tale in different ways, but benefit regardless.
I’m not a big sports fan, but I’m sure those who are will enjoy the baseball part of the story. As someone who came of age about the same time as the characters in this story (late 70s) I found myself experiencing a bit of nostalgia that the typical reader wouldn’t. (But I refuse to call this historical fiction for you young’uns.) All in all, a good read, even for those who would typically stay away from women’s fiction or sports fiction.
I was also curious as to the status of female umpires in the major and minor leagues. How credible was this? What I found is that the first woman to work as an umpire in the minor leagues of professional baseball did so in 1972, so the story could have happened as indicated. But 45 years later it looks like women umpires are still a rarity with the first woman to work in the major leagues not doing so until 2007 and very few that work in professional baseball at any level. Maybe the difficulties Margie experiences are more contemporary than I thought.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
The main appeal is that this is a good story. The struggle to be as good as you can be at your chosen profession, the difficulties that sometimes complicate that, and figuring out how to deal with it, is something many of us can empathize with. I’ve also read a couple things lately that talked about how fiction can help us better understand the lives of people not like us, and this was good for me to imagine the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated profession. I suspect men and women are going to benefit from reading this kind of tale in different ways, but benefit regardless.
I’m not a big sports fan, but I’m sure those who are will enjoy the baseball part of the story. As someone who came of age about the same time as the characters in this story (late 70s) I found myself experiencing a bit of nostalgia that the typical reader wouldn’t. (But I refuse to call this historical fiction for you young’uns.) All in all, a good read, even for those who would typically stay away from women’s fiction or sports fiction.
I was also curious as to the status of female umpires in the major and minor leagues. How credible was this? What I found is that the first woman to work as an umpire in the minor leagues of professional baseball did so in 1972, so the story could have happened as indicated. But 45 years later it looks like women umpires are still a rarity with the first woman to work in the major leagues not doing so until 2007 and very few that work in professional baseball at any level. Maybe the difficulties Margie experiences are more contemporary than I thought.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
November 26, 2018
A solid 4.5 star read.
I'm a baseball fan, but I've never read a book about an umpire before. Let alone a novel about a female umpire.
Part family drama, part sports book, this novel follows a young woman who wants to be a baseball umpire. Along the way as she works her way through the minor leagues, she endures sexism, travel, and living on a shoestring budget. But the story is about more than just Margie and her pursuit of a career as a major league umpire -- it's also about her twin brother, Tim, and his struggles as a major league pitcher; her deceased father, a former major league journeyman catcher; and her long-suffering mother.
There is a large cast of characters in this book (there's also a loyal friend from umpire school, Margie's love interest, a newspaper man, and various other characters), and the point of view character changes from time to time, making the story seem at times a bit disjointed. I also feel like certain plot points should have been developed more. And this is a gritty book; the amount and type of profanity (although not too much overdone and true to situations/characters) means I couldn't really recommend it to a young adult crowd who might otherwise like a book like this.
Those things aside, this is a very solid read which deals with real life situations. The plot moves quickly, and I never found myself bored or in danger of setting the book aside to read something else. The author's prose is solid and workmanlike, perfect for this kind of story. And the characters are, for the most part, well-developed.
Recommended to baseball fans.
I'm a baseball fan, but I've never read a book about an umpire before. Let alone a novel about a female umpire.
Part family drama, part sports book, this novel follows a young woman who wants to be a baseball umpire. Along the way as she works her way through the minor leagues, she endures sexism, travel, and living on a shoestring budget. But the story is about more than just Margie and her pursuit of a career as a major league umpire -- it's also about her twin brother, Tim, and his struggles as a major league pitcher; her deceased father, a former major league journeyman catcher; and her long-suffering mother.
There is a large cast of characters in this book (there's also a loyal friend from umpire school, Margie's love interest, a newspaper man, and various other characters), and the point of view character changes from time to time, making the story seem at times a bit disjointed. I also feel like certain plot points should have been developed more. And this is a gritty book; the amount and type of profanity (although not too much overdone and true to situations/characters) means I couldn't really recommend it to a young adult crowd who might otherwise like a book like this.
Those things aside, this is a very solid read which deals with real life situations. The plot moves quickly, and I never found myself bored or in danger of setting the book aside to read something else. The author's prose is solid and workmanlike, perfect for this kind of story. And the characters are, for the most part, well-developed.
Recommended to baseball fans.
November 11, 2017
Let’s shake it up a little. I was given an ARC copy for an honest review. Below are the notes I sent to the author:
Not a bad story. Not bad at all.
Couple of items to watch:
1) Excessive name tags
2) Sentences beginning with and, and but, and so.
3) I felt a little cheated with the cover-up. Never figured out how high up it went
4) Margie’s character came across a little wishy-washy at times.
5) The death of their father was covered but I’m curious how he died
6) All chapters began with “THE” Break it a little
7) Lot of sentences ended with, though. Took some edge and emphasis on some of the thoughts.
The good
1) It’s a baseball book. How can you go wrong?
2) Enjoyed many of the field situations and the descriptions. Puts readers right on the diamond
3) Did I miss where the name Bargie came from?
4) Liked, Pat. She’s a crusty ole broad.
5) Good to see Wes and Margie got back together. Gonna be one hell of a trio!
6) Little polish, it’s a solid four stars
Thank you for the opportunity of being a beta reader. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Go TIGERS!
I’ve collaborate with Laurie in the past. I don’t always like or agree with the topics she writes about, that aside, she does have a gifted pen. I am a die-hard baseball fan and her love for the game shines through in this fun, hard, gritty tale of the minor leagues and how hard it is to make it to the “show” for players and umpires.
Four Stars
Not a bad story. Not bad at all.
Couple of items to watch:
1) Excessive name tags
2) Sentences beginning with and, and but, and so.
3) I felt a little cheated with the cover-up. Never figured out how high up it went
4) Margie’s character came across a little wishy-washy at times.
5) The death of their father was covered but I’m curious how he died
6) All chapters began with “THE” Break it a little
7) Lot of sentences ended with, though. Took some edge and emphasis on some of the thoughts.
The good
1) It’s a baseball book. How can you go wrong?
2) Enjoyed many of the field situations and the descriptions. Puts readers right on the diamond
3) Did I miss where the name Bargie came from?
4) Liked, Pat. She’s a crusty ole broad.
5) Good to see Wes and Margie got back together. Gonna be one hell of a trio!
6) Little polish, it’s a solid four stars
Thank you for the opportunity of being a beta reader. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Go TIGERS!
I’ve collaborate with Laurie in the past. I don’t always like or agree with the topics she writes about, that aside, she does have a gifted pen. I am a die-hard baseball fan and her love for the game shines through in this fun, hard, gritty tale of the minor leagues and how hard it is to make it to the “show” for players and umpires.
Four Stars
April 25, 2020
I love baseball. And this is a book all about baseball. It is also obvious that the author either knows a lot about baseball or did her homework real well. While the story is a good one and well told, there were times when I just wanted to yell: "Grow up, guys!" This is the story of a baseball family. The Dad had been in baseball most of his life. He died a number of years before this story really gets going. He had ended up as a bull-pen catcher - not the slot you seek out. He has 2 children - a boy named Tim and a girl named Margie. They are both baseball oriented. Tim is a good pitcher - good enough to get picked up by the Cincinnati Reds. Margie, on the other hand, wants to be a Big League Umpire. While you think the story is all about her - and it mostly is - it is also about her brother Tim. Margie is the first female umpire in the minor leagues. And there are quite a few people, players, managers and other umpires, who do not feel baseball is for girls. While all is well that ends well, there were quite a few times when I just wanted to yell at Margie and at Tim to just knock it off and GROW UP! The book is good enough to draw you in and get you emotionally all worked up. A tribute the story and the writing. I won't spoil how it ends, but it ends well. I only wish that somehow we could also know that all was well with Tim.
March 23, 2021
I’m not a huge baseball fan, but I couldn’t pass up a story about such a unique protagonist, one of the first female umpires (story is set in late 70s/early 80s). I greatly enjoyed the feisty, stubborn Margie. She was so well developed and her journey was so compelling, what she encountered and how she faced it head-on. I got angry, I got frustrated, I wanted to kick a wall on her behalf when she encountered the prejudice and harassment (I'm not sure I would have been as level-headed). And then I wanted to cheer for her when the corruption, doping, etc, all came to light and those who deserved it got their comeuppance.
It wasn't all Margie’s struggle for acceptance into the male-dominated world of baseball, either. We also got some POV from her twin brother, Tim, who fell prey to the pressure of the game and into the temptation of addiction (honestly, his story could have been a complete, separate story) as well as strong family themes (especially the emotions around their dead baseball-player dad and widowed, chain-smoking mom) and even some romance. It was a completely refreshing and engrossing story.
It wasn't all Margie’s struggle for acceptance into the male-dominated world of baseball, either. We also got some POV from her twin brother, Tim, who fell prey to the pressure of the game and into the temptation of addiction (honestly, his story could have been a complete, separate story) as well as strong family themes (especially the emotions around their dead baseball-player dad and widowed, chain-smoking mom) and even some romance. It was a completely refreshing and engrossing story.
March 27, 2018
Margie is the first female umpire in the minor league of baseball – but it was an uphill battle. Without support from some progressive folks, she never would have made. Every step of the way she is disrespected, insulted, and worse because some people think baseball is a man’s world.
The baseball scenarios went right over my head, but because of the excitement of being a part of the game, I didn’t care. I could feel the tense atmosphere in the stadium when the ball connected with the bat. I could feel the sweat from the players. I could sense the emotion and love Margie felt for the game and her role in it.
I loved Margie. I loved her conviction and her love of baseball. I loved her stubborn personality and her willingness to learn from her mistakes. She was an amazingly full and rich character. She is an excellent role model. She sticks by her calls.
I absolutely loved every scene with Margie and Wes. Their friendship was awesome and I liked that Margie had a relationship with a man that was not romantic.
The baseball scenarios went right over my head, but because of the excitement of being a part of the game, I didn’t care. I could feel the tense atmosphere in the stadium when the ball connected with the bat. I could feel the sweat from the players. I could sense the emotion and love Margie felt for the game and her role in it.
I loved Margie. I loved her conviction and her love of baseball. I loved her stubborn personality and her willingness to learn from her mistakes. She was an amazingly full and rich character. She is an excellent role model. She sticks by her calls.
I absolutely loved every scene with Margie and Wes. Their friendship was awesome and I liked that Margie had a relationship with a man that was not romantic.
October 16, 2018
This book is great for baseball fans. What I really liked about this book was that I could see the passion and love for the game on every page and it really came through in the character of Margie, who takes up the mantle of umpire. It was quite nice to see that, given how much crap she got from the male characters, especially given the time period. I liked how she kept going and fought back in her own way.
*Won as a GoodReads Giveaway*
*Won as a GoodReads Giveaway*
March 21, 2021
Love the Game
I played, coached and umpired baseball in my younger days and still love a good baseball story. This one has well developed characters and a great story. The baseball is interesting and believable. Thanks for writing it.
I played, coached and umpired baseball in my younger days and still love a good baseball story. This one has well developed characters and a great story. The baseball is interesting and believable. Thanks for writing it.
February 28, 2018
We are proud to announce that THE CALL: A Baseball Novel by Laurie Boris is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
June 28, 2024
Great story!
From start to finish, the book was hard to put down.
It was well written. Also interesting to see the game from the inside , a different perspective.
From start to finish, the book was hard to put down.
It was well written. Also interesting to see the game from the inside , a different perspective.
April 3, 2021
Mixture of baseball and suspense that I thoroughly enjoyed. I couldn't put it down. Some good reminders of lessons in life that many have a hard time with.
Want to read
September 14, 2018Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2018/09...
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2018/09...
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