Millions of American baseball fans know, with absolute certainty, that umpires are simply overpaid galoots who are doing an easy job badly. Millions of American baseball fans are wrong.

Tonight, take an insider’s look at the secret society, with special rules, rituals, and language, of the men (and the few women) who have no friends at the ballpark. Learn how umpires see a game completely differently from the fans.

Hear from writer Bruce Weber, Major League umpire Ted Barrett, and retired big league umpire Jim Evans about how umpires work behind the plate, watch the bases, and manage to see everything on the field. Learn about the travails of umpire training and being among the select few who make it to the Major Leagues. Phil Hochberg, former Washington Senators stadium announcer, moderates. To open, Glenn Donnellan, National Symphony Orchestra violinist, welcomes fans by playing his bat-violin.

Weber writes for the New York Times. Barrett has been an umpire for Major League Baseball for 10 years. Evans runs a professional umpiring school. Weber’s book As They See ‘Em (Scribner) is available for signing.

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