Behind the Plate with John McSherry

Baseball fans know that John McSherry was a legendary umpire (he died on opening day in Cincinnati in 1996), but few are likely aware that he also enjoyed a career instructing umpires, a fact that is profiled here in this neatly produced "commemorative instructional" video. Here, we see McSherry and catcher Steve Yeager in full gear, demonstrating the art of calling strikes, plays at plate and working with the catcher. These action scenes alternate with "Let's Talk" segments where McSherry discusses how the game has changed, how to handle various situations and his philosophy of play. This lively presentation should be warmly received by McSherry's fans, but because of its narrow focus and specific content, it's an optional purchase for all but comprehensive sports collections or budding umpires. (J. Reed)