Kill The Umpire [signed]

KILL THE UMPIRE is not a mystery novel. But, its no mystery that Ransome Burton, the sensation of the Texas League in 1949, had every reason to wish for the death of Dutch Foster, the dean of League umpires. After all, Dutch intended to bring Ransomes promising career to an end.

This conflict raged all season long and finally ended in the most bizarre event in the long, 110-year history of the Texas League. But this is just one part of a real baseball novel which takes place during the golden years of the game in the beautiful, historic city of San Antonio. An exciting pennant race dominates the action. Its also the story of the lives -- and loves -- of young ball players at a time when baseball was at its very best.

Actual players and managers leap out of the pages. Bobby Bragan, the outstanding and colorful manager of Ft. Worth in 1949, does his famous strip tease. Roger Hornsby and Charlie Grimm are featured as managers, Carl Erskine and Dick Williams as players.

What sets this novel apart is that the author, Grant Dunlap, actually played in the Texas League in the late 40s and early 50s. He can bring you into the action on the baseball field and into the hearts and minds of the players.

Grant Dunlap signed his first professional baseball contract at the age of 17, and used the $870 signing bonus to pay for an operation his mother needed. But the war interrupted, and the next year he joined the Marine Corps, became and officer and served in the South Pacific and China.

In 1947 Dunlap returned to pro baseball, playing in the Texas League from 1947 to 1952 and winning the batting championship when playing for Shreveport. In 1953 he batted .353 as a pinch hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals.

After his playing ended, Dunlap became a baseball and basketball coach, Professor Emeritus and Athletic Director at Occidental College in Los Angeles. He has been inducted into the Hall of Fame in his hometown of Stockton, Calif. for both baseball and basketball and at Occidental College.

He and his wife Janet now live in Carlsbad, Calif., and he spends his time golfing and gardening.