Books and articles about Ken Kaiser

Voted the Most Colorful Umpire in the AL in a 1986 TSN poll, Kaiser is a former bar bouncer and pro wrestler. In the ring he wore a black hood, carried an ax, and was billed as "The Hatchet Man." In 1981, when Billy Martin was suspended but still telephoning instructions to the dugout, Kaiser took the phone from a player's hand, said, "You're disconnected, Billy!" and ripped the instrument from the dugout wall. He was a strict enforcer of the balk rule even before the leagues toughened enforcement in 1988. He was behind the plate for Gaylord Perry's 300th win on May 6, 1982. (RTM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » March 30, 1999: The Players Association releases the results of a survey rating major league umpires in both leagues. Tim McClelland (American League) and Jerry Crawford (National League) receive the highest grades, while Ken Kaiser (AL) and Charlie Williams (NL) receive the lowest.