welcome to GoY :o)
sounds like a mineral deficiency. But I don't grow pears so I will need to have a bit of research first.

I have found this on a US site:
'Winter pears such as D'Anjou, Bosc or Comice are more difficult for home gardeners to handle. These pears are generally picked near the end of September in the Salt Lake area. Winter pears require two to three months' storage at temperatures near 32 degrees to ripen properly. If they don't get the right storage conditions, they shrivel and won't develop a sweet juicy flavor and texture. Proper storage conditions are virtually impossible without refrigeration.'
hope it helps.

Are you saying the pears aren't even the right shape? Your description of a spherical hockey puck suggests that's the case, because they should be more egg shaped, with a larger bottom than top. Did you ever cut one in half and if you did, what did it look like on the inside? What's your USDA zone?

Hi -- thanks, both of you, for your replies. Bamboo, I should have said, "semi-pear-shaped hockey pucks" -- they are sort of pear-shaped, but small and misshapen. I've cut into them -- they are hard inside and very gritty/stony.

I live in southern Vermont. Not sure what the zone is, but I bought the trees at the local Agway.

Seaburngirl, based on your info, maybe I just need to cut them down and plant something else!

If the fruits had numerous, small brown spots inside, it might be boron deficiency. The other possibility is Pear Stony Pit virus, but that doesnt usually affect all the fruits.