Skip to main content

I read Bouton's Ball Four  when I was in 8th grade.  Changed my baseball life.  Tried to learn a knuckleball because of it (which later evolved into a fairly effective forkball).  Changed my vocabulary because of it, which got me in trouble at school because for a day or two I couldn't stop saying "f..ks..t".  Made me realize ball players were human, but I was too young to think of it that way.

Bouton pulled back the veil on baseball, for better or worse.

 

"Don't be mean now because remember: Wherever you go, there you are..." Buckaroo Banzai

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Whenever I see a reference to Jim Boutin I always think of Joe Schultz’s two favorite words, s***f*** and f***s*** and she looked like Joe Torre with (breasts). I was fifteen when I read Ball Four. I kept the book hidden as if it were a Playboy.

In 1963 Boutin won 21 games. He asked for a raise. He was told he pitches for the Yankees. He’s supposed to win 20 games. Think players appreciate free agency? 

Last edited by RJM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×