OT Passing of 1960's Yankee Jim Bouton...

[billyjack]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/ob ... story.html

I just read that Jim Bouton passed away today at 80 years old. By 25 he had pitched in a couple of World Series for the Yanks, won 20 and 18 games in 63 and 64, won 2 in the 64 WS, was an excellent hard thrower with his trademark hat falling off. He retired for the most part after the 1970 season, so i don't (really) remember him pitching, except when i was 9 or 10 he pitched for Ted Turner's Braves for a few games in 1978 (joining fellow knuckleballer Phil Niekro). He also starred in a short-lived baseball sitcom around that time in the late 70's too which my brother and i watched.

So the Yankees dynasty collapsed in 1965, and Bouton developed arm trouble. He struggled for several years with chronic arm problems, until NY cut him i think after the 1968 season.

Coincidentally, MLB expansion with 4 teams in 1969 allowed Bouton to sign with the Seattle Pilots (became the Brewers in 1970) as a reliever. His arm was cooked, so he decided as a last gasp to throw a knuckleball. He actually had a good year, with a solid ERA and some good outings. Midseason he was traded to Houston as the Astros fell short in the Western Division (NL of course) pennant race.

Anyway, the real significance of 1969 was that he was taking notes and developing a baseball diary book named "Ball Four", which opened up the inner workings and experiences of baseball players, clubhouses, owners, etc, telling stories on players' peccadilloes, insecurities, race relations, contract disputes and getting screwed by owners, plus discussions of the Vietnam War which was in full swing that year... plus of course common swearing, drinking, partying, womanizing, and so on... all of which was considered scandalous and shocking. A lot of players were pissed that their private world was brought into the open. To me it's still a fascinating and amazing book.

I read the book during the Summer of 1982 as a 14 year old, so there were many players still active or recently active, so i recognized most names.

Anyway Bouton's situation was perfect for storytelling because he had great and varied exposure and storylines in many areas:

- he played on the legendary Yankee teams (or took part in Spring Training) of the early 60's, at the end of their amazing 44 year run of dominance. So he shared stories involving Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, Whitey Ford, and so on.

- expansion teams in 1969 would draft at least 2 players from each the other 10 teams in their respective leagues. That meant Bouton had a couple of players who could provide insight and stories into all other American League organizations. So for example, Mike Marshall (later Dodger star) and Ray Oyler (light hitting shortstop) i think were both on the World Champion Tigers in 1968, providing info on Detroit. And so on...

- in the middle of 1969, when he moved to Houston (though the Astros weren't a 69 expansion team), he was able to get the scoop on a lot of National League players. Or he'd talk pregame with opponents.

Some funny paraphrased stories in the book that i remember off the top of my head are:

- in 64, the Yankees under manager Yogi were struggling in August, and they had a disatrous visit to Chicago. On the bus back to the hotel, the team was quiet and bummed out, and during this ride, backup infielder Phil Linz (who was a little pissed at Berra cuz he wasn't playing much) was practicing the harmonica in the back of the bus. Cuz he was just learning, Linz was practicing "Mary Had A Little Lamb", and was playing it poorly. Anyway, Yogi stood up and yelled to stop playing or he'd stick the harmonica up Linz's arse. Linz was way in the back, didn't hear, and asked Mantle what Yogi said. Mantle responded "Yogi said play louder"... then Yogi went at Linz and whacked the harmonica out of his hands, hitting Joe Pepitone or someone like that. Anyway, NY then started winning and attributed it to the Phil Linz incident.

- another shorter story is that on the Seattle scouting cards on opponents' batters, one of the Pilots' pitchers jokingly wrote for each hitter acriss the American League "Smoke him inside!"... and the Seattle coaching staff took it seriously.

- contract disputes and team ownership screwing players are discussed, and some of the first sparks of free agency came about in 1969.

Anyway, the book is such a great read, and Bouton was such a great storyteller. I'm trying to get my sons to read it too.

I definitely wanted to give Jim Bouton his own thread.

[DanofXav76]

Thanks for sharing those awesome memories from one of my all time favorite classics as well Billy Jack. Tony K. from PTI also did a very nice tribute to Jim a couple of nights ago.
It also brings to mind maybe the first "tell all" books from Jim Brosnan a relief pitcher for the Reds (and others). First the "Long Season" detailing his 1959 season and the "Pennant Race" the improbable Red's run to the 1961 World Series (losing to those Damn Yankees in 5 games). Ahh when times were simpler.

[hoops22]

I agree that Ball Four was one of the great baseball books of all time. Here's another article on Bouton that some might find interesting. As a big baseball fan myself, I always liked the last line in his book, which is included in the article below.
https://nypost.com/2019/07/11/jim-bouto ... -ruin-him/