I was in high school when Ball Four came out and it caused a major sensation. We would meet each day in the cafeteria and discuss the book. We all loved it and though it was an absolute riot.
Nothing shows more in the book than Jim's LOVE of the game. Controversial, yes (at the time), funny, yes (sometimes dated sometimes hilarious) but unabashedly loving of the game of baseball. That last line, so revealing, always gives me chills.
Circa 1987, at a conference where Bouton was a keynote speaker, I mentioned to him that I was glad that I had read his book as a college freshman, rather than as a 12 or 13 year old kid who looked up to Mickey Mantle. (As I was 17 when the book was published, however, that would not have been possible.) Bouton seemed a bit defensive and said that we shouldn't have false images of our idols. I told him that I didn't say that he shouldn't have written it, just that I was glad I didn't know at a younger age some of the things he had divulged in his book. Ball Four was ground-breaking in that it changed the rules of what was acceptable, by exposing incidents of the private lives of public people. Once that door was opened there was no going back. Bouton's book certainly rattled a few cages at the time.
Bouton was a big advocate of a free South Africa.Now the current President of that hellhole is threatening to kill the white population.To think that Bouton and I were born in the same hospital.
I was in high school when Ball Four came out and it caused a major sensation. We would meet each day in the cafeteria and discuss the book. We all loved it and though it was an absolute riot.
Ball Four was a great Book to read, and Laugh out Loud Funny!!!!
Very well done! Just finished the book for the first time.
It was a great Book to read, period!!!!
Nothing shows more in the book than Jim's LOVE of the game. Controversial, yes (at the time), funny, yes (sometimes dated sometimes hilarious) but unabashedly loving of the game of baseball. That last line, so revealing, always gives me chills.
You’re right about that!!!!
Great video!!!!
Loved the book Ball Four, it was a great book to read!!!!
lol, the commissioner wanted to keep the "greenies" secret.
I know Right!!!!
he was a fine ballplayer. Home Games is also a fine book, and a good companion piece to Ball Four (The Final Inninc).
R.I.P Laurie Bouton
Circa 1987, at a conference where Bouton was a keynote speaker, I mentioned to him that I was glad that I had read his book as a college freshman, rather than as a 12 or 13 year old kid who looked up to Mickey Mantle. (As I was 17 when the book was published, however, that would not have been possible.) Bouton seemed a bit defensive and said that we shouldn't have false images of our idols. I told him that I didn't say that he shouldn't have written it, just that I was glad I didn't know at a younger age some of the things he had divulged in his book.
Ball Four was ground-breaking in that it changed the rules of what was acceptable, by exposing incidents of the private lives of public people. Once that door was opened there was no going back. Bouton's book certainly rattled a few cages at the time.
I read it when I was eleven. It was kind of like finding out that Santa Claus wasn't real.
His book and its aftermath had a profound effect on me. If you're right and telling the truth, stick to your guns! He will be greatly missed.
Hiking4Life Loved Reading Ball Four, it was a great book to read!!!!
Nice job, Michael Matos ;-)
Agreed on that!!!!
No mention of his time with the Portland Mavericks of the NW League.......
Yes, now that you mentioned it!!!!!
Bowie Kuhn, what a stooge
Can you believe that schmuck Kuhn was voted into the HOF?
I know Right!!!!
@@jamesd2128 I was thinking the same thing!!!!
Bouton was a big advocate of a free South Africa.Now the current President of that hellhole is threatening to kill the white population.To think that Bouton and I were born in the same hospital.
I loved that commie pinko