"I learned Math from Baseball & Jim Bouton taught me How to Read"
Not entirely true, but there is a lot of truth there.
Prior to college I think I only finished maybe... three books, "1984", "Wired" the Biography of Jim Belushi, and "Ball Four". All those novels we were supposed to read in High School (Hester Prynne, Silas Marner, Macbeth, Huck Finn, etc Who Knows What Else) - I read exactly none of them.
But "Ball Four" it spoke to me.
"Ball Four" - Jim Bouton (1970 2nd Edition)
I have read the book three times once as a teenager. Again in my 20s or 30s, and most recently in my late 40s in preparation to see Bouton at the NYC SABR convention.
The SABR panel was incredible. That weekend it was publicly announced that Jim Bouton had a brain disease related to dementia. Regardless with the help of his wife Paula Kurman he was up to the task of discussing his life and Ball Four in a panel dedicated to Bouton and the book. A fan of the book and the man could asked for nothing more. Bouton was funny, touching, and informative. He was "Ball Four" personified.
He was also good enough to pose for pictures while signing books and other memorabilia.
Jim Bouton (2017 Jul 01)
The Photo on the left page is one that I took at the event. The book is a 2nd edition
Ball Four (2nd Edition)
Here is Ball Four sans jacket.
That's it for now. Over the coming weeks I would like to mine the Phungo Museum for some other Bouton related content. Today, I would just like to recognize that he will always be a favorite author and I am glad I was introduced to his unique point of view early in my life and have been able to enjoy it to this day.
Memorials & Tributes
SABR (Mark Armour)
Sources and Link
Jim Bouton Index
SABR Bio (Mark Armour)
SABR47 NYC
Not entirely true, but there is a lot of truth there.
Prior to college I think I only finished maybe... three books, "1984", "Wired" the Biography of Jim Belushi, and "Ball Four". All those novels we were supposed to read in High School (Hester Prynne, Silas Marner, Macbeth, Huck Finn, etc Who Knows What Else) - I read exactly none of them.
But "Ball Four" it spoke to me.
I have read the book three times once as a teenager. Again in my 20s or 30s, and most recently in my late 40s in preparation to see Bouton at the NYC SABR convention.
The SABR panel was incredible. That weekend it was publicly announced that Jim Bouton had a brain disease related to dementia. Regardless with the help of his wife Paula Kurman he was up to the task of discussing his life and Ball Four in a panel dedicated to Bouton and the book. A fan of the book and the man could asked for nothing more. Bouton was funny, touching, and informative. He was "Ball Four" personified.
He was also good enough to pose for pictures while signing books and other memorabilia.
The Photo on the left page is one that I took at the event. The book is a 2nd edition
Here is Ball Four sans jacket.
That's it for now. Over the coming weeks I would like to mine the Phungo Museum for some other Bouton related content. Today, I would just like to recognize that he will always be a favorite author and I am glad I was introduced to his unique point of view early in my life and have been able to enjoy it to this day.
Memorials & Tributes
SABR (Mark Armour)
Sources and Link
Jim Bouton Index
SABR Bio (Mark Armour)
SABR47 NYC
Sad to hear the news last night. I have his book on my iPad. Gonna try to read it this summer.
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