Jim Bouton
A hard-throwing righthander, Jim Bouton seemed destined to become the ace of the Yankees staff in the early 1960s, but an arm injury curtailed his career as a starter. After winning 21 games as a 24-year old in 1963, and 18 the next season, his shoulder gave out, and Bouton spent four years trying to rebound in the Bronx. Eventually he was released and latched on with the lowly expansion Seattle Pilots in 1969. Little that he did on the mound that season was noteworthy, but the notes he was keeping in the bullpen resulted in a book that shocked baseball. Ball Four, written as a diary of that '69 season, became a national bestseller and remains one of the most important sports books in history. In the book, Bouton reveals the drinking habits, adolescent behavior, drug-taking, and woman-chasing expolits of ballplayers. His candor left him blacklisted in the game, but to his credit, he worked hard to master his knuckleball and returned to the major leagues as a 39-year old in 1978 after an eight-year hiatus.
Quotes From Bouton
"There was a time, not too long ago, when school kids read Ball Four at night under the covers with a flashlight because their parents wouldn't allow it in the house. It was not your typical sports book about the importance of clean living and inspired coaching. I was called Judas and a Benedict Arnold for having written it. The book was attacked in the media because among other things, it 'used four-letter words and destroyed heroes.' It was even banned in a few libraries because it was said to be 'bad for the youth of America.' " — in his preface to a 1980 revised edition of Ball Four
Played For
New York Yankees (1962-1968)
Seattle Pilots (1969)
Houston Astros (1969-1970)
Atlanta Braves (1978)
Best Season: 1963
Bouton was 16th in American League MVP voting, and he was the fifth pitcher in that vote. He won 21 games, had a 2.53 ERA, and struck out 148. Away from Yankee Stadium he was deadly efficient: a 2.28 ERA. At home he won almost all the time: 10-1.
Excerpts from Ball Four
"Houk can look as sincere as hell with those big blue eyes of his and when he calls you 'podner' it's hard to argue with him." — on negotiating his contract with Yankee GM Ralph Houk
"Sal Maglie is the pitching coach - Sal the Barber of the New York Giants, my boyhood hero. He still looks like he'dknock down his grandmother. He's got those big evil-looking black eyes. Looks something like Snoopy doing the vulture bit." — on pitching coach Sal Maglie of the 1969 Pilots
"I once invested a dollar when [Mickey] Mantle raffled off a ham. I won, only there was no ham. That was one of the hazards of entering a game of chance, Mickey explained."
"... I dont like the Mantle that refused to sign baseballs in the clubhouse before the games. Everybody else had to sign, but Little Pete forged Mantle's signature. So there are thousands of baseballs around the country that have been signed not by Mickey Mantle, but by Pete Previte."
Born
James Alan Bouton was born on March 8, 1939, in Newark, NJ.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: NYA
Major League Debut
April 22, 1962
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1962
Willie Stargell
Bob Bailey
Ed Kranepool
Cookie Rojas
Tony Oliva
Gaylord Perry
Bob Veale
Dick Radatz
Tommy Harper
Nicknames
Bulldog
Similar Players
Danny Cox, Pat Zachry
Related Players
Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1984 |
BBWAA |
3 |
.7% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1963 World Series
1964 World Series
Post-Season Notes
Bouton was the Yankees' best player in the 1964 World Series. He won Game Three, 2-1, hurling a complete game. Three days later, he won again, 8-5, with eight innings of work.
Transactions
Before 1959 Season: Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent.
October 21, 1968: Purchased by the Seattle Pilots from the New York Yankees.
August 24, 1969: Traded by the Seattle Pilots to the Houston Astros for Dooley Womack and Roric Harrison.
August 12, 1970: Released by the Houston Astros.
April 7, 1977: Signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago White Sox.
June 1, 1977: Released by the Chicago White Sox.
May 16, 1978: Signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.
November 2, 1978: Granted Free Agency.
Matchup Data
Jim Fregosi was 3-for-38 (.079) against Bouton... Two Tigers had good success against Bouton: Al Kaline hit .367 (11-for-30) with three homers, and Dick McAuliffe hit .355 (11-for-31) with four homers... Fred Whitfield's five homers are the most off Bouton.
Trivia Question
Which foul-mouthed manager did Jim Bouton immortalize in Ball Four?
Trivia Answer
Joe Schultz
All-Star Selections
1963 AL
Best Strength as a Player
His editor, who kept all the great stories in his book.
Learn More about Jim Bouton
Search Amazon.com for Books about Jim Bouton ⇒
Search for Jim Bouton at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
Sources used for the Jim Bouton Player Page:
Ball Four, Jim Bouton, 1970. Edited by Leonard Shecter
