RIP Jim Bouton

[kkkkandp]

Jeff:

My brush with Jim Bouton was not as grand and glorious as yours, but very similar.

When my son was born in 1983, we wanted to do a "different" kind of birth announcement. Since I was back into collecting cards at that point we thought it would be cool to do a custom baseball card. When I searched for someone who could do it, I found just such a local business - Big League Cards, Inc.

Sounds like a big deal, right? We went to an office building in Teaneck, New Jersey and found the room number. When we went in the door - the "corporation" was Jim Bouton. He was sitting behind the desk; he took the order; he handled the payment. He was a one-man show! It was awesome to just talk to the guy because he was a local hero, but just one of us! We talked about a bunch of Yankee stuff, but also some generic stuff. My wife is a phys ed/health teacher and we started talking about the dangers of chewing tobacco and how kids look up to (and emulate) big leaguers. That's when we found out about his Big League Chew (bubble gum) venture. Just a real down-to-earth guy.

I'm so glad we decided on a baseball card!

RIP, Jim!

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by kkkkandp

Jeff:

My brush with Jim Bouton was not as grand and glorious as yours, but very similar.

When my son was born in 1983, we wanted to do a "different" kind of birth announcement. Since I was back into collecting cards at that point we thought it would be cool to do a custom baseball card. When I searched for someone who could do it, I found just such a local business - Big League Cards, Inc.

Sounds like a big deal, right? We went to an office building in Teaneck, New Jersey and found the room number. When we went in the door - the "corporation" was Jim Bouton. He was sitting behind the desk; he took the order; he handled the payment. He was a one-man show! It was awesome to just talk to the guy because he was a local hero, but just one of us! We talked about a bunch of Yankee stuff, but also some generic stuff. My wife is a phys ed/health teacher and we started talking about the dangers of chewing tobacco and how kids look up to (and emulate) big leaguers. That's when we found out about his Big League Chew (bubble gum) venture. Just a real down-to-earth guy.

I'm so glad we decided on a baseball card!

RIP, Jim!

OMG I totally forgot about this. My Little League in NJ used him.

[marzoumanian]

Thanks for sharing, Jeff. I didn't read Ball Four until I was in my 50s. But now I tell any baseball fan I meet at any ball park (I keep score at games so that often starts conversations) they have to read Ball Four (along with The Glory of Their Times). RIP, Jim Bouton.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Always loved his laid-back, Joe Everyman way of being. Never seemed disingenuous. He was always willing to write a letter answering any questions sent his way.

While it was terrible to hear of his dementia, he'll forever be that younger fellow who wrote the definitive first person account of 60's baseball. That's the magic of the written word.

[Mark17]

Whenever I pick up Ball Four and open it to any random page, all Ihave to do is read a few words and I know exactly what the story is, how the dialogue plays out, and so on. It's like I have memorized that book in my subconscious.

Just for fun I sent him an email a few years back, and he took the time to reply. Very sorry to hear of his passing, but he sure lived an interesting life, and his writing will outlive him by centuries (however long baseball exists.)

[tedzan]

Hi Jeff

I really enjoyed your story (post #3), thanks for sharing it with us.

1963 was a banner year for Jim (21-7), including the 22-inning game in which Jim shut-out Detroit in the final 7 innings to win it for the Yankees.
Check-it-out..... https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june...22-inning-game

Also, I would tune into WABC radio when your Talk show was on. Your radio shows were very, very interesting.

GOD Bless Jim's soul, and comfort his family.






TED Z
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[Leon]

Nice thread....Thanks for sharing, Jeff et al.. And may Jim rest in peace.

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