Time to Pull Out Your Bill Lee Rookie Cards O/T

[Rich Klein]

I will be peforming back to back posts *Try the veal, we'll be here all week*

Bruce --- aren't 1970 Topps cards a bit mundane for you

Rich

[sox1903wschamp]

Thanks for the post Bruce. The "Spaceman" will always have a special place in my heart. What a character and I did watch his documentary in Cuba.

A quick story from my youth. I was at a Red Sox game in late 1972 with my younger Sister and some other kids from the nieghborhood. I was 12 at the time and my Sister was 9. We were sitting behind the Sox pen about 8-10 rows up in the bleachers. Bill was out in the pen and it must have been a boring day because he was holding shop with all the fans. Trading barbs, playing catch with the fans, he was a riot.

He was thinking up new ways to interact with the fans as the innings passed and he started making bubble gum balls from a stash of gum in the pen and drop kicking them into the stands. He was getting pretty good at it and then one of his kicks zinged my Sister right on the side of her head. Remember she was 9 but she was okay and amused. Bill made sure she was okay and then gave her an autographed ball with all the bullpen guys. Me and my Sister still recount that game to this day and she still has the ball from Bill.

And Bill will always be remembered fondly by me for forming the "Loyal Order of Buffalo Heads" in 1977 with teammates Fergie Jenkins, Rick Wise, Jim Willoughby and Bernie Carbo. The group was formed in defiance of Manager Don Zimmer and his perceived handling of the picthing staff that year. A Buffalo is generally considered to be the dumbest animal in creation. Good stuff!

[Rob D.]

My favorite Bill Lee anecdote is that he once asked for permission to wear No. 337 because, he explained, when that number is turned upside down it spells "Lee." After his request was denied, he went with No. 37.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

My favorite Bill Lee anecdote is that he once asked for permission to wear No. 337 because, he explained, when that number is turned upside down it spells "Lee." After his request was denied, he went with No. 37.

How have I not heard that one?! That's great! I can envision him wearing #337 and trying to pitch while upside down!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Title of his autobiography" "The Wrong Stuff."

Comment after game 2 of the 75 Series, when a reporter asked him to characterize the Series so far: "tied."

Worst moment: the second "Leephus" pitch of the game to Tony Perez in game 7, who was ready for it and nuked it.

Classic moment: leaving Fenway in full uniform to catch the end of the Boston Marathon.

[Rickyy]

Guys like Bill Lee made the game fun back in my childhood. That Red Sox with Oil Can Boyd, Lee and El Tiante must been an interesting bunch!

[pitchernut]

here it is

[Sutthoff Grandson]

Didn't a reporter ask Lee if he liked "Grass better than Turf?" and Lee replied

"I don't know.. I never smoked any turf"

[Cat]

Interesting read:

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...-the-spaceman/

[2dueces]

I saw Bill pitch in Moncton, New Brunswick in 86 or 87. Can't remember if he pitched for Moncton or against them. Sorry, CRS. He was still a drawing card then and whenever he pitched he drew large crowds. Wasn't it Bill who said he liked Wheaties but only if he sprinkled pot on top of it? Once a character, always a character.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Sutthoff Grandson

Didn't a reporter ask Lee if he liked "Grass better than Turf?" and Lee replied

"I don't know.. I never smoked any turf"

That was Tug McGraw.