Revolutionary Read

Back in 1970, the baseball world was in furor over a book called Ball Four that was written by a journeyman pitcher named Jim Bouton.

- Stephen Laroche

Peeling back the curtain about life in the Major Leagues and pulling no punches, the visceral reaction from the baseball establishment to the salacious behavior described only caused millions of fans to run out and buy it. It humanized heroes and was a revelation in sports literature. It can be argued that there was nothing like it before or since.

Over 45 years after its release, Bouton put his manuscript archive up for sale via SCP Auctions and collectors had a chance to own the source materials for a piece of baseball and pop culture history. Ultimately, the lot did not meet the reserve price, but Beckett Sports Card Monthly spoke with Bouton and his wife, Paula Kurman, about the book’s legacy as well as the decision to move such a personal piece of his life.

“You wake up one morning and you look in the mirror and you realize that you’re not getting any younger,” said Kurman. “You can’t take it with you and the thought of dividing it up between four children and six grandchildren is just too daunting. Jim has tremendously enjoyed looking at those things for so many years and we’ve treasured them and kept them safe and protected. It was just time.”

Bouton joined the New York Yankees back in 1962 and was part of a World Series championship as a rookie. The next year, he won 21 games and earned a spot in the All Star Game. An arm injury in 1965 slowed his momentum, and he was in the minors three years later. Expansion allowed him to join the Seattle Pilots and much of the book recalls his experiences for the woeful club. Traded to Houston later that year, his career was about to come to an abrupt close.

Ball Four effectively exiled Bouton from the Majors after its release, but he explained the decision to write it.