Jim Bouton

Ball Four is a baseball classic, a number one bestseller when it was published; it still is in demand throughout the U.S. Now in a new updated hardcover edition, Ball Four will reach a whole new generation of avid baseball fans. In fact, Ball Four has been selected by the NY Public Library as one of the "Books of the Century." And David Halberstam writes: "a book deep in the American Vein, so deep in fact that is by no means a sports book." Bouton has written a baseball book about the reality of the game. Thirty years after its publication, it remains as wonderful to read as ever.

Former major league pitcher Jim Bouton's sequel to his famous "Ball Four" - one of the best baseball books ever written. Bouton writes about the reaction to the book from MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, fellow players and his publisher. Also, reviews from those who liked the book and lots more.

In his first diary since Ball Four , Jim Bouton recounts his amazing adventure trying to save an historic ballpark in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Host to organized baseball since 1892, Wahconah Park was soon to be abandoned by the owner of the Pittsfield Mets who would move his team to a new stadium in another town---an all too familiar story.Enter Bouton and his partners with the best deal ever offered to a community---a locally owned professional baseball team and a privately restored city owned ballpark at no cost to the taxpayers. It was a dream come true for the vast majority of the people of Pittsfield.But Bouton’s plan was opposed by an elite group of power brokers who wanted to build a new $18.5 million baseball stadium---a stadium that the people had voted against three different times!In what one reviewer called "that same humane, sarcastic voice," Bouton unmasks a mayor who brags that "the fix is in," a newspaper that lies to its readers, and a city government that operates out of a bar.And that’s just Part l.Part ll is the even more amazing story of what happened after this book as self published---a story in itself---in hardcover. Invited back to Pittsfield by newly elected city officials, Bouton and his partners raise $1.2 million, help uncover a document that dates Pittsfield’s baseball origins to 1791, and stage a vintage baseball game that is broadcast live on national television.Who could have guessed what would happen next? And that this time it would involve the Massachusetts Attorney General.

In a compelling tale of major league baseball, two men try to reclaim their lives--a minor league player who has one last shot at success and an aging umpire who is planning to fix the game. Reprint.

A famous expose of baseball behind the scenes has been expanded to include Bouton's comeback to the big leagues, the breakup of his marriage, and his current career as a writer and television personality

In his first diary since Ball Four, Jim Bouton recounts his amazing adventure trying to save a historic ballpark in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Host to organized baseball since 1892, Wahconah Park was soon to be abandoned by the owner of the Pittsfield Mets, who would move his team to a new stadium in another town--an all too familiar story.Enter Bouton and his partner with the best deal ever offered to a community--a locally owned professional baseball team and a privately restored city-owned ballpark at no cost to the taxpayers.The only people who didn’t like Bouton’s plan were the Mayor, the Mayor’s hand-picked Parks Commissioners, a majority of the City Council, the only daily newspaper, the city’s largest bank, it’s most powerful law firm, and a guy from General Electric. Everyone else--or approximately 98% of the citizens of Pittsfield--loved it.The "good old boys" hated Bouton’s plan because it would put a stake in the heart of a proposed $18.5 million baseball stadium--a new stadium that the citizens of Pittsfield had voted against three different times!In what one reviewer called "that same humane, sarcastic voice" Bouton unmasks a mayor who brags that "the fix is in," a newspaper that lies to its readers, and a government that operates out of a bar.But maybe the most incredible story is what happened after Foul Ball was self-published--a story in itself. Invited back by a new mayor, Bouton and his partner raise $1.2 million, help discover a document dating Pittsfield’s baseball origins to 1791, and stage a vintage game that's broadcast live by ESPN-TV.Who could have guessed what would happen next? And that this time it would involve the Massachusetts Attorney General?"What Foul Ball shares with Ball Four," wrote John Feinstein, "is Bouton’s humor… and a remarkable tale that--if you didn’t trust the author--you would find difficult to believe."

Anthology of previously published articles about baseball managers & managing, each introduced by Bouton.