Ball Four and Ted Williams' Wacky Life

I was in the middle of listening to Ball Four a few weeks ago. So it was weird to discover the last chapter in Jim Bouton's life ended.

Jim narrated his audio book (watch this link for his thoughts on the experience). And that made it feel eerie - as if your friend was just talking to you a few hours before he died.

The story Jim tells is so relatable. His obituary and this column touch on that theme. It captures a slice of a time and a place that’s long gone. Yet it still applies to anytime and anywhere.

There’s a constant struggle to hang in there at work – to be good enough. It's also a struggle to deal with all kinds of personalities. It was much more than I expected right down to the last sentence.

I'd like to have hung out with Jim for even 30 minutes. But I’m grateful he was still able to talk to me.

Rest in peace, Jim. 1939 – 2019

...

A lot of players were referenced in Ball Four – either directly by Jim or by someone in the book. One of them was Ted Williams:

Jim Pagliaroni was telling us how Ted Williams, when he was still playing, would psyche himself up for a game during batting practice, usually early practice before the fans or reporters got there

Coincidentally the Ted Williams Card Company printed a Jim Bouton card.

And here’s the Ted Williams phone connection...

It's a superb 1959 Fleer oddball. And it's the second oldest baseball card with a phone (of the 1950's Bakelite variety). Fleer reprinted this card in 2004. If someone has one I’d trade for it.

Ted’s got a weird look on his face as if he’s annoyed with the world. Apparently that was a theme with Ted.

I finished reading The Sports Immortals, one of the spring cleaning books I'm selling. 

It goes into detail about Ted being annoyed by the press and fans. He even spit into a crowd and got fined the equivalent of $46,500 in today's dollars (5% of his salary).

As Ted aged, his son John Henry managed Ted's life. According to this ESPN article it didn't sound fun for Ted. His son also apparently pushed to freeze Ted cryogenically.  One story gets into some wacky, gory details about his frozen head.

Both Jim and Ted's death reminds me that in the end we’re all the same. Life can be large and filled with lots of fans, but it shrinks as you age. It dwindles down to those closet to you in relationship or proximity. So choose wisely.

Card facts: it's card #41 out of an 80 card set focused on Ted Williams. Apparently #68 was pulled out of production and is expensive (plus forged a lot). Glad I don't need or want that one.

Current Availability: common but not cheap (especially for ones in nicer shape, like the one I got)

An Almost Perfect Game

One the 100 Greatest Sports Feats covers Harvey Haddix, who pitched the hell out of a game in 1959.

I was skimming through some books that are destined for the sell pile (or as trades for cards). I've gotten all I can from them. Now it's time for someone else. But before they go I'll write about some book to card connections.

This Illustrated True Book is what Wally or the Beav would’ve read on a street curb.

Reading a book published in 1964 about a then-recent event is a little weird and interesting. It starts with a dedication to John F. Kennedy, who died in '63. So it's like experiencing history told in the voice of that era. There's a time machine quality to it.

Haddix still holds the MLB record for most consecutive batters retired in one game (36). He was battling a serious cold yet managed to become the first to pitch a perfect game through 12 innings (noted on his tombstone).

I picked up Harvey's 1993 Upper Deck card two years ago. The card's got a lot going for it. The best thing, of course, is the serious 50’s phone (no curly cord just straight old school).

This seems to be a phone made of Bakelite, an older type of plastic. It looks like this one someone's selling on Etsy:

The card back summarizes his almost perfect game. There’s also an explanation of the Baseball Assistance Team. This is a cool idea - a foundation that helps ball players in need. BAT still exists. Fuji also posted a box break with more info here.

There's a more "recent" 2009 article titled the Greatest Game Ever Pitched that's written 50 years after the game. It's worth a read. And last Sunday marked the 60th anniversary.

I wonder what he's reading while chatting on the phone...

Card facts: based on the 1912 T-202 Hassan Triple Folders card design, this 1993 Upper Deck series is named either B.A.T. Triple-Folders or All Time Heroes of Baseball. They’re an oddball size (2.25” x 5.25”). It's card #61 out of 165.

Current Availability: semi-common (handful on eBay and some on Sportlots)

Hard Working Athletes with Phones

Old Spice was the first deodorant I used as a kid. I hadn’t thought of that for a long while. But the memories sprang right back when I came across this 70's ad while cleaning up.

Back then, I didn’t know what hard work was. But 1957 Joe Collins knew. 

This is the oldest Athlete with a Phone baseball card (it sure looks like a phone next to him). Joe was in his 10^th year with the Yankees and had earned 6 World Series rings. He was a hard working guy... maybe he wore Old Spice.

Joe spent his entire career with the Yankees. His teammates included DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.

·       Card facts: This card is in a Topps set that was a bit revolutionary. The first with full color photographs of the players (not colorized), the players' full career stats were listed on the back, and the cards had the standard dimensions we're used to (2.5" x 3.5")

·       Current Availability: common but not cheap (especially for a card in nicer condition)