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Jim Bouton, former Yankee pitcher, on the differences in baseball today versus his career in the major leagues.
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Law I don't have some substantial and our Internet was more important and -- -- -- -- -- ball four -- him.
Ball four was written in 1969.
It was a diary -- that season with the Seattle pilots.
And it came out in 1970.
And the best stroke of luck that I had was playing with the pilots the pilots was an expansion team made up of players nobody else wanted.
And the pilots you know in there infinite wisdom that we -- independently got a bunch -- old guys.
So now I have his team of old veteran players are getting to know each other for the first time -- year old telling each other this stories.
So I'm sitting here with my little notebook and writing down all the things that these guys are saying.
The the Kansas City stories from John -- the Detroit Tigers stories from -- -- wouldn't put too great.
Old story -- It's as if Major League Baseball put this team together and they said.
How -- these guys are gonna win many gain for the somebody writes a book.
This is available block saw -- -- about the Yankees trying not wasn't about the Yankees and I there were a few flashbacks now that the exhibit ninety.
5% of the book -- about the Seattle pilots and the triple a baseball fault what one was published well.
There were two groups who were very upset with the book the first group was the sportswriters.
And they were upset because I had done an end run around and then I was saying things you know that they hadn't been writing about most more traders at that time.
Considered themselves to be extensions of the team's public relations department so they were always writing nice things about the team.
They thought their job was to help the team win if you're brought about American -- like in a bed and expect most transparent it just is being guys and and so -- -- -- for angry at me and then of course the players got angry at me because they were reading what the sports -- were saying about the book this -- of months before the book came out by the way you know -- based on it's an -- that it appeared in look magazine.
But the biggest objection.
Came from the owners because they were acceptable for this the first book to tell people how difficult it was to make a living in baseball.
Minimum salary was 7000 dollars and my it's my salary for eight years in the major -- 191000 dollars now and all the players.
Had different stories about how they were taken advantage of -- their contracts and and the baseball owners were concerned that maybe they would lose their antitrust exemption if it can be shown that they were not treating the players fairly.
And -- exactly what happened in 1975.
Five years after the book came out -- an arbitration hearing in New York famous Andy mrs.
Smith case I was the only former player called to testify.
And I read passages from the book which is accepted as legal evidence at -- my original notes.
And that was the hearing to baseball players -- declared free agents.
While and became -- an enormous stress alright.
Do you think -- seller and and then and there verdugo fell moment -- not know who we did you as sitcom which you may -- remembered.
I don't attribute to remember meeting here you have a barrel during and after the other so FF.
We announced a name -- continue booked and it'll be out -- an -- book I I recorded in California in my own voice.
A couple of weeks ago to them yet this ten days -- love that in today's in the modern state of baseball.
People like to Iran it'll -- and approvals -- also like interim fifty million dollars current -- Well.
I'm glad to see the players get their share of the money they bargained for those acceleration in in free market in the -- putting -- to those guys heads.
They don't think the players -- worth it.
They don't have to pay it so and I'm happy to see that still like to name.
Well I think the players -- a little too full of themselves I don't like -- business -- home run.
And you put your and to -- we head.
-- around the bases in this curtain call in all that are Gonzalo that would parliament.
-- -- point to the Patricia -- you know in my when he wouldn't be doing that about give tumor pitching today until they're one side decision.
So authorized -- also -- -- in my day I hit a home run.
Even Mickey -- hit a home run put your head January renovation -- and again -- -- in on dollar at all like baseball.
You know homer was a home run it was not a religious experience -- autumn -- autumn -- I don't know what with.
Not all you got -- hot.
Well nice to say you're doing Jim thank you very much thank you to -- -- board does -- -- whatever you know he should to the end soon also.
