Ball Four

Book Summary

"When it was first published in 1970, Ball Four ignited a firestorm of controversy that raged far beyond the boundaries of baseball. Everyone from players and team executives to journalists and broadcasters had a mostly negative opinion about Jim Bouton's nearly 500-page expose'.

Ball Four, however, was loved by the majority of the fans who bought tickets to watch their diamond heroes. Even people who rarely followed baseball devoured the hilariously funny and revealing book. In fact, during its 30-year life, Ball Four has sold more than five million copies worldwide.

For the new and final edition of this historic book, Jim Bouton has written a highly entertaining epilogue, reflecting upon his life at the age of 60, the traumatic death of his daughter, and the heartwarming invitation from the Yankees to play in his first Old-Timers' Day game since his exile from the club.

Says the author about his ground-breaking book, "By establishing new boundaries, Ball Four changed sports reporting at least to the extent that, after the book, it was no longer possible to sell the milk and cookies image again. Besides, you can get sick on milk and cookies." Ball Four is a high-and-inside fastball that will forever be a journalistic classic.

There are few people with more glowing credentials than Jim Bouton. Since his days of playing Major League Baseball, he has authored several books, served as a reporter for New York's WCBS-TV, appeared as an actor in both a television sitcom and in the movies, and invented Big League Chew bubble gum.

Currently he stars as an entertaining corporate and banquet speaker and lives in North Egremont, Massachusetts."

Summary Lifted from Ball Four website