Click here to view the brief article in The Record dated December 28, 2014 about the passing of Jim Bouton’s father, George Bouton, who according to the article was raised in Hackensack. Jim Bouton was signed by the Yankees and had a few moments of glory with them, particularly in 1964.

Jim Bouton later wrote a very controversial book for the time in early 1970’s called Ball Four, about life in the club house of major league baseball.

My claim to fame was facing him in a semi-pro Metropolitan league game in 1974 at Votee Park in Teaneck, New Jersey and getting a base hit to right field, grounder through the right side between first and second, off of him. He was a mere shadow of his glory days, but it still meant a lot to me.  I was just 18 years old and I got a hit off of a Yankee who had won two World Series games when I was 9 years old in 1964.

Written by:
Bob Meli
January 24, 2016


Background image of Jim Bouton pitching in the 1964 World Series obtained from:
http://nwpr.org/post/ball-four-book-changed-baseball