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Foul Ball: My Life And Hard Times Trying to Save an Old Ball Park...plus Part II
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.
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.
499 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
184 people want to read
About the author
Jim Bouton
9 books75 followersJames Alan Bouton (March 8, 1939 – July 10, 2019) was an American professional baseball player. Bouton played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a pitcher for the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, Houston Astros, and Atlanta Braves between 1962 and 1978. He was also a best-selling author, actor, activist, sportscaster and one of the creators of Big League Chew.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 28, 2017
**This review has been updated following the reading of Part Two**
Three books in and I am still a big fan of Jim Bouton's writing. The retired baseball player's style foreshadowed the invention of the blog and once again kept me entertained in this page turner about his attempt to get a lease on a local minor league ballpark. The resulting struggle against the local government comes off as a one sided rant by a jilted lover with enough details mixed in that you end up wondering how this is a story you haven't heard more about.
The highest praise I can give is that upon finishing part one of the book I checked Wikipedia for an update and began trying to track down the updated version of the book for the rest of the story. After tracking it down, I'm glad that I did although Bouton accurately subtitled the Post Script to the book accurately when he wrote "In which what happens next could have been easily predicted by the reader."
Bouton sold this reader on the rationality of his proposal for the stadium in the first book, but he also threw numerous people in the town of Pittsfield under the bus for their shady dealings with himself and partner Chip Elitzer. One can only imagine how polarizing a figure he must have been in the town following the publication of Part I. As a result, it's clear from the start that the publication of the book has served as a Catch 22 for our heroic investors. Certainly the publication aided in getting the incumbent politicians replaced with those that would invite Bouton and Elitzer back, but it also simultaneously made both individuals Public Enemy #1 and 1a in the process.
Along with Bouton's first three baseball biographies, this Bouton series of books beats out about everything I've read in the baseball non-fiction genre except the excellent "Veeck As In Wreck." Highly recommended for fans of 30 for 30.
Three books in and I am still a big fan of Jim Bouton's writing. The retired baseball player's style foreshadowed the invention of the blog and once again kept me entertained in this page turner about his attempt to get a lease on a local minor league ballpark. The resulting struggle against the local government comes off as a one sided rant by a jilted lover with enough details mixed in that you end up wondering how this is a story you haven't heard more about.
The highest praise I can give is that upon finishing part one of the book I checked Wikipedia for an update and began trying to track down the updated version of the book for the rest of the story. After tracking it down, I'm glad that I did although Bouton accurately subtitled the Post Script to the book accurately when he wrote "In which what happens next could have been easily predicted by the reader."
Bouton sold this reader on the rationality of his proposal for the stadium in the first book, but he also threw numerous people in the town of Pittsfield under the bus for their shady dealings with himself and partner Chip Elitzer. One can only imagine how polarizing a figure he must have been in the town following the publication of Part I. As a result, it's clear from the start that the publication of the book has served as a Catch 22 for our heroic investors. Certainly the publication aided in getting the incumbent politicians replaced with those that would invite Bouton and Elitzer back, but it also simultaneously made both individuals Public Enemy #1 and 1a in the process.
Along with Bouton's first three baseball biographies, this Bouton series of books beats out about everything I've read in the baseball non-fiction genre except the excellent "Veeck As In Wreck." Highly recommended for fans of 30 for 30.
July 30, 2019
Jim Bouton, the retired Yankee pitcher, author of Ball Four, writes about his experience in 2001-2 in trying to save and renovate a 100 year old baseball park, Wahconah Park, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a small city with which I am familiar. He runs across a group who want to construct a new stadium with proceeds from an $18 million bond issue. The group consists of influential town officers (Mayor, head of Parks Commission) and most notably, the Berkshire Eagle, the only city’s newspaper, and officials from GE who used to be the dominant corporation before they closed. He and an investment banker are willing to put up their own money but need the city to give them a lease so they can attract a minor league baseball team. But, as he describes it, even though the town populace is behind him, the fix is on. The Eagle owns the land on which the new stadium is to be built and it is suspected that GE buried polluted material on that site.
Bouton has an irreverent sense of humor, writes extremely well and has kept a detailed journal of his efforts. If one wants to know how corruption and influence works in a small town this will open your eyes.
Bouton has an irreverent sense of humor, writes extremely well and has kept a detailed journal of his efforts. If one wants to know how corruption and influence works in a small town this will open your eyes.
July 2, 2010
If you like uplifting stories about people triumphing over the odds and hard work paying off in the end, then this isn't the book for you. This book will make you angry. This book is about The Man winning. You know, when that guy who already has tons of money & doesn't care nearly as much as you do about that thing he wants gets it anyway? That is this book in a nutshell.
Jim Bouton is no stranger to controversial writing. His first book Ball Four is essential reading for any and all baseball fans, as it was the first "real" "tell it like it is" book to go beyond the "gee wizz, we'll give it 100%" facade that dominated baseball until that point. This book pulls no punches (he names so many names that he and his group had to essentially publish it themselves), and while it seems like it is about the quest to save an old ballpark and the team that plays there, what it is really about is politics, corruption, cronyism, and government officals putting their own interests ahead of the people they work for. It's an amazing story though.
Jim Bouton is no stranger to controversial writing. His first book Ball Four is essential reading for any and all baseball fans, as it was the first "real" "tell it like it is" book to go beyond the "gee wizz, we'll give it 100%" facade that dominated baseball until that point. This book pulls no punches (he names so many names that he and his group had to essentially publish it themselves), and while it seems like it is about the quest to save an old ballpark and the team that plays there, what it is really about is politics, corruption, cronyism, and government officals putting their own interests ahead of the people they work for. It's an amazing story though.
July 15, 2007
I encourage all young idealists who want to get into government to "help" people or to "make a difference" to read Jim Bouten's experience trying to do business with the corrupt government of Pittsfield, Mass. This is the state of the government that special interests and lobbyists have created.
Bouten wants to BUY the ballpark and use his own money (along with two other investors) to keep an historic field alive. However, as the mayor of Pittsfield says, "the fix is in." The mayor and other power brokers want the public to finance a new stadium, which it does not want. However, these influential and backroom pols, along with a newspaper that is in their pockets, block Bouten's attempt at every turn.
This is a case study the sausage-making of government, along with how media monopolies can corrupt the message the public hears or reads.
As Bouten says time and again in his diary-formatted book, "You can't make this stuff up." Sad but probably true.
Bouten wants to BUY the ballpark and use his own money (along with two other investors) to keep an historic field alive. However, as the mayor of Pittsfield says, "the fix is in." The mayor and other power brokers want the public to finance a new stadium, which it does not want. However, these influential and backroom pols, along with a newspaper that is in their pockets, block Bouten's attempt at every turn.
This is a case study the sausage-making of government, along with how media monopolies can corrupt the message the public hears or reads.
As Bouten says time and again in his diary-formatted book, "You can't make this stuff up." Sad but probably true.
March 3, 2018
The sad, sordid, brilliantly told tale of Jim Bouton's attempts to save Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, Mass. Very funny and alternately infuriating, but it's always a wonderful experience for this reader to hear Jim Bouton in his head.
January 17, 2023
Bouton is still Bouton, decades after Ball Four: A giant infected boil on the ass of anyone who stands in his way, while in his own mind he’s just a happy, determined worker bee trying to do what’s right. Guess it depends on your perspective. I kinda like worker bees.
November 17, 2017
This book is enough to make Howdy Doody mad. Also surprisingly on point with its fears of what 9/11 and politics turned the U.S. into.
September 13, 2019
Fantastic book about the business of Baseball and Pittsfield Massachusetts
April 4, 2020
Story of how Jim Bouton and his partner, Chip Elitzer, tried to save historic Wahconah Park and bring organized baseball back to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. With a good plan, they ran into setback after setback as the political and corporate machine that seemed to run things in Pittsfield denied them a chance. This was a fun book to read as Bouton claims corruption, corporate greed and power, behind the scenes dealing, and dislike for him personally lead to their failed attempt. Check this one out.
October 2, 2025
As a transplanted Pittsfield resident who moved to the city after the first attempt by the author and his team to get into historic Wahconah Park, but being present for the second time it is interesting to see how city politics as well as the impact of certain businesses on what can and cannot be done in the city. Also interesting to hear the backstory of how certain politicians behaved during those times. It has been over 20 years since the first attempt described in the book and the Park is still not functioning as it should and sits largely idle year round.
December 5, 2022
I read the edition that was updated in 2020 with a Forward written by Jim’s widow Paula. A good book written in the diary format of Ball Four. A great story that continued to get derailed by what appears to be greed, ego, and corruption of the local government and potentially a big former corporation. As of this writing, baseball is still being played in the old park.
August 30, 2023
I'm glad to hear that the ballpark still exists although Pittsfield is trying to decide again what to do with it. It's all too rare to see places last 130 years so definitely keep it. I haven't visited Waconah Park but would like to sometime. Good read about politics, corruption and hope.
May 24, 2018
This is enough to piss off Howdy Doody. If you don't think the government is stacked against you, read this book.
July 15, 2015
This book is more about politics than baseball, but Jim Bouton is such an engaging and intelligent writer that it didn't much matter to me after the story got going.
Bouton and a couple partners look to save an old ballpark in rural Pennsylvania and inadvertently uncover all kinds of corruption: corporate, political and ultimately publishing. The final result is a mixed bag, though ultimately the stadium stands to this day and baseball is played there. But everything else that goes on is seedy, greedy and shows political interests with no interest in what the public wants.
The most interesting thing to me was the hints Bouton drops towards a much grander corruption, lives and towns actually run by billionaires thousands of miles away, but that's not an investigation that he gets too much into and we only see the veil, not what's behind it.
The book is full of turnabouts, small victories, setbacks and resilience. It's a great insight to the new American pastime: greed-centric corrupt crony capitalism. In some ways, this is just as important a book as "Ball Four," as a distressing insight to 21st Century America.
Bouton and a couple partners look to save an old ballpark in rural Pennsylvania and inadvertently uncover all kinds of corruption: corporate, political and ultimately publishing. The final result is a mixed bag, though ultimately the stadium stands to this day and baseball is played there. But everything else that goes on is seedy, greedy and shows political interests with no interest in what the public wants.
The most interesting thing to me was the hints Bouton drops towards a much grander corruption, lives and towns actually run by billionaires thousands of miles away, but that's not an investigation that he gets too much into and we only see the veil, not what's behind it.
The book is full of turnabouts, small victories, setbacks and resilience. It's a great insight to the new American pastime: greed-centric corrupt crony capitalism. In some ways, this is just as important a book as "Ball Four," as a distressing insight to 21st Century America.
April 21, 2012
I was pretty sure that I would read and love just about anything that the old Yankee Bulldog wrote -- Ball Four continues to be the best book about baseball ever -- but sadly, not in this case. His account of trying to save an iconic, old minor-league park is dreary and self-serving. Written in a diary form, with little of the Bouton wit or knack for capturing the essence of moments, we're dragged through meetings with the mayor and council and opponents to his plan. Everyone who disagrees with his hastily thrown together plan to save the ballpark is evil, with vested interests; everyone who agrees with him is a saint. There's a reason why old stadiums get scrapped for newer and shinier ones -- people who stayed home for decades go to the new ones. Self-published by Bouton, you get the feeling that this one could have used an expert (and independent) editor who might have chosen the shots and pacing a little better.
November 6, 2012
Not the classic that Ball Four became, but still a worthwhile read. Bouton's still an iconoclastic diarist, fighting the establishment -- this time a city council and other allied business execs who value their own interests over that of ordinary citizens. A bit long and overly detailed, with an inevitably downbeat ending, but for Ball Four fans, it's worth catching up with an older-but-still-fiesty Bouton.
January 26, 2012
I enjoyed this book and reading this story. I wish I could say I was surprised at the ridiculousness of the self-destructive actions of the city fathers here, but I have seen nearly as crazy things happen in my life.
Bouton is a lot of fun to read, because he writes simply from what he sees and does. Unfortunately, this story got pretty long.
Bouton is a lot of fun to read, because he writes simply from what he sees and does. Unfortunately, this story got pretty long.
June 23, 2012
Bouton is in true form as he confronts the maddening, corrupt symbiotic powers of local government and big business -- who continually thumb their noses at citizens. Bouton is still hilarious and he awakens a thirst for justice in the midst of his unflagging zeal for baseball and a historic ballpark.
March 24, 2013
I decided to read this book after reading and enjoying the author's first book, "Ball Four". This book was more political then sports based. I'm sure if I lived, or had a connection, in the area the story takes place it would be more meaningful.
Want to read
March 19, 2008This book is about a ballpark I know and love well, Waconah Park in Pittsfield, MA. I loved Ball Four and can't wait to tackle a book about my local baseball haven!
May 22, 2009
How can I not love a book about a silly government messing with baseball?
June 3, 2014
I got 50 pages in and gave up. I loved his previous 2 books. They made me laugh out loud. This one not so much.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews