What do you think?
Rate this book
Have Glove, Will Travel: Adventures of a Baseball Vagabond
It was 1982 when Bill Lee was famously booted from the Montreal Expos after he went AWOL in protest of another player’s mistreatment by management. His reputation for antics both on and off the field guaranteed that no other club would pick him up. The Ace from Space had landed on professional baseball’s blacklist, and so it was that one of the most popular major-league pitchers of our day was fated to pack his bags and wander the globe searching for a ball game.
Have Glove, Will Travel is the chronicle of an amazing odyssey that began more than twenty years ago and continues today. Unable to live without baseball, Lee went anywhere he could find a game, beginning in the dank and dreary locker room of a Canadian hockey team that later became a softball team. We follow him around the world as he competes in pickup games, town tournaments, senior leagues, and fantasy camps, barnstorming like a modern Satchel Paige around the United States, South America, China, Cuba, Russia, and every province in Canada.
At the heart of this story are the rollicking, colorful characters Lee meets during his travels, and the mishaps that befall him whether he’s sober or stoned. There’s the eccentric Latin pitching master Lee plays with in Cuba, who once struck out Ernest Hemingway. And a hilarious story that takes place in the backwoods of a British Columbia timber town, where Lee and Hall-of-Famer Ferguson Jenkins go fishing and end up being chased back to their pickup truck by a 450-pound black bear.
Have Glove, Will Travel is so much more than the average baseball book. Lee’s humor, keen eye for detail, and extraordinary pitching intellect are always on display, but in the end this book is a love story about a middle-aged maverick who refused to stop pursuing his passion for a boy’s game long after the grown-ups told him he couldn’t play on their team anymore. Readers who loved Lee’s bestselling The Wrong Stuff, also written with Richard Lally, will find the long wait for this rich and wonderful sequel well worth it. Those who haven’t yet encountered the literary Bill Lee have a great treat in store.
From the Hardcover edition.
Have Glove, Will Travel is the chronicle of an amazing odyssey that began more than twenty years ago and continues today. Unable to live without baseball, Lee went anywhere he could find a game, beginning in the dank and dreary locker room of a Canadian hockey team that later became a softball team. We follow him around the world as he competes in pickup games, town tournaments, senior leagues, and fantasy camps, barnstorming like a modern Satchel Paige around the United States, South America, China, Cuba, Russia, and every province in Canada.
At the heart of this story are the rollicking, colorful characters Lee meets during his travels, and the mishaps that befall him whether he’s sober or stoned. There’s the eccentric Latin pitching master Lee plays with in Cuba, who once struck out Ernest Hemingway. And a hilarious story that takes place in the backwoods of a British Columbia timber town, where Lee and Hall-of-Famer Ferguson Jenkins go fishing and end up being chased back to their pickup truck by a 450-pound black bear.
Have Glove, Will Travel is so much more than the average baseball book. Lee’s humor, keen eye for detail, and extraordinary pitching intellect are always on display, but in the end this book is a love story about a middle-aged maverick who refused to stop pursuing his passion for a boy’s game long after the grown-ups told him he couldn’t play on their team anymore. Readers who loved Lee’s bestselling The Wrong Stuff, also written with Richard Lally, will find the long wait for this rich and wonderful sequel well worth it. Those who haven’t yet encountered the literary Bill Lee have a great treat in store.
From the Hardcover edition.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
8 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Bill Lee
107 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 25, 2022
They called him "Spaceman" - an opinionated, wise-cracking, irreverent, incorrigible, narcissistic party animal. Bill Lee was major league baseball's redheaded step child - an unapologetic, pot smoking counter-culturist in a tradition bound profession who delighted fans while infuriating baseball's brass with his wild antics and outspokenness. His book, Have Glove Will Travel, is a perfect reflection of his persona, and whether or not you enjoy it will depend heavily on how much you enjoy Bill Lee. Reading it you feel like you are sitting around with "Spaceman", sharing a joint and a bottle while he regales you with story after story of his experiences - some of them perhaps more tall than true, but all of them entertaining.
In Have Glove Will Travel Lee tells the stories of his life after major league baseball - from the point in 1982 when he was released from the Montreal Expos and subsequently blackballed from the major leagues for offending the lords of baseball one time too many onward. Though banished from the Major Leagues, baseball was in his blood. A pitcher is what he was, so he continued his career playing for whatever semi-pro league or outfit that would have him. Playing throughout the U.S. and Canada, South America, Cuba, and Russia with teammates and opponents that ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous, Bill continued his baseball ways and collected these tales. From running for president on the Rhinoceros Party ticket in 1988 to teaching Ted Williams something he didn't know about his hitting ability, all of these tales are vintage "Spaceman".
Lee's book is easy reading and great entertainment. Each chapter stands alone as a complete tale, and you can read them in pretty much any order that amuses you - stopping to refresh your drink or roll a new one between stories if needed. If you love baseball for the pure joy of it as Lee does, and if you appreciate his non-conformist, screwball ways, then you will be sure to find Have Glove Will Travel a homerun of a book.
In Have Glove Will Travel Lee tells the stories of his life after major league baseball - from the point in 1982 when he was released from the Montreal Expos and subsequently blackballed from the major leagues for offending the lords of baseball one time too many onward. Though banished from the Major Leagues, baseball was in his blood. A pitcher is what he was, so he continued his career playing for whatever semi-pro league or outfit that would have him. Playing throughout the U.S. and Canada, South America, Cuba, and Russia with teammates and opponents that ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous, Bill continued his baseball ways and collected these tales. From running for president on the Rhinoceros Party ticket in 1988 to teaching Ted Williams something he didn't know about his hitting ability, all of these tales are vintage "Spaceman".
Lee's book is easy reading and great entertainment. Each chapter stands alone as a complete tale, and you can read them in pretty much any order that amuses you - stopping to refresh your drink or roll a new one between stories if needed. If you love baseball for the pure joy of it as Lee does, and if you appreciate his non-conformist, screwball ways, then you will be sure to find Have Glove Will Travel a homerun of a book.
May 3, 2025
The poster-child for counter-culture in baseball talks a big game but comes up a little short. It's not a bad book, but much like his fastball, lacks some zip.
August 2, 2012
Bill "Spaceman" Lee is one of the most colorful personalities to ever step onto a baseball diamond and this book perfectly captures that personality in a collection of tales from his days after major league baseball. Lee is a Boston legend not only for his heroics on the field, but also for his uncensored sound bites and wacky behavior. This book, though not dealing with the famous (or infamous) incidents that made Lee such an oddity, gives plenty of evidence of that bigger then life persona.
The book starts with Lee's last days in the majors pitching for the Montreal Expos when Lee claims he was let go and then black balled by the league's owners. Lee's paranoia combined with his crazy antics leaves one wondering if he was truly black balled or if it's just a figment of his imagination and ego. To Lee's credit, this conspiracy is never dwelt upon and becomes a launching point for the rest of the story rather than a bitter lament that radiates through the narrative. The rest of the book follows Lee around the world as he brings his one of a kind personality to anywhere that will let him on a mound and hit clean-up.
What truly makes this book entertaining is how well it captures Bill Lee. I'm not sure how much Richard Lally had to work to make Lee fly off every page, but he certainly didn't make Lee appear boring and stale like many of these sport autobiographies can come off. It would probably take quite a bit to make Lee stale, but at the very least Lally knew when to get out of the way and let the tale tell itself.
This book is has both moments of great humor and deep sentimentality. It gives us more then just the crazy persona we saw in the newspapers, and ultimately that is what makes it such a good read. Lee and Lally do a great job conveying Lee's deep love of the sport that made him famous along with all the quirks that make him so interesting. Although the themes go beyond the game, this probably isn't a read for people who don't like baseball since everything is framed around the sport. But if you enjoy baseball or grew up a Red Sox fan this is a highly entertaining read about one of the games most interesting players.
The book starts with Lee's last days in the majors pitching for the Montreal Expos when Lee claims he was let go and then black balled by the league's owners. Lee's paranoia combined with his crazy antics leaves one wondering if he was truly black balled or if it's just a figment of his imagination and ego. To Lee's credit, this conspiracy is never dwelt upon and becomes a launching point for the rest of the story rather than a bitter lament that radiates through the narrative. The rest of the book follows Lee around the world as he brings his one of a kind personality to anywhere that will let him on a mound and hit clean-up.
What truly makes this book entertaining is how well it captures Bill Lee. I'm not sure how much Richard Lally had to work to make Lee fly off every page, but he certainly didn't make Lee appear boring and stale like many of these sport autobiographies can come off. It would probably take quite a bit to make Lee stale, but at the very least Lally knew when to get out of the way and let the tale tell itself.
This book is has both moments of great humor and deep sentimentality. It gives us more then just the crazy persona we saw in the newspapers, and ultimately that is what makes it such a good read. Lee and Lally do a great job conveying Lee's deep love of the sport that made him famous along with all the quirks that make him so interesting. Although the themes go beyond the game, this probably isn't a read for people who don't like baseball since everything is framed around the sport. But if you enjoy baseball or grew up a Red Sox fan this is a highly entertaining read about one of the games most interesting players.
March 26, 2013
Even as a fan of Bill Lee, I have to say this book is for the fan who understands that it's all about the game. A player is a player, and they have to find somewhere to play, whether it be in Cuba, Russia, Nova Scotia, Florida, or wherever.
This book details Bill "Spaceman" Lee's travels, literally, from the time he was released from the Montreal Expos for standing up against the manager and GM following teammate Rodney Scott's release to the time the book was written. It details his adventures, with tongue occasionally pressed too firmly in cheek for his own good, in adapting from trying to find his way back to the majors, finding he was being blacklisted, to just going wherever there was a chance to play, even if the pay was poor or non-existent.
Bottom line is, this is a fun read. Lee isn't afraid to poke fun at himself, or at others for that matter, and tells stories that are probably only slightly embellished. Well, maybe more than that in some cases. But hey, that's Spaceman. You know what you're getting when you start reading.
This book details Bill "Spaceman" Lee's travels, literally, from the time he was released from the Montreal Expos for standing up against the manager and GM following teammate Rodney Scott's release to the time the book was written. It details his adventures, with tongue occasionally pressed too firmly in cheek for his own good, in adapting from trying to find his way back to the majors, finding he was being blacklisted, to just going wherever there was a chance to play, even if the pay was poor or non-existent.
Bottom line is, this is a fun read. Lee isn't afraid to poke fun at himself, or at others for that matter, and tells stories that are probably only slightly embellished. Well, maybe more than that in some cases. But hey, that's Spaceman. You know what you're getting when you start reading.
January 30, 2009
Bill Lee is a hoot. And really funny. A bit heavy on the '60s drugs-are-my-lifestyle, but whatever. This follows him from when he gets cut from the Expos. (According to his story, it was a personality/polotical thing, and then he got blackballed---that's the reason he didn't come back. There's probably some truth to it, and he makes a good argument, but it is just his side. Hey, it's his book; he gets to say what he wants.) Then he sort of maps out his life of trying to play baseball here and there. It's apparently easy to live life as a former major-leaguer, especially if the Sawx fans liked you. He has fun, meets lots of interesting people. He's a great story-teller. Very episodic, but interesting episodes. Nice story about his trip(s) to Cuba.
Really 4.5
Really 4.5
March 1, 2023
If you are a fan of Bill Lee and want to learn more about his “Spaceman” persona, then this is the book for you. Dealing with his life after Major League Baseball, it’s a funny self-deprecating memoir when he was trying to catch on with any baseball team at any level he could. Since I was never into the drug scene, those part of the book weren’t all that exciting for me, but they were expected since that is is personality. I didn’t particularly enjoy this, but it was an accurate portrayal of him - in his own style.
December 17, 2024
Lefty Bill Lee played for expos and Red Sox. Get blacklisted for standing up to management for a teammate. Spends the rest of his life playing in leagues all over the world ( Canada Moscow Cuba Venezuela) and drinking and smoking a lot of pot.
May 4, 2015
Bill "Spaceman" Lee was an intriguing and controversial pitcher back in the day when I was growing up. To most of my generation, he was a player who stood out and made the game more entertaining. To my parents' generation, he was a no good semi-criminal who was ruining baseball. (This is a simplified summary, but probably not that far off the mark)
I was actually looking for Lee's autobiography "The Wrong Stuff" (which I still haven't found) when I stumbled across this book. It hones in on the part of Lee's life which started when he was essentially blackballed from the major leagues, and began barnstorming to pay the bills. I found it absorbing and often hilarious, and I recognized a lot of names from those barnstorming teams. Lee at times got somewhat repetitious and wordy (he did have a co-writer, so Richard Lally is involved in that also) but for anyone like me who remembers the Spaceman at the height of his glory/notoriety, this is a really fun read.
I was actually looking for Lee's autobiography "The Wrong Stuff" (which I still haven't found) when I stumbled across this book. It hones in on the part of Lee's life which started when he was essentially blackballed from the major leagues, and began barnstorming to pay the bills. I found it absorbing and often hilarious, and I recognized a lot of names from those barnstorming teams. Lee at times got somewhat repetitious and wordy (he did have a co-writer, so Richard Lally is involved in that also) but for anyone like me who remembers the Spaceman at the height of his glory/notoriety, this is a really fun read.
February 20, 2009
The second part of Bill Lee's autobiography (inshallah there will be a third part!) tracks the Spaceman's life trajectory following his blackballing from Major League Baseball. Highlights include his time spent pitching in Venezuela, in semi-pro ball in Ontario, in less than semi-pro ball in far flung regions of Canada, against the Soviet National team, and in futile struggle against superannuated players on several trips to Cuba.
Bill Lee is the only MLBer that Warren Zevon ever wrote a song about, and the only MLBer ever to run for President with Dr. Hunter S. Thompson as a running mate (although nobody is entirely sure if the good doctor was ever informed of his candidacy). This memoir is filled with humor, poignancy, wisdom, and a profound reverence for the Game; it is the sweetest lovesong to Baseball that any player has ever written.
Bill Lee is the only MLBer that Warren Zevon ever wrote a song about, and the only MLBer ever to run for President with Dr. Hunter S. Thompson as a running mate (although nobody is entirely sure if the good doctor was ever informed of his candidacy). This memoir is filled with humor, poignancy, wisdom, and a profound reverence for the Game; it is the sweetest lovesong to Baseball that any player has ever written.
September 27, 2011
Lee's second effort, in which he describes his post-baseball career and travels, is highly entertaining as well. His attitude is once a ball player, always a ball player, and he will go wherever there is a game, be it Russia, China, Cuba, Venezeula, or Canada. Again, Lee writes with humor and surprising insight about life as an athlete. But unlike The Wrong Stuff, Have Glove Will Travel takes place over many more decades, and lacks the coherence of his first effort. Parts of it are incredible, while other parts seem a little forced, or neat and tidy. The epilogue however, is an homage to baseball worthy of a classic baseball movie.
September 23, 2008
Most of the baseball authored books I've read are so dull - Bill Lee had complied his tales in snapshots with his insights and reflections as he travels all over (Cuba, South America, Canada) to keep on pitching in various leagues. The characters he meets he records their stories quickly and with a sharp eye - he's a pitcher but this book shows he's a humorous, profound, writer. Think Bill Bryson goes Gonzo.
July 15, 2007
Lee writes sort of like he pitches -- like a crazy person. He tends to drop threads of stories and forget to go back to them, but the stories he finishes are hilarious and heart-breaking, sometimes at the same time. Not so much a baseball book as a book about a crazy dude who happened to play baseball, but interesting.
August 31, 2015
A light read, but full of funny stories and generally well written. Recommended for anyone who loves baseball at all levels, semi-pro, little league, pick-up leagues etc. My favorite stories involve his trip to the Russian pool hall. I'll leave the details unsaid in case you read it.
June 16, 2007
My favorite baseball book. Lee renders his wit and pinache and hardheadedness onto the page.
January 21, 2011
The spaceman writes a quirky book, more anecdotes than autobiography. More than a few laughs and a good philosophy of life buried in here.
March 17, 2012
A collection of incidents, fun, but they don't add up to more than the sum of their parts
December 20, 2013
cannot get enough of Lee !!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews