RIP Jim Brosnan

Pitcher and author.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/jim-brosnan-big-league-pitcher-and-author-of-the-long-season-dies-at-84/2014/07/05/e57bdc30-0399-11e4-8572-4b1b969b6322_story.html

 

"The Long Season" and "Pennant Race" may not have been quite as daring as "Ball Four," but they were absolutely revolutionary for their time. As close as baseball fans got to being in the dugout to that point. Both are definitely worth reading.

RIP, sir.

 

Not at all the first ballplayer/author -- in the 19th Century, Cap Anson and John Montgomery Ward, and early in the 20th, Christy Mathewson, had written personal memoirs -- but the first to venture into what we would call PG-13 territory, before Jim Bouton would take it to 'R' a few years later.

(Although all three of the earlier players used some interesting code words at times, and if you pay attention, you can make some educated guesses.)

When Brosnan's plans to release "The Long Season" came out, at first there were attempts by the Reds and MLB to silence him, which, at the time, they had the contractual authority to do.

 

His pro career ended when he refused to sign a White Sox contract in 1963 that stipulated he would no longer write.

 

Both are still worth reading, but The Long Season is markedly superior.

 

Loved The Long Season and thought Bouton owed him some royalties. Getting hard to find The Long Season anymore.

 

Isn't it, though? I'd love to read it again, but it's scarce.

He must have stuck out like a sore thumb on a major-league club at that time, reading the comedic works of Mark Twain while traveling.