Jim Bouton
James Alan Bouton (/ˈbaʊtn/; 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.
| Jim Bouton | |
|---|---|
Bouton with the Seattle Pilots in 1969 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: March 8, 1939 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| Died: July 10, 2019 (aged 80) Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 22, 1962, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 1978, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 62–63 |
| Earned run average | 3.57 |
| Strikeouts | 720 |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Bouton played college baseball at Western Michigan University, before signing his first professional contract with the Yankees. He was a member of the 1962 World Series champions, appeared in the 1963 MLB All-Star Game, and won both of his starts in the 1964 World Series. Later in his career, he developed and threw a knuckleball. Bouton authored the 1970 baseball book Ball Four, which was a combination diary of his 1969 season and memoir of his years with the Yankees, Pilots, and Astros.