Time to Pull Out Your Bill Lee Rookie Cards O/T

[scooter729]

I got the chance to chat with Lee a month or so ago at an event where he appeared, and he's as lively as ever. What a great guy to chat with; nice post...

[Leon]

Thanks for the post/thread, Bruce.....very entertaining. best regards

[Rich Klein]

An old friend of mine has written several books with Mr. Lee, when we did a lot in the 1980's; I heard a lot of great Bill Lee stories.

Bill Lee and JIm Bouton, two people with brains who wrote (with some good help) about the game AND just loved to compete and keep pitching.

Great stories for both of them

And if you ever get the chance; watch the documentary about Bill Lee going to Cuba.

Rich

[Rich Klein]

I will be peforming back to back posts *Try the veal, we'll be here all week*

Bruce --- aren't 1970 Topps cards a bit mundane for you

Rich

[sox1903wschamp]

Thanks for the post Bruce. The "Spaceman" will always have a special place in my heart. What a character and I did watch his documentary in Cuba.

A quick story from my youth. I was at a Red Sox game in late 1972 with my younger Sister and some other kids from the nieghborhood. I was 12 at the time and my Sister was 9. We were sitting behind the Sox pen about 8-10 rows up in the bleachers. Bill was out in the pen and it must have been a boring day because he was holding shop with all the fans. Trading barbs, playing catch with the fans, he was a riot.

He was thinking up new ways to interact with the fans as the innings passed and he started making bubble gum balls from a stash of gum in the pen and drop kicking them into the stands. He was getting pretty good at it and then one of his kicks zinged my Sister right on the side of her head. Remember she was 9 but she was okay and amused. Bill made sure she was okay and then gave her an autographed ball with all the bullpen guys. Me and my Sister still recount that game to this day and she still has the ball from Bill.

And Bill will always be remembered fondly by me for forming the "Loyal Order of Buffalo Heads" in 1977 with teammates Fergie Jenkins, Rick Wise, Jim Willoughby and Bernie Carbo. The group was formed in defiance of Manager Don Zimmer and his perceived handling of the picthing staff that year. A Buffalo is generally considered to be the dumbest animal in creation. Good stuff!

[Rob D.]

My favorite Bill Lee anecdote is that he once asked for permission to wear No. 337 because, he explained, when that number is turned upside down it spells "Lee." After his request was denied, he went with No. 37.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

My favorite Bill Lee anecdote is that he once asked for permission to wear No. 337 because, he explained, when that number is turned upside down it spells "Lee." After his request was denied, he went with No. 37.

How have I not heard that one?! That's great! I can envision him wearing #337 and trying to pitch while upside down!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Title of his autobiography" "The Wrong Stuff."

Comment after game 2 of the 75 Series, when a reporter asked him to characterize the Series so far: "tied."

Worst moment: the second "Leephus" pitch of the game to Tony Perez in game 7, who was ready for it and nuked it.

Classic moment: leaving Fenway in full uniform to catch the end of the Boston Marathon.