Ball Four: The Final Pitch.
North Egremont, MA: Bulldog Publishing, [2000]. Hardcover. Small 4to. Dark blue paper over boards with silver lettering, pictorial dust jacket. xvi, 528pp. Illustrations. Fine/near fine. Item #51857
ISBN: 097091170X
Tight and bright revised edition of the famed (or infamous, depending) diary by the pitcher (1939-2019) whose original publication in 1970 sparked a fury o controversy for its unflattering warts-and-all depiction of pro ball and its players. Not only has Bouton signed this copy large and bold in blue fineline on the inner flyleaf, but this unique copy bears five choice autograph additions (all in blue ballpoint): Tipped above and below Bouton's signature are matching, heavy stock 5" X 3" cards signed by two of Bouton's baseball colleagues, and tipped to the facing leaf are three identical cards each signed and dated by more of Bouton's colleagues -- all five pictured on the book's "Supporting Cast" photo section. Above Bouton's signature HARMON KILLEBREW (1936-2011) signs and below Bouton's signature PHIL NIEKRO (1939-2020) signs. On the blank leaf facing, top to bottom: JOE ADCOCK (1927-99) signs large and bold, dating it 10 August 1972 at upper right; MIKE EPSTEIN (born 1943) signs, dating it 27 July 1980 at upper right; FRANK HOWARD (1936-2023) signs and adds "Best Wishes," dating it 18 May 1977 at upper right. Laid in are all five original transmiittal envelopes. Bouton's new epilogue and the enlarged format make this a substantially heftier volume than the first edition. Interestingly, a sunburst on front jacket panel notes "New York Public Library Books of the Century Selection" -- a rigorously curated list of 150 of what they deemed the most significant titles in many fields of the 20th century. "Ball Four" was the only sports book included in this prestigious list. Quite a special copy.
Price: $295.00