Rating: 
Summary: Now I know why I left
Review: A terrific tale of corruption and "screw the voters", Foul Ball is a must read for very city and small town dealing with a sports franchise owner who says "build it, or we will go". I lived in Pittsfield and environs for 17 years, and when I left, the Berkshire Eagle was an award winning newspaper beholden to no one. Now it's a joke. Now that the "winner" of the Wahconah Park scramble has packed his bags and left town after only 2 years, the Eagle is once again dumping all over Bouton because of his desire not to got through this sham again. The citizens of Pittsfield are again the losers in all of this, as there will be no baseball at Wahconah Park in 2004.
Rating: 
Summary: Ballpark stays while city decays
Review: As a resident of Pittsfield and a fan of baseball I fully supported building the new stadium. Pittsfield is awash in drugs, crime and economic stagnation. A new stadium would have brought in a new minor league franchise, a venue for concerts and other sorts of activities. In the end a great thing for Pittsfield. But thanks to Jim Bouton and other non residents (or part time "summer" berkshire residents) the initiative was defeated, Wahconah park was never renovated it can't attract any minor league teams because it is so far under code it is helpless. So now it sits there unused and decaying like the rest of our once great town.
Thanks alot Jim.
Rating:
Summary: Bouton pitches a great one
Review: As a resident of Seattle, it's easy to get caught up in a story about politicians desperate to build a new stadium, despite the voters' clearly-stated opposition to the idea -- especially when the guy telling the story used to play for our hard-luck Pilots. But it quickly becomes clear that this story is about a lot more than just a ballpark ... about more, even, than just baseball. If Jim Bouton's first book, "Ball Four" (which I admit to not having read yet, though it's way up on my to-read list now), was a masterpiece of baseball literature, "Foul Ball" is not only a masterpiece of muckraking journalism, it's also simply an engrossing story, very well told.In attempting to save historic Wahconah Park, and professional baseball, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Bouton and his partners run up against a closed power structure that controls politics, finance, and the town's one daily paper. Over time, the people of Pittsfield rally behind his cause in overwhelming numbers ... or rather, in numbers that would be overwhelming anyplace but Pittsfield. There, the political-financial-media rulers ignore the public, cut their backroom deals, manipulate or intimidate opponents, and steamroll ahead to achieve the outcome they had settled on long ago. It's about money, and accountability, and power -- but mostly, I think, about money. "Everybody's just going to have to live with it." Bouton tells his story with surprising good humor, considering how infuriating the whole thing is. He is insightful and bold, with a sharp eye for detail and a talent for description. And he literally puts his money where his mouth is, choosing to publish this title himself rather than make the bowdlerizing edits demanded by his initial publishers. I strongly encourage you to reward his risk-taking (and get yourself a darn fine book in the process) by buying one or two copies of "Foul Ball" yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Repetition dragged it down
Review: Bouton's wit and sarcasm makes this book. It's the same humor as he has used in all his books. What also works is the cast of unbelievable beurocrats that would do anything to build a new ballpark using tax dollars. These cast of characters are too out of touch to be true, but they are true. Bouton and his friend fight a noble battle to own a team and refurbish a historic old stadium. The plan is solid, perhaps perfect but it never gets backed. Seems like everyone is connected for the new stadium project. (and they are). There is something smelling pretty bad in Pittsfield and it is flowing through the ground water. Ask General Electric. How does it relate to a historic old park.....you can find out in Foul Ball. It would make a hell of a movie. What I didn't like.....During the reading we get the Bouton groups proposal told to us over and over again....taste of the Berkshires food court...the non-luxury boxes....the money put in. It is used to rebutt against every argument the new stadium mob puts up in the book. I thought that there had to be a way for the author to NOT repeat his proposal to us over one hundred times. Recommendation: Buy this book! It's a lesson in modern politics surrounding sports and local townships. A good lesson to be learned. Also buy it because Bouton had the Four Balls to put it out himself after the publisher backed out at the last minute. Why? General Electric funded the publisher. Enough said.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating but a bit repetitive
Review: Detailed and fearless account of Bouton and friends attempt to take over and fix up a historic minor league park. They run into entrenched business and political interests who oppose them for unfathomable reasons. Very detailed - could have been edited a little trimmer. There are a few too many meetings at which the proposals are discussed. I am tempted to send the book the the State prosecuting attorney and ask him/her to read and prosecute the local pols.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: For years, I'd always intended (and still do intend) to read Bouton's classic baseball book, "Ball Four." But I hadn't even heard of his new book until I received it as a Christmas gift from my father. "Foul Ball" is not simply a great book for people who love baseball and what makes the game so wonderful (hint: it's not skyboxes or retractable roofs). It's one of those rare books that takes a relatively small story (small-town corruption and greed) and ends up revealing an awful lot about human nature (mostly bad, some good). Bouton's voice is very engaging--once you read the first few pages of the Intro, he's got you, and you're in it for the long haul. And the story is as compelling a drama as it is an unbelievable tale of the lengths some people will go to line their own pockets or grab a little bit of power--as well as the lengths the author and his partner will go to try to do the right thing. I was particulary interested to read Bouton's account (in the Epilogue) of how his original publisher, Public Affairs, jerked him around at the eleventh hour. As an editor and author who has worked in book publishing for the past 10 years, I was disgusted by the behavior of his editor and publisher, whose actions were inexcusable. I would highly recommend "Foul Ball" to anyone interested in baseball, the media (particulary local media in smaller markets), or the ways that big business can corrupt public affairs and discourse. It's a great read, and even though it sheds light on some dark and disturbing aspects of American society, you feel good knowing that there are people like Jim Bouton, and his friend and partner, out there fighting the good fight.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book - Read It
Review: I couldn't put this one down and read the entire book on one long day of traveling cross country. The book is about a lot of things. Love for the game of baseball, if not the business of baseball. What kind of crooked nonsense goes on in thousands of small towns across the US every day with bogus politicians defying the will of the people they are supposedly there to serve. How companies that screw all of us somehow convince people and politicians that they are looking out for our best interests. But most of all, this book is about the absolute need all American citizens have for a free press, and a free press that is intelligent, well-informed, willing to take risks, and willing to do its damm job. When the press rolls over, there really is no hope of outing the kinds of crooks and morons Bouton smokes out. It's a very compelling read and I comend Bouton for writing it (even if his originally publisher wimped out).
Rating:
Summary: Book Earns Bouton His 1st CASEY Nomination
Review: If there was any doubt before, this book proves that the multi-talented Jim Bouton really can write. He is also a terrific researcher, reporter, entrepreneur, & tilter-of-windmills. This book is about a lot more than baseball, but it is clearly a CASEY Award calibre book nevertheless.
Rating:
Summary: Bouton Twirls Another Gem
Review: Jim Bouton is all grown-up. He's living happily in Massachusetts despite, like many other grown-ups, getting over a deep loss. He still loves baseball and often goes to minor league games in Pittsfield. The park is run-down but he sees it's potential as an historical landmark. Ah, but the local newspaper and politicians want a new stadium. Thus begins a conflict that mirrors the American problem of whether or not our republic is 'of the people' or of the people with money and power. Bouton's mockingbird flies freely throughout the narrative. He lets his pal, Chip, be smart and be a hero. It's as if Chip was a catcher calling a good game. There are even Gary Bell updates. Foul Ball is beyond a great read. As much fun as it is to hear his 'voice' again, it is more important that stories like this be heard. Read this for fun but afterwards, keep an eye out for bulldozers.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiration for taxpayers, reporters and true fans
Review: Jim Bouton's "Foul Ball" is a fascinating book about his trying to save Waconah Park, an 1890s ballpark in my old home town of Pittsfield, Mass. But it is relevant to cities throughout America and to journalists throughout America. For cities, the book is a well-documented report - often hilarious -- of political and financial wheeling-dealing, back-room decision-making, possible toxic waste cover-ups and con artistry by the good-old-boys in power. For journalists, the book is a shocking account of how a once-highly respected local newspaper has become a joke at best, a shameless tool of moneyed interests at worst. Just about every city in America has been hustled by gold-digging promoters to invest tax money in sports stadiums. Backed by a chorus of "fans", politicians see stadiums as miraculous saviors of local sports, of jobs, the economy, of neighborhoods, downtowns, the entire city, state and nation, and heck, peace would come to the Middle East and Northern Ireland if only they built stadiums there. As I write this, the Boston City Councilors and other city VIPs get rare, choice tickets (oh, they pay face value, of course) to the Red Sox-Yankee playoffs. Oh, no, these ducats from Sox management won't influence decisions on Fenway Park. Jim Bouton's attempt to save an old ball park is on a much smaller scale than Fenway, but it's all the same: politicians on the make, fat-cats wanting to get fatter, and big companies demanding a piece of the action. (In Pittfield it's General Electric Co. pulling the strings.) Bouton lives in Berkshire County, of which Pittsfield is the largest city. Multi-millionaire Larry Bossidy arrives back in his home town with a scheme for a new ball park. But like just about every wealthy sports "fan", he wants the tax-payers to pay for it. The local newspaper, the Berkshire Eagle, now owned by a Denver-based chain, happens to own a piece of land "perfect" for the stadium. The newspaper does not objectively report the fight to save the ballpark , but becomes a clear participant - first favoring a new stadium, then backing a New York outfit (well-connected to the Mayor and his cronies) against Jim Bouton's team, which doesn't want one nickel in tax-payer money. Naturally, the New Yorker gets a two-year contract for the old ball park. And surprise, surprise, now that the two years are up, the New Yorkers - who pledged to stay for the long haul -- are saying Pittsfield is a lousy market, they can't make money, it's nice to have known you, bye-bye Pittsfield. Jim Bouton's book is wonderfully-written, it keeps you laughing, and is obviously accurate. His original publisher demanded parts critical of General Electric be edited out. (Bossidy was number two man to Jack Welch before moving to head Allied Signal.) Bouton refused and published the book himself. He hasn't been sued for libel, not yet anyway, so one can assume his reporting is accurate. The book will inspire citizens throughout the USA to fight greedy sports tycoons who love nothing better than dipping into the public trough. And it should be read by all aspiring (and working) journalists. It's depressing as far as the Eagle goes, but, with luck, it will inspire reporters to be reporters and not tools and toadies.
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