I short diversion from stars of yester-year , to acknowledge Bill Lee, known around baseball as the funniest or craziest of the ex players.
Dirk Hayhurst is coming on as a next era funnyman, writing about his exploits in the minors, but a backstage approach to riding buses in Texas, California, and Arizona, but make no mistake, his inspiration must have been Lee.
I would argue that irreverent baseball players turned writers goes back to Jimmy Bouton's vaunted "Ball Four" , a taboo piece about the New York Yankees, of Mantle, Berra, Martin and Ford. Trouble was the Yankees are sacrosanct and his stories about drunken parties, players kissing on the bus did not go over well.
By the time Billy started writing, we were into a different era, post Watergate, post Iran Contra, and the gloves were off. Bill has missed out on Twitter, Facebook and blogging but Hayhurst will be the next generation, with ready quips during games, or pictures posted.
We now live in an instantaneous society whereupon if you think it, you can make it viral. Just push the button, and it is out there.
Bill Lee was a decent self made left hander born in California, to a sports oreinted family and he worked his way to the Boston Red Sox and was a key contributor for several seasons. His time was ended by a trade to the Expos until personal friend Rodney Scott was let go in a cost cutting measure.
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