I Managed Good, But Boy Did They Play Bad
Encyclopedia
I Managed Good, But Boy Did They Play Bad is a collection of essays, short stories and articles about baseball
, combined with comments and articles written by Ball Four
author and former major league pitcher Jim Bouton
.
The book is also unusual in how it lampoons the publishing industry. Bouton writes that the book existed solely because Playboy Press thought that a baseball book with Bouton's name on it would sell enough to make a tidy profit. Bouton turned the tables on the publishers when he demanded complete control of the project, and demanded the he alone would hire a researcher (and then he met Offen at Bloomingdale's
while shopping for clothes--Bouton was well aware of Offen's talents, plus he knew that Offen had just recently been fired, so would work hard on the project).
In creating the book, Bouton and Offen agreed that they would select stories that met their personal tastes, not just vapid pieces glorifying their subjects (Bouton even apologizes to the late New York Yankees
manager Miller Huggins
because they found no interesting stories written about him, so he was not included in the book). Also, Bouton wrote introductions to each selection, as well as several chapters on his own managers, including his Seattle Pilots
manager profiled in Ball Four, Joe Schultz
. Bouton also added his opinions on the collapse of the "Yankee Dynasty" in 1965, and the roles that the three managers of that era (Ralph Houk
, Yogi Berra
and Johnny Keane
) played in that fall from glory.
Bouton and Offen twice chose works which contradicted themselves over their subject; the articles for both Casey Stengel
and Leo Durocher
offer distinctly different opinions about their subjects. They also chose one fictional manager--Squawks Magrew, created by James Thurber
in his short story, "You Could Look It Up".
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, combined with comments and articles written by Ball Four
Ball Four
Ball Four is a book written by former Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Bouton in . The book is a diary of Bouton's 1969 season, spent with the Seattle Pilots and then the Houston Astros following a late-season trade. In it Bouton also recounts much of his baseball career, spent mainly with the...
author and former major league pitcher Jim Bouton
Jim Bouton
James Alan "Jim" Bouton is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is also the author of the controversial baseball book Ball Four, which was a combination diary of his season and memoir of his years with the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, and Houston Astros.-Amateur and college...
.
The book's creation
The book is unusual in that Bouton fully acknowledges that he didn't write much of it, nor did he do the research. Reporter Neil Offen was hired by Bouton to research the material, and he and Bouton made the selections themselves. Bouton's candor in crediting Offen is much like his style of writing in Ball Four.The book is also unusual in how it lampoons the publishing industry. Bouton writes that the book existed solely because Playboy Press thought that a baseball book with Bouton's name on it would sell enough to make a tidy profit. Bouton turned the tables on the publishers when he demanded complete control of the project, and demanded the he alone would hire a researcher (and then he met Offen at Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's is an American department store owned by Macy's, Inc. .Bloomingdale's started in 1861 when brothers Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale started selling hoop-skirts in their Ladies Notions' Shop on Manhattan's Lower East Side...
while shopping for clothes--Bouton was well aware of Offen's talents, plus he knew that Offen had just recently been fired, so would work hard on the project).
In creating the book, Bouton and Offen agreed that they would select stories that met their personal tastes, not just vapid pieces glorifying their subjects (Bouton even apologizes to the late New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
manager Miller Huggins
Miller Huggins
Miller James Huggins , nicknamed "Mighty Mite", was a baseball player and manager. He managed the powerhouse New York Yankee teams of the 1920s and won six American League pennants and three World Series championships....
because they found no interesting stories written about him, so he was not included in the book). Also, Bouton wrote introductions to each selection, as well as several chapters on his own managers, including his Seattle Pilots
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
manager profiled in Ball Four, Joe Schultz
Joe Schultz
Joseph Charles Schultz, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball catcher, coach and manager. Schultz was the first and only manager for the Seattle Pilots franchise during their lone season before they became the Milwaukee Brewers...
. Bouton also added his opinions on the collapse of the "Yankee Dynasty" in 1965, and the roles that the three managers of that era (Ralph Houk
Ralph Houk
Ralph George Houk , nicknamed The Major, was an American catcher, coach, manager, and front office executive in Major League Baseball...
, Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
and Johnny Keane
Johnny Keane
John Joseph Keane was an American manager in Major League Baseball. Born in St. Louis, Missouri and known as a patient manager of young players, Keane participated in one of the strangest turns of events in baseball history in , his final season at the helm of the St...
) played in that fall from glory.
Bouton and Offen twice chose works which contradicted themselves over their subject; the articles for both Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
and Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
offer distinctly different opinions about their subjects. They also chose one fictional manager--Squawks Magrew, created by James Thurber
James Thurber
James Grover Thurber was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his cartoons and short stories published in The New Yorker magazine.-Life:...
in his short story, "You Could Look It Up".
The managers
- Rocky BridgesRocky BridgesEverett Lamar "Rocky" Bridges is a former utility infielder with an 11-year career in American Major League Baseball from 1951 to 1961. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals of the National League, and the Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland...
: "I Managed Good, But Boy Did They Play Bad" by Gilbert Rogin - John McGrawJohn McGrawJohn McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
: "From the Bench" by Christy MathewsonChristy MathewsonChristopher "Christy" Mathewson , nicknamed "Big Six", "The Christian Gentleman", or "Matty", was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire career in what is known as the dead-ball era...
, also featuring interviews about McGraw from Lawrence RitterLawrence RitterLawrence S. Ritter was an American writer whose specialties were economics and baseball.Ritter was a professor of economics and finance, and chairman of the Department of Finance at the Graduate School of Business Administration of New York University. He also edited the academic periodical...
's The Glory of Their TimesThe Glory of Their TimesThe Glory of Their Times: The Story Of The Early Days Of Baseball Told By The Men Who Played It is a book, edited by Lawrence Ritter, telling the stories of early 20th century baseball... - Casey StengelCasey StengelCharles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
:"Musings of a Dugout Socrates" by Gillbert Millstein; "The Last Angry Old Man" by Edward Linn - Ralph HoukRalph HoukRalph George Houk , nicknamed The Major, was an American catcher, coach, manager, and front office executive in Major League Baseball...
, Yogi BerraYogi BerraLawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
, and Johnny KeaneJohnny KeaneJohn Joseph Keane was an American manager in Major League Baseball. Born in St. Louis, Missouri and known as a patient manager of young players, Keane participated in one of the strangest turns of events in baseball history in , his final season at the helm of the St...
: "Which One of Us Took the Greater Fall?" by Bill VeeckBill VeeckWilliam Louis Veeck, Jr. , also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a franchise owner and promoter in Major League Baseball. He was best known for his publicity stunts to raise attendance. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis...
; "A Locker Room View" by Jim Bouton - Connie MackConnie Mack (baseball)Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
: "Cornelius McGillicuddy -- Mr. Mack" by Bob ConsidineBob ConsidineRobert "Bob" Bernard Considine was an American writer and commentator. He is best-known for co-writing Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and The Babe Ruth Story.-Biography:... - Walter AlstonWalter AlstonWalter Emmons Alston , nicknamed "Smokey," was an American baseball player and manager. He was born in Venice, Ohio but grew up in Darrtown. He is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he lettered three years in both basketball and baseball and is a member of the University's Hall...
: "Manager With a Hair shirt" by Melvin Durslag - Leo DurocherLeo DurocherLeo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
: "They Ain't Getting No Maiden" by Roger Kahn; "How Durocher Blew the Pennant" by William Barry Furlong - Chuck DressenChuck DressenCharles Walter Dressen , known as both "Chuck" and "Charlie," was an American third baseman, manager and coach in professional baseball during a career that lasted almost fifty years, and was best known as the manager of the powerful Brooklyn Dodgers of 1951–1953...
: "Advisor to Presidents" by John Lardner - Squawks Magrew: "You Could Look It Up" by James ThurberJames ThurberJames Grover Thurber was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his cartoons and short stories published in The New Yorker magazine.-Life:...
- Joe McCarthy: "Nobody's Neutral" by Ed Fitzgerald
- Dick WilliamsDick WilliamsRichard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
: "How Dick Williams Became the World Champion Manager" by Jim Bouton - George StallingsGeorge StallingsGeorge Tweedy Stallings was an American manager and player in Major League Baseball. His most famous achievement – leading the Boston Braves from last place in mid-July to the National League championship and a World Series sweep of the powerful Philadelphia Athletics – resulted in a nickname he...
: "The Miracle Man" by Tom Meany - Joe SchultzJoe SchultzJoseph Charles Schultz, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball catcher, coach and manager. Schultz was the first and only manager for the Seattle Pilots franchise during their lone season before they became the Milwaukee Brewers...
: "The Manager Who Wasn't" by Jim Bouton