04/23/24
August 20, 2004
"One thing I love about Vermont is you can take all back roads so you can drink": so sayeth the Spaceman. On a day when one ex-Sox pitcher almost returned to the fold, take a ride with the most interesting one of all time. Don Zimmer fans keep out.
Ugh. After reading the description of where he lives, I got extremely homesick. I'm glad I'm going back to Michigan for a visit next month.
posted by NoMich at 07:29 AM on August 20, 2004
I miss him. Watching him pitch for the expos as a kid made me ask some very awkward questions as a kid.
posted by sauril at 10:28 AM on August 20, 2004
I hate the BoSox, but always loved Bill Lee. People tend to remember the "Spaceman" antics, such as naming Don Zimmer "The Gerbil," (That STILL makes me laugh) but forget he was a solid pitcher for 13 seasons with a career ERA around 3.60. "I would change policy, bring back natural grass, and nickel beer. Baseball is the belly-button of our society. Straighten out baseball, and you straighten out the rest of the world." Bill Lee
posted by bawanaal at 10:36 AM on August 20, 2004
bawanaal, that is so true! Some folks blame the sex and drugs of the '60s but I think the real turning point was when Curt Flood won his lawsuit. Everybody chant with me: "Put the lint back in! Put the lint back in! Put the lint back in! Put the lint back in!"
posted by billsaysthis at 11:22 AM on August 20, 2004
u can smoke on the backroads too. i did last weekend.
posted by garfield at 02:01 PM on August 20, 2004
I saw a bio about Lee on tv a few years ago where he said he originally resented being called 'spaceman.' He said "I'm from the earth. The space program was just a way for companies to sell teflon." or something to that effect. Interesting guy. They showed footage of him pitching with a long, scraggily looking beard. It looked like Aqualung was on the mound. "Fisk hated Munson, Munson hated Fisk, and everyone hated Bill Lee."
posted by crank at 02:20 PM on August 20, 2004
I love Bill Lee. Somewhere in this world, I have the High Times issue that features him. It's probably sitting right next to that Rolling Stone with the Mark Fidrych feature. Which is to say, they're probably getting munched by some moths as we type. *sad