April 16, 1969...GAME 7 (SEA 4, KC 3)

Bouton was stuck in baseball purgatory. Optioned to the Vancouver Mounties (Seattle's farm team), but still in Seattle due to the fact that the Mounties were in Tulsa and they didn't want him to travel. Prior to the game against Minnesota he got permission to workout with the team, so he threw to McNertney and Haney for 45 minutes. No BP due to rain...this is Seattle remember ? Bell started the game and went 7 and gave up only 1 unearned run to the vaunted Twin lineup. Jack Aker came in and proceeded to try and blow it. He gave up 2 runs in less than 2/3 inning work. His ERA is 37.50. No reason to keep the knuckleballer when you have Aker to throw propane on the fire. The team held on and won 4-3. Brabender and Segui had to come in and put the fire out. Tommy Davis had 2 hits and is now batting .385. Hegan is leading the team at .391 and Mincher is at .304. Speaking of Mincher, he proved out to be a real nice guy showing support for the old Bulldog. The toughest part about going down is getting living accommodations. Guys on the bubble find themselves writing out lots of deposits for 1st and lasts month's rent. Thankfully the parent team picks up the tab for the remaining month's on the lease when they send you down or release you.

April 14, 1969...GAME 6 (SEA 6, KC 5)

In the lexicon of baseball Bouton says, "I died tonight". After giving up 2 runs in an inning of work and seeing his ERA balloon into the 3.80's "The Bulldog" was optioned to Vancouver (Seattle's Farm team). The Pilots held on to win the game, and if Diego Segui doesn't yield a double to the light hitting Jackie Hernandez, Bouton escapes with only 1 run against. Still convinced that his knuckle ball can get out major league hitters he heads off to "the bushes". Interesting quote: "What about Steve Barber ? He hasn't been able to pick up a baseball. He had a brutal spring. What's this love affair with Barber ? Why can't he go on the DL ?"..."Ah, the hell with it". Baseball is a funny game. The thought processes that emanate from baseball management, even funnier. Sometimes as fans we sit back and shake our heads at the decisions they make. How many of us would have drafted Steve Chilcott over Reggie Jackson ? Somehow they get paid the big bucks and we don't. Gotta love the 'ole boys network.

April 13, 1969...GAME 5 (SEA 2, CHW 1)

Dare we say the bulldog is back ??? Bouton got into the game with the score tied at 1 and went 3 scoreless innings and got the win when Rich Rollins hit a sac fly to right to score Tailwind Tommy Harper. Harper setup the whole inning with his legs. He beat out an infield single, then promptly stole second and got to third when Wayne Comer bunted him over. Pundits thought Harper was going to be a weak link, but he and Ray Oyler have been a good keystone combo so far. Can't believe those three innings. More so, I can't believe Maglie and Schultz put me in with the score tied in the 8th. Marty Pattin went 7 innings and gave up only 1 run. Those anemic White Sox bats are sure making us look good. Tried to talk to Maglie after the game to see about getting more work, but he wasn't interested in chatting. Coaches and managers hate to talk to players. In baseball they have a saying, "he's a good guy...doesn't say much". Guess I'm not such a good guy.

April 12, 1969...GAME 4 (SEA 2, CHW 1)

Before today's game Joe Schultz said, "Okay men, up and at 'em. Get that old Budwieser." We deserved every ouce of that old hops and barley brew. In the pitcher's graveyard called Sicks Stadium, Diego Segui went the distance and gave up just 1 run, while we scrated out 2 to win. .500 record ! Mediocrity here we come ! Hegan doubled home Oyler in the bottom of the 9th for the win. Boy did we "pound" him.

April 11, 1969...GAME 3 (CHW 6, SEA 2)

Today was the home opener at glorious Sicks Stadium. Less than 15,000 showed up. Wonder if they know something we don't know ? I guess any city that values its museums more than it's ball team can't be all that bad ? Ding Dong Gary Bell started for us and got torched for 6 runs in a little over 8 innings of work. Ding Dong...I think you all know how he got that nick name ? If you don't, cups are made out of metal and when a ball hits it it makes a sound like "Ding Dong". Nuff said ?


Bell did well in 7 of the 8 innings he pitched. The 4 run 6th inning was his undoing. Schultz let him stay on the mound to "work through" it. I wonder who the real Ding Dong is ?

April 9, 1969: GAME 2 (SEA 13, CAL 8)

We lost game 1 in 11 innings in what is sure to be the first of many heartbreakers. Joe Schultz said, "tommorrow's another day"...who would have imagined he'd be right ? Bouton made his pitching debut today. The linescore shows no runs allowed. The linescore doesn't show that all of Jack Aker's inherited runners scored. Aker was tapped with 5 runs in 1/3 inning. Not a good way to stay with the club ! Got the last 2 batters out in a row !!! Amaro (PH) struck out and Vic Davalillo grounded out weekly ! We're at .500. Of course we had a huge 13-3 lead going into the final inning until that Aker guy gave them 5 easy ones...with a little assist from the Bulldog. Messersmith took the loss for the Angels and got pounded for 7 runs in just over an inning's worth of work. Hard to believe he's the Angels' ace and not Dooley Womack. Schultz was ecstatic, even though he looked a bit nervous during the bottom of the 9th.

When we all came into the clubhouse amidst all the yelling and screaming after our 1st win he said, "Stomp on 'em. That away to stomp on 'em. Kick 'em when they're down. Shitfuck. Stomp them. Stomp them good." Anything can happen, even the Mets are 3-0 !!! There are endless possibilities. Mike Marshall got the win ! He's been walking around with his hand in a cup of tea to help control blisters. He's halfway to madness, but he didn't blister today and he went 8 solid innings. If Starbucks was around in 1969 he'd have Green Tea Latte's all over his apartment and in the clubhouse ! 13-8 final...we'll take it !

April 8, 1969...OPENING DAY (CAL 4, SEA 3)

Every team starts out dead even on Opening Day. The Pilots sent Marty Pattin to the mound to throw the first pitch in franchise history. Tommy Harper led off the game as the first batter in Pilot history and promptly lined out to Dr. Strangeglove, Dick Stuart. The next batter, Mike Hegan, singled to right to record the franchises 1st hit. Hegan, who is known as a streak hitter would go 4 for 5 on the day as the boxscore listed his BA at .800. I think he should quit now and air-mail himself right to Cooperstown.

The second inning saw the franchise's first run and first lead. Rich Rollins led off by reaching base as California's second baseman Bobby Knoop booted a hard smash. Centerfielder Jim Gossger lined out to right and catcher Jerry McNertney laced one down the right field line for a two base hit as Rollins came around to score. The Pilots took a 1-0 lead and celebrated as if they just won game 7 (of the World Series, not the season).

Pattin was cruising. The Angels are a light highting squad for sure. Then in the 6th Auriellio Rodriguez led off with a clean single. Two batters later banjo hitting Knoop atoned for his error in the 2nd by taking Pattin deep into the Southern California smog to put the Angels on top 2-1.

With 2 outs in the 8th and all looking dim Rich Rollins singled home Mike Hegan to tie the game, which would eventually go into extra innings. The big Farm boy Gene Brabender came on in the 9th to relieve Pattin who gave up only 2 runs in 8 innings of work, but with nothing to show for his work. The game remained tied until the 11th when Bill Voss hit a Sac Fly Gosger in center allowing catcher Tom Satriano to score the winning run.

Joe Schultz was shouting encouragement to his troops letting them know that they have the same exact record as the Mets, so they can't possibly be the worst team out there. Maglie grumbled something about not throwing a fastball to a hitter with the winning run 90 feet away and less than 1 out. Bouton was probably thinking that there aren't many good pitches to throw in that situation...period !