Читать книгу Rage. The Legend of "Baseball Bill" Denehy онлайн

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With my body bursting with adrenaline, I pitched three shutout innings, and then in the fourth I threw a pitch that changed the entire course of my life. If I had known what was going to happen, I would have taken the pitch back. But life doesn’t work that way. One day you’re headed for greatness, and the next day you’re falling into a deep chasm with no end in sight and nothing to break your fall. I threw Willie Mays a hard slider, and it felt like someone stuck a knife in my shoulder. My days of excellence were over pretty much before they began. I would hang on to my professional career for parts of four more sorry seasons, and in my final season in Detroit I assumed the reviled role of designated headhunter for Billy Martin.

As I said, Tom Seaver, the other guy on my rookie card, won 311 games with an ERA of 2.86, pitching himself into the Hall of Fame. I, on the other hand, finished my career with a one-and-ten record and a 4.70 ERA.

And yet, compared to Tom Seaver, my life was far more entertaining and interesting. Tom was a real good guy. Seaver, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, now has the complementary silver fork, silver knife, and Silver Cloud. He has triumphed in everything he has done.