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

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Before the game I was standing with Tom Seaver, who had played at the University of Southern California. Tom was interested in what kind of team the University of Miami was fielding, and was curious how they would fare against some of the hardest throwers they would see all season long. Tom had a boyish way of giggling and laughing, and he was saying to the Miami players, “Wait until you see our guys.”

I got along really well with Tom. He didn’t have a big ego. He was funny, very cerebral. He was a California guy, a college guy, and he was far more mature than I was.

I didn’t hang out much with Tom because he was married to his college sweetheart, Nancy, and after games Tom went straight home. Nancy was sweet and charming.

Against Miami, Whitey pitched Dick Selma for the first three innings. I pitched the second three innings, and a skinny eighteen-year-old by the name of Nolan Ryan pitched innings seven, eight, and nine. Selma threw real hard, and then I came in, and when Nolan’s turn came, he blew them all away. Nolie was a twig, but his wrists were as big as his waist. He threw 100 miles an hour; his fastball clocked at 100, his curveball clocked at 100, and his changeup clocked at 100.