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

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Those Miami college kids couldn’t hit Selma or me, but they had never seen anyone like Nolie. Those poor guys; I’m sure that after the game they went back to Miami asking themselves, “Is there any way we can play another sport?”

The Mets decided that I was still too raw to begin my career in Double-A, and rather than send me to Williamsport, they assigned me to Single-A Auburn, in upstate New York. Auburn played in the New York-Penn League. I hadn’t been hit hard in the spring, but I didn’t throw a lot of strikes either, and I had yet to master my new pitching mechanics.

When I arrived in Auburn, I focused on becoming a major league ballplayer. I made sure I got my rest, at least at first. I would get to bed early two days before I pitched. The night before, I might go out and have a drink or two with my buddies, but it was only a couple of drinks, and then I was off to bed.

All I wanted to be was a major league ballplayer. That was the expectation I had for myself. I had read all the articles about my potential, and I was determined to fulfill that promise. I knew I’d only get one shot, and I wanted to make the best of my opportunity.