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

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I kept my nose clean during my year at Single-A Auburn, though I did find myself at the wrong end of a gun.

One night, Bob Johnson and I decided to drive from Auburn to Syracuse to have some fun. Bob was a starting pitcher with tremendous potential, but he was also a magnet for trouble. He had a long scar along the side of his face, and he told me that one time in Chicago he got caught up in a race riot. He also had had his front teeth knocked out.

He was a nice guy if he liked you, but if he didn’t like you, watch out! For example, Bob developed a burning hatred for the scout who had signed him. The scout had given him $10,000 to sign, but then gave another pitching prospect, Dennis Musgraves, a bonus of $100,000. Bob, Musgraves, and the scout were together in the Instructional League one year, and Bob and the scout were watching Musgraves warm up.

“You gave that motherfucker $100,000 and only gave me $10,000!” Johnson said to the scout. “My changeup is faster than his fucking fastball. I ought to kill you,” he said as he chased the terrified scout into the clubhouse.