People are still having trouble predicting what Jim Bouton will do next. In 1963, Jim Bouton won 21 games for the New York Yankees and made the all-star team. In 1964, Jim Bouton won 18 games and beat the Cardinals twice in the World Series.

In 1970, Bouton wrote Ball Four, the funny, irreverent, all-time bestseller which revealed baseball players as human beings. Ball Four was recently selected by the New York Public Library as one of the "Books of the Century."

In 1970 Jim Bouton retired from baseball and became a TV sportscaster in New York where he helped WABC-TV and then WCBS-TV climb to 1st place in the ratings. During the 70's he also wrote a sequel to Ball Four entitled I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally, won good reviews in a movie called The Long Goodbye, and created, wrote and acted in a network situation comedy based on his book.

In 1978, Jim Bouton made a comeback to baseball with the Atlanta Braves. Gambling his television career for a dream, Bouton rode hot buses and ate cold hamburgers for two years in the minor leagues before he was called up by the Atlanta Braves. When the 39-year-old knuckleballer beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1, it was his first major league win in eight years.

During his comeback, Jim Bouton invented Big League Chew, shredded bubble gum in a pouch, for ballplayers who want to look right without getting sick. Big League Chew, which has replaced chewing tobacco at many high schools and colleges, is one of the most popular bubble gums on the market.

In 1996, Jim Bouton received the highest honor of his career when he was featured in The Sports 100, "The One Hundred Most Important People in American Sports History," published by Macmillan. This book, which covers 150 years, contains only 21 people from the world of baseball.

Jim Bouton's first novel, Strike Zone, is now in paperback, is a frequent guest on radio and television. Today, he is president of his own company, Big League Cards, is a frequent guest on radio and television, and is an entertaining professional speaker. Funny, irreverent, and refreshing, Jim Bouton's presentations are full of great anecdotes, imitations, information, and inspiration.

In 1998, after 28 years, Bouton was finally invited to Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium when his son Michael wrote a letter to The New York Times saying the Yankees should forgive his dad for having written Ball Four.

In 2003, Bouton self-published Foul Ball: My Life and Hard Times Trying to Save an Old Ballpark--his first diary since Ball Four. Bouton published the book himself rather than remove certain passages ordered by his first publisher.

Bouton, who lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Paula Kurman, is a frequent guest on radio and television. His hobbies are building stone walls and ballroom dancing.

Here's What They're Saying About Jim

Amdahl Corporation -- "What impressed us most about Jim was how quickly he understood our business and the way he, wove that knowledge into his presentation."

Automatic Data Processing -- "Everybody loved Jim at our President's Club in the Bahamas. He was a great anchorman for our Superstars competition, and the most "real" motivational speaker we've ever had. The wives said it was the first time they enjoyed the business meeting."

Kidder Peabody-- "Jim's tone and message are just right. I still borrow his comments whenever I talk with my people."

Key Bank of New York -- "Jim had 550 people in stitches."

Tenneco -- "We've had all the sports guys, from Lou Holtz to Al McGuire. Jim's the best by far. We've had him back four times!"

Ford Dealers Association -- "...outstanding. Jim's Inspirational remarks and personal touches were right on target. We're still receiving comment."

PPG -- "Jim arrived early, joined our pre-program meeting and then delivered a great speech. He was everything we had hoped for and more."

National Electric Sign Association -- "Jim combines humor and a fresh perspective that was loved by all ages. And he's the easiest, most professional speaker I've ever had the pleasure to work with."

Volkswagon Dealers of America-- "A whole different perspective. Not the rah rah stuff you sometimes hear ... and what's more, the guy was hilarious."

Prudential -- "Jim was a big hit in Monaco. He provided the perfect touch for the executives and their spouses."