Bill "Spaceman" Lee: Baseball, A Love Affair

I faced Bill Lee,the quirky ex Red Sox star,only one time back in the late nineties. We played against each other in the Roy Hobbs World Series. Older guys congregate once a year in Ft. Myers FL. to celebrate their passion for baseball. The game was for the Masters Division championship between his team the New England Red Sox and my team the Bronx Yankees. Ironic, another Red Sox-Yankees matchup. I batted 3 times in the game and had 2 singles, but in the end his team loaded with ex-major leaguers beat us 5-2.

What is it about this 64 year old man that triggers so much interest and what makes him such a great ambassador for the game he loves? Interestingly,I disagree with him on mostly all his positions in the political arena, but you have to give the devil his due. To this day, he is still a terrific ballplayer. No small feat at his age.

In 2007, he joined the "Oil Can Boyd Traveling Allstars" with other ex-major leaguers to play in many different countries. In 2008, Bill pitched for the Alaska Goldpanners during the annual " Midnight Sun" ball game played as part of the Summer Solstice. On Sept 5 2010, Bill pitched for the Brocton Rox of the Can-Am league and got the victory. This made him the oldest player to pitch and win a professional baseball game.

One trip that I would like to highlight is the 2003 trip to Cuba. That trip is captured in the 2003 documentary " Spaceman In Cuba." Bill and a group left for Cuba and took with them tons of baseball gear. They had bats, gloves, balls, spikes and catchers equipment. Their desire was to give things to the baseball kids in the provinces. You see, although, the Cuban national team is well outfitted for the world competition, the children in the outlying provinces are mired in poverty and have nothing. Bill and his group were shadowed by government officials and were not permitted to share what they brought for the kids. It would make America look to good. This was another great moment of communism at work.

Of course, this was a disappoinment to Bill, but he continues to press on. He is the author of four books, all available at Amazon. To this day, Bill continues to compete and take the message of baseball to every corner of the globe. I admire him because although baseball didn't always embrace him, he has been a real credit to the game. Bill Lee and baseball, a 50 year love affair that continues to this day.

Sy Bonem