Reputation and controversy

Lee’s personality earned him popularity as well as the nickname “Spaceman”—a nickname given to him by former Red Sox infielder John Kennedy. His outspoken manner and unfiltered comments were frequently recorded in the press. Lee spoke in defense of Maoist China, population control, Greenpeace, and school busing in Boston, among other things. He berated an umpire for a controversial call in the 1975 World Series, threatening to bite off his ear (“I would have Van-Goghed him!”) and encouraging the American people to write letters demanding the game be replayed. In his 1984 book The Wrong Stuff, he claimed his marijuana use made him impervious to bus fumes while jogging to work at Fenway Park. Much of the material in this book is tongue-in-cheek, however, so Lee’s statements should be taken with a grain of salt.

His propensity to criticize management led to his being dropped from both the Red Sox and the Expos, and the end of his professional career by 1982.

You’re supposed to sit on your ass
And nod at stupid things man, that’s hard to do
And if you don’t they’ll screw you
And if you do, they’ll screw you, too

And when I’m standing in the middle
Of the diamond all alone
I always play to win
When it comes to skin and bone

And sometimes I say things
I shouldn’t, like
And sometimes I say things
I shouldn’t, like

— ZEVON, WARREN

I’m mostly thinking of Warren’s take on Bill, especially the “sometimes I say things I shouldn’t, like” part. My own propensity to criticize management has led to my being dropped by various and sundry clubs.

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