There’s a starman waiting in the sky. He’d like to come and meet us, but he thinks he’d blow our minds. -David Bowie
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Bill the Spaceman Lee. A prophet in his own mind. Bill the Spaceman Lee, inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame. Hilarity ensues.
Okay, okay, okay. When I was little, ok? When I was little, around the corner from my house, ok? Around the corner from my house, the Red Sox owned this house, ok? The Red sox owned this house where players lived for the season. Danny Cater lived there one year, I remember. Barely. But what I definitely do remember is: Bill Lee lived there one year too.
Now, that same year, I was about thirteen. Spike Lee remembers it as the Summer of Sam. I remember it as the summer of Bucky Dent. My brothers and I went to every home weekend game. Every home weekend game. There were no advanced sale bleachers back then. There was no assigned seating in the no advanced sale bleachers back then. First come, first serve. The American way.
Okay, okay, okay. Ya. Bill Lee. Bill Lee lived around the corner from me. Gameday, from his house, the Spaceman would run to the ballpark. Me and my brothers would get on the 57 bus. Get on the 57 bus in Watertown Square. Get on the 57 bus into Fenway. We’d see Bill Lee running to the game. We’d scream out the window at him. The whole way.
We tried to make it in time for batting practice. When Lee would get into the outfield for a catch, we’d come down to the bullpen fence and scream at him some more. Scream through our popcorn holder megaphones. He’d throw us a ball sometimes. I was thirteen. At that point in time, there was no debating who my favorite player was. And, not for nothing, he shoulda pitched that game instead of Torrez. At thirteen, I knew it. I still know it now.
Peace out homies. Six two and even!
Need More? Bill Lee, Boston Red Sox, MLB
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