A retired professional baseball player credited with developing the knuckleball, Bouton turns 78 on Thursday, March 8.
He relocated from Ridgewood to Chicago when he was 15. He played college baseball at Western Michigan University before signing with the Yankees.
Bouton was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves between 1962 and 1978. He also was a bestselling author, actor, activist and sportscaster.
He was part of the 1962 World Series champions, the 1963 MLB All-Star Game, and won both of his starts in the 1964 World Series.
Bouton is married to his second wife Paula Kurman. They have six grandchildren. He has three children from his first marriage.
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