Bouton, author of groundbreaking book ‘Ball Four,’ dies

Former New York Yankees pitcher Jim Bouton, whose irreverent, raunchy baseball memoir, “Ball Four,” attracted both hostility and acclaim, died on Wednesday at his home in Massachusetts, according to media reports. He was 80.

The Newark, New Jersey, native died following a battle with a brain disease linked to dementia after weeks of hospice care, New York’s Daily News reported.

The knuckleballer, who spent 10 years in the major leagues, was best known for writing the best-selling “Ball Four,” recounting the 1969 season when he was a member of the expansion Seattle Pilots and the Houston Astros as well as his earlier years with the Yankees.

The book gave fans a rare, intimate glimpse into the drinking, drug use and sexual escapades that went on in professional baseball at that time.

“You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time,” Bouton wrote at the end of his book.

When released, “Ball Four” was harshly criticized within the game, especially by baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

But the memoir became widely popular with baseball fans. It is now considered one of the most important sports books ever written.

Bouton, who finished his career with a 62-63 record and a 3.57 earned-run average, enjoyed his best season in 1963, when he won 21 games and was an AllStar.

After he retired, Bouton took up broadcasting and helped invent “Big League Chew,” a bubble-gum product that resembles chewing tobacco and is packaged in a tobacco-like pouch.

METS WOULD LISTEN TO OFFERS FOR SYNDERGAARD >> Right-hander Noah Syndergaard could be traded if the New York Mets are approached with the “right deal,” MLB Network reported. Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler are reportedly available, but the Mets are not soliciting offers, according to the report.

Syndergaard, 6-4 this season with a 4.68 ERA in 17 starts, is under team control through the 2021 season and is earning only $6 million this season. He’s eligible for arbitration this offseason.

DODGERS ACTIVATE SS SEAGER FROM IL >> The Los Angeles Dodgers activated shortstop Corey Seager from the 10-day injured list, clearing the way for him to return from a month-long absence. Seager strained his left hamstring on June 11 and went on the IL two days later. He is expected to be in the lineup Friday when the Dodgers open the second half of the season at the Boston Red Sox, along with center fielder A.J. Pollock. He has been out since April 28 because of elbow surgery.

ROBOT UMPIRES ARRIVED >> The independent Atlantic League became the first American professional baseball league to let a computer call balls and strikes at its All-Star Game. Plate umpire Brian deBrauwere wore an earpiece connected to an iPhone in his pocket and relayed the call upon receiving it from a TrackMan computer system that uses Doppler radar.

He crouched in his normal position behind the catcher and signaled balls and strikes.