#5 John Bateman

Just this side of the law.....Traded in baseball for softball....and made a lot more coin doing so….after hanging up his MLB spikes joined fabled Eddie Feigner in a barnstorming fast pitch softball act...Team comprised of Eddy, John, and two others ...took on all local all star teams and way more often than not came out on top….Baseball life on the field a bit more pedestrian…..but not off it….. from accounts a tumultuous upbringing with baseball his only positive outlet….a case of arrested development: didn’t get traction towards organized ball until playing at a military base….folklore has it he wrote to all team and Colt .45 organization responded leading to a try out and signing….lied about his age to cover his dirty life and times….Played with one kidney, fabricated a story about losing it due to a football injury....truth was the kidney was lost from a bar fight injury....Also had trouble keeping his weight down, an issue for managers....First professional assignment, Class C California league….determined to make up for lost time put forth strong numbers….in an incredible leap made the Colts team holding down regular work for 1963….hit .210 but did show power and ability to drive in runs....Sophomore and Junior jinxes took over each hitting under .200....each resulting in trips back to minors.....Strong comeback 1966, his best year ever as a pro....going full throttle  17 HR, 70 RBI, and .279 overcoming small injuries with ease.....once again, slumped badly in 1967 with a minor revival in 1968....Initially thought his Astro position was secure but the addition of backstop Johnny Edwards made Bateman expansion draft fodder....quickly selected by the Expos but initial year was a disappointment....Given an ultimatum by Gene Mauch (notoriously known for his fitness demands), lost weight which limited another demotion to the minors....once up had two solid yet unspectacular  campaigns....In his last season Bateman starts by riding the bench in Montreal traded straight up for fellow veteran backstop Tim McCarver….Is the primary Phillie receiver but as Sept call ups roll in surrenders games to prospect Bob Boone….With Boone taking over the helm Bateman was released….No takers to continue his MLB days turning to fast pitch softball....confined to second division teams for career.