The critically acclaimed book, A Bitter Cup of Coffee, by Doug Gladstone, delves into updates on MLB legends such as Bill Edgerton, a former, left-handed pitcher of the Seattle Pilots and Kansas City Athletics who now resides in Foley, Ala.

The book tells the true story about a group of former big-league ballplayers denied pensions as a result of the failure of both the league and the union to retroactively amend the vesting requirement change that granted instant pension eligibility to ballplayers in 1980. Prior to that year, ballplayers had to have four years of service credit to earn an annuity and medical benefits. Since 1980, however, all that’s needed is one day of service credit for health insurance and 43 days of service credit for a pension.

Last April 21st, both Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) announced that all these inactive, non-vested men, who played between 1947 and 1979, will receive up to $10,000 per year depending on their length of service credit, as compensation for their contributions to the national pastime. The first check was sent to these men around Labor Day; the second installment was received by many of them this past February.

In the new CBA, announced last November, these life annuity payments were extended through 2016.

And now, it hits home.

A graduate of Penn High School, in Mishauwka, Indiana, Bill Edgerton debuted with the Kansas City Athletics in September 1966. With a win-loss record of 1-2 and a career Earned Run Average of 4.79. He ended his playing days as an original member of the Seattle Pilot team famously chronicled in Jim Bouton's Ball Four. All told, in parts of three seasons, he appeared in 17 career games and worked 20 2/3 innings. He retired to Foley, Ala. and still receives fan mail almost every week, according to Edgerton.

Until recently, MLB, the union and the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association had advised Edgerton and his wife that he didn't meet the criteria established to receive compensation. Under the formula used to calculate an eligible retiree's payment, for every quarter of service someone has, i.e., 43 days of service on a major league roster, he is to receive $625, up to 16 quarters or four years. Though he only appeared in 17 games, Edgerton had long contended that he was on major league rosters for a sufficient enough time to receive at least $625.

The couple independently verified that they were correct and the former pitcher was expecting to receive his first check.

Edgerton explained that much of his own research was required since handwritten paperwork was kept in files in those days, and some had been lost. He believes that many more former players will come forward, once they learn about the new restrictions.

Months after receiving no word, and no check, he began calling to ask questions again. He was told that his paperwork was received my MLB, but that one of the liaisons missed turning it in by the deadline. Edgerton and a few others will have to “wait for the lawyers” to extend the filing deadline once more before he can receive his pension.

“It was the best time of my life,” Edgerton recalled. “I just don’t want this to leave a bad taste in my mouth.”