Williams is touted as having the best batting eye in baseball.
It is said he could read the stamp on the ball. Certainly he could pick up seam rotation as well or better than anyone.
Apochrophyl story.
Rookie picture as Ted came to bat. Pitch is very close on inside corner. Ted takes ump says. Ball one. Pitcher looks in quizacally.
Second pitch very close on outside corner. Williams takes, ball two. Pitcher lingers looking at ump. Finally says that was a strike.
Ump goes around front of plate as if to dust off plate. Turns to pitcher and says, son, mr Williams will let you know when it’s a strike.
When Ted was manager at Washington in his late 50s or early 60s he would at times take batting practice. Players from both teams would gather around the batting cage to admire the swing.
Ted visited Ty Cobb once and they sat on cobbs porch talking baseball. What I would have given to be a fly on that wall
As I can only seem to get on FR at night, still trying to catch up....
Welcome to the Canteen, morphing....thanks for sharing your great story about Ted Williams.