Sox Beat: Younger Williams insists he s serious

NINE YEARS AGO on a lawn in Tilton, John Henry Williams batted against a New Hampshire State Trooper and struck out.

Early reviews on the son of Hall Famer Ted Williams were not good. Back then, the younger Williams was facing Dave McCarthy in a game of Wiffle ball.

These days the 33-year-old is daring to dream, making an attempt at playing professional baseball in the Red Sox minor league system. Williams signed a contract yesterday and is scheduled to make a debut next week in the Gulf Coast League, a rookie league in Florida typically reserved for peach-fuzzed draft picks.

Some teenagers on the diamond at Ft. Myers, Fla., have something in common with John Henry. They, too, had never seen a professional pitch before this season.

But Williams, who never played beyond the high school level at Vermont Academy, has been working out for at least a year in preparation for this season. He has the luxury of a state-of-the-art hitting cage at his father’s place in Hernando, Fla. — the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame.

“There’s always been an urge,” said John Henry last night at home in Florida. “Two years ago, I really had the urge. I’d been working out for four, five months, and then my dad got sick. That put everything else on hold.”

Father and son now share a residence — and the same dream — a couple miles from the Hall of Fame. For years, the thought of John Henry playing baseball charged up both parties. Son merely has taken action, albeit a little late.

“It was very interesting for dad to hear about me hitting and wanting to watch me hit. That was really motivational, not only for him but for me.”

In addition to receiving tips from the all-time greatest hitter, John Henry began working with Steve Ferroli, a hitting coach Ted holds in the highest regard. Ted has written the forward for two of Ferroli’s books on hitting. In 1994, they combined efforts on a videotape teaching hitting.

Next week, Ferroli’s pupil may be on the same roster with a rehabbing Rich Garces. The task ahead for John Henry (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) is “mammoth,” but not impossible, said coach.

“He’s one of the best students I’ve ever had, and I’ve taught thousands. I’ve been doing this 20 years,” said Ferroli. “He has the ability to be successful at the level of play he’s entering.”

Ferroli, at first, laughed at the thought of John Henry taking a crack at pro ball.

Then John Henry kept improving in the cage, jumping ahead of schedule on the learning curve. Before long he was hitting 90-mph pitches in the cage.

“It he stays at this pace, it’s intriguing how good he could get. What’s he going to be like a year from now? That’s exciting me now,” said Ferroli.

McCarthy, now an advisor for Rath, Young & Pignatelli in Concord, has been friends with Ted and John Henry Williams for years. When Ted served as grand marshal for the 1999 Jiffy Lube 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway, McCarthy organized a badged welcoming committee and took special care of baseball’s greatest all-time hitter.

The idea of John Henry Williams jumping into pro baseball is not such a foreign concept if you ask McCarthy. After all, it’s just a dream. And there’s no denying John Henry has Ted’s blood running through his veins.

McCarthy describes John Henry as an excellent athlete in “phenomenal” shape.

“There’s no question in my mind had this young man played more organized baseball, there’s no doubt he could have eventually made the major leagues. He has the God-given talent,” he said. “Years ago, he took the (New Hampshire) State Police test. He broke all the records on the timed swimming. He’s a naturally gifted athlete ... I can tell you he’s in unbelievable shape. There’s not an ounce of fat on him.”

McCarthy actually recommended John Henry to the Nashua Pride, New Hampshire’s non-affiliated professional team that compares to Double-A level. Williams understandably wanted to break in with his father’s old team. John Henry, often criticized for the perceived handling of his father’s business matters, has made for plenty of talk radio fodder the past two days.

“Is he serious? Yeah. Is the Boston media having a field day with the whole thing? Yeah,” said McCarthy. “But what American can’t identify with chasing your dream no matter how?

“The funny thing is, my goodness, he looks like his old man at the plate when he swings, even though he’s a right-handed hitter.”

John Henry is aware of the naysayers, but he’ll gladly accept any criticism in exchange for the smile on dad’s face.

“(Red Sox owner) John Henry told me at the very beginning, one of the most important things to do is to have fun, and I told him that’s exactly how I got started,” said the namesake. “What’s really nice is I can only go one way. I’m starting at the very bottom. I’ve been given a chance.

“If I succeed, I’m going to really surprise some people. If I don’t, everybody already knew it. In my heart, I truly believe I’m not here to waste my team ... For the last 23 years, since I was 10, I’ve been sitting around listening about hitting from one of the greatest hitters that ever lived.”

Added Ferroli, “There have been several times where I have been there with Ted and John Henry, and (Ted’s) just really excited about talking about hitting. It makes me feel good because it’s good to see Ted be excited about something — he’s been through hell the past few years.”

The newcomer is looking forward to feeling comfortable on the team, getting at bats, making some plays at first base. He took live batting practice this week and had one poor outing, one positive outing.

Years ago, John Henry was a student — not a ball player — at Bates College and the University of Maine. He turns 34 on Aug. 26. He is not delusional to the point of expecting to hit behind Manny Ramirez in September.

“I rely strong on Steve to discuss things,” he said. “If I can’t see the forest through the trees, I’m sure some of my close friends will say, hey ...”

John Henry has traded a Wiffle ball bat for a Louisville Slugger. His hands may be blistered, and his chances may be slim, but John Henry and Ted are smiling.

They are talking professional hitting in the Williams’ household, and this time son is taking part.
Staff writer Kevin Gray covers the Red Sox for The Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News. His e-mail address is kgray@theunionleader.com.

Good thing Stuttering John didn't interview Ted Williams about his son but I don't understand why the younger Williams didn't continue with baseball after high school. BTW, I used to work at a baseball training camp in Connecticut where ballplayers who were tossed off minor league teams went to get their game back up again. I could tell you some funny stories about that. But this deal about why the younger Williams quit baseball only to take it up all these years later still mystifies me.

It makes for a nice story but the chances of a 33-year-old who hasn't played the game competively since high school breaking into the major leagues is about the same as Pat Buchanan becoming president of the United States.

I will be shocked if this kid (actually a man approaching middle age) gets to even the Triple "A" level.

But that doesn't mean I'm not rooting for him to make it.

Let's hope he does better than Garth Brooks and Michael Jordan ... &;-)

He wont. Count on it...JFK

It makes for a nice story

Yes, it does, Sam. I wonder if his motivation is, as the story notes:

It was very interesting for dad to hear about me hitting and wanting to watch me hit. That was really motivational, not only for him but for me

Maybe just something to give his dad a little pleasure as he slowly slips away.

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