Ted Williams Dead at 83

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[doug from upland]

Baseball great Ted Williams has died at 83. More to follow.

[breakem]

Don't know if this has been told.

A story goes around illustrating Teddy ballgame's superb eye at the plate.

Rookie pitcher throws hard one inside. Williams takes. Ump says ball 1. Rookie stares in and shakes his head. Throws another pitch outside edge. Ted takes. Ump says ball 2. The rookie is livid and comes half way down towards the plate and yealls to the umpire. When do you call a strike around here? The umps says son, Mr. Williams will let you know when it's a strike.

[Charles Henrickson]

Yes, both Ted Williams and Willie Mays (especially Williams) lost prime years due to military service and otherwise may have passed Ruth's career total in home runs. But then Babe Ruth himself lost some years when he could have been pounding more homers: Ruth spent his first four-five years in the majors as the best left-handed pitcher in baseball, before he became a full-time outfielder!

[doug from upland]

My first five years were in Cleveland. Thankfully, my parents had the sense to move West. Because of the family heritage, I guess I was a Cleveland fan for awhile. My guess for an oldtime would be Carl Hubbell who fanned the murderers row in the all-star game. I would have no guess for someone playing now since I really don't follow it. Perhaps Clemons?

[doug from upland]

Herb Score had the potential to be one of the greats but his career was cut short when hit in the forehead by a line drive off the bat of Gil McDougal. He was never the same.

[Uncle George]

And he was the sporting goods tester for Sears, He stood behind any product he tried out and endorsed. As you said he was an ALL ROUND SPORTSMAN and great AMERICAN.

[Chu Gary]

Alright, I know this is an inflammatory statement, but I absolutely believe it and I've been to 30 MLB stadiums.

Fenway is a lousy stadium, it's just an overgrown triple A park. The fans are great, the team is great....are you still reading? If you're with me this far, I think the parking, the restaurants and the other amenities near the stadium are for shit. The team, OK, it's fine and I wish them 2nd place.

[Chu Gary]

'Yes, both Ted Williams and Willie Mays (especially Williams) lost prime years due to military service and otherwise may have passed Ruth's career total in home runs. But then Babe Ruth himself lost some years when he could have been pounding more homers: Ruth spent his first four-five years in the majors as the best left-handed pitcher in baseball, before he became a full-time outfielder!'

Very true, and he had a pitching record of about .667, a huge winning percentage. Before Don Drysdale broke the it, Babe Ruth had the record for most cosecutive shutout innings!

IMHO, the best player ever, no umbrage to Ted (also great).

[Chu Gary]

Well, the post seems to be dying and so am I, So the answer...what two pitchers struck out more batters than their age?"

There are only two: One is the first Rocket..Robert Feller in 1939,I think and the second, currently pitching for the Cubbies (who idiotically traded Greg Maddux) is Kerry Wood who struck out 20 when he was 19 years of age.

Unfortunately for Bob, he doesn't like the idea of Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame, so Bob Feller is going to rot in Hell and good riddance to him!

[NYCVirago]

There are only two: One is the first Rocket..Robert Feller in 1939,I think and the second, currently pitching for the Cubbies (who idiotically traded Greg Maddux) is Kerry Wood who struck out 20 when he was 19 years of age. Unfortunately for Bob, he doesn't like the idea of Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame, so Bob Feller is going to rot in Hell and good riddance to him!

Hey, Bob Feller is a good guy. He ran into Rick Lazio in Cooperstown during the 2000 senate race, and encouraged him to give Hillary hell, or words to that effect. Anybody who hates Hillary is OK with me!

[spectr17]

I was born in Detroit. I have a great memory of Mickey Lolich starring in the 67 World Series saving the day for the Tigers. He might not serve them to Ted, but he has all of Michiganders of a certain time in his cheering section.

Cards beat BoSox in 7 games in 67 World Series. Lolich and the Tigers beat the Cards the next year 68. I still haven't gotten over the lose to this day.

[FlyVet]

Loose quotes from Jim Bouton's book, "Ball Four", Ted Williams taking batting pracitice.... "My name is Ted &*%#$ Williams, and I'm the best %#$@*^ hitter that ever lived!" {CRACK} "Here comes Jim Bunning with his little S**t slider, I'm going to kill it!" {CRACK}...funny stuff..and no one else in this day and age gives up his major league career to do what he did. He may have topped Babe Ruth in HR's had he not thought it more important to fly fighters in defense of his country. HAAAAAAARDDDD COOORRRRE. Semper Fi to the old Marine.

[FlyVet]

By then, Williams' relationship with the writers, particularly in Boston, had deteriorated badly. One writer left him off the MVP ballot entirely in 1947, costing him the award.

Proving what the press is made of, even back then: "Waaaah, he doesn't like me, I'm not voting for him, waaaaaaah!"

[FlyVet]

I was born in Detroit. I have a great memory of Mickey Lolich starring in the 67 World Series saving the day for the Tigers. He might not serve them to Ted, but he has all of Michiganders of a certain time in his cheering section.

I remember too. In modern times, Mickey may have been a HOF'r. Over-used, under-appreciated. Check his stats. 1971, 376 innings pitched. Four years in a row, over 300 innings. Let's see someone do that now. Not happening.

[FlyVet]

Also, when I was watching the '84 Series, Detroit vs. San Diego, they did a camera shot of where Mickey Lolich was sitting in Tiger Stadium...the farthest corner of the upper-deck bleachers...guess he bought his own ticket because he loved the game so much. Management jerks, he should have had a front-row box seat free for what he did in '68. Oh well, we're looking at another strike, so I may have less interest next year than I do now. Being in AZ these days, Schilling and Johnson are worth watching, as they pitch their hearts out every time they take the mound, but if they strike, they are idiots. They're making too much money to consider it.

[Thebaddog]

Anyone know where The Mick is now?

[SBeck]

Comparing Dimaggio to Williams, Thomas Boswell wrote:

DiMaggio was regal. But Williams was real. Joe D met the world like an icy myth of a starched man and liked it that way. Ted wore his rough edges and his opinions on his sleeve. And if you didn't like his dock shoes and his shirttail out, then tough. You never landed a jet that was on fire, jumped out, then ran back to kick the plane because you were so mad somebody shot you down.

We lost a great American yesterday. Farewell Ted.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

This is a one century curse.

Huh? When was this rule made? I've never heard THAT particular slant on the Curse of the Bambino pulaver.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

AKA..the Babe.

Oh. Duh.

[Wrigley]

Amen.

[FlyVet]

Anyone know where The Mick is now?

I don't, but hope he is doing well. Man, he had a rocket arm. He could throw. I remember him saying in an interview, (paraphrase) "People thought I had a rubber arm because I was out there every fourth day. My arm hurt like hell, but it was my job. I said give me the ball and I'll go do it." 376 innings in 1971. Let's see some starter top 300 innings these days. Different game now. I still think Mickey Lolich would be a HOF'r in modern times. His problem was, if he had an extra day off, he was so strong, he had so much movement on the ball he threw wild. Blazing 96 mph fastball.