Boston Red Sox: Goodbye Ted Williams

‘Splendid Splinter’s final at-bat was poetic end. Williams, then 42, clubbed homer No. 521 before Fenway faithful.’ Teddy Ballgame was 42. He had extended a career that had begun in 1939 into a fourth decade. He was a splendid 42. Two years earlier, he had earned his sixth American League batting title, at the age of 40. Travel, the constant battles with the Boston media and the ineptitude of the Red Sox had worn on him and told him it was time to recede into the baseball version of that good night against which Dylan Thomas raged, but, even now, he was batting .316 as he stood in to face Baltimore left-hander Steve Barber in the bottom of the first. Williams walked. Jack Fisher was the Orioles pitcher by the time Williams next stepped into the batter’s box, in the third. He lifted an easy fly ball to center. In the fifth, same matchup, similar result — except this time, the fly went to right and looked promising until dying an honorable death on the warning track. In the eighth inning, Fisher was still on the mound, ennui still gripped Fenway Park. Baltimore led, 4-2. Not that it mattered. Nothing seemed to matter … until the intimate crowd responded to the realization that Williams was striding to the plate in the Red Sox’s home whites for the final time. Even then, the greeting was relatively tepid; polite, not hysteric. As one, the house stood and applauded — a standing acknowledgment more than a standing ovation. Williams’ swing ruptured the serenity. As the ball
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Comments

  1. tommusicfan19 says:

    1939-1960: Ted Williams
    1961-1983: Carl Yastrzemski

    End of one era and a beginning of another in glorious Left Field.

  2. rungassamydonovan47 says:

    @MarathonCentral is he the golden voice

  3. TheSeanFTW says:

    @Edsilvacunha rofllllll so true.

  4. xWarlock3000x says:

    This is TED WILLIAMS.

  5. plestoboy69 says:

    @Edsilvacunha believe it or not the golden voiced ted williams is no other than the son of this man! wikipedia it

  6. bcwatty123 says:

    Ted Williams
    The Best Dam Hitter That Ever Lived!

  7. AllRiseForJudgeIto says:

    the season after Ted returned from Korea a brawl sent all the players on the field. Ted decided the best way to help calm the situation was to hold one of the opposing players in place. That player later told people he could not move even an inch because the grip strength was so tremendous.

  8. TeddyNutts says:

    Wheres the real TED ?!

  9. bostonsox2676 says:

    @bstnguy9 He might be a douchebag but he’s still a baseball legend…

  10. beatsonator says:

    this isnt ted williams!!!! LIEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. Khankk12 says:

    THUMBS UP
    if u WERE LOOKIN FOR
    GOLDIN VOICE

  12. yazg6 says:

    @MarathonCentral shut up. i was looking for this

  13. MarathonCentral says:

    hey wheres the golden voice LoL

  14. Edsilvacunha says:

    u are here watching this video, but u was looking for the golden voice man

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  16. johnsonruthie says:

    watch ted williams at his first day with MTV Radio! /watch?v=agMKtGHz21o

  17. bstnguy9 says:

    He’s was a grumpy prick right to the end. Never appreciated his fans. What the hell is that phoney Barnicle doing in this story anyway? Another douche bag.

  18. buckfan1969 says:

    By the time this happened I was 9 years old, had discovered him in a series of baseball cards Topps put out in 1960 about his career, had read a book on him, and considered him my favorite. The morning after the home run, I remember my father seeing it in the paper and commenting on the home run. I was so proud of my hero then! I wish I’d gotten to see him play more; only saw him once; in the 1960 All-Star game, when he lined a base hit to right field. What a guy!

  19. ShneebaShnickle says:

    Poop

  20. bostonfan2233 says:

    Gods do not answer letters- John Updike, my god. Long live “The Kid”

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