Book Review:
Ted Williams - Reflections on a Splendid Life
by Jonathan Leshanski
August 16, 2003
Ted Williams: Reflections on a Splendid Life
Edited by Lawrence Baldassaro
Northeastern University Press
p. 250
At the recent SABR (Society of American Baseball Research) meeting I had
the privilege of having a discussion with the editor of this book and
discussing the great Ted Williams and his life, love of the game and his
relations with the press. We discussed a legend of the game that I never
had the privilege of seeing play but he was one of the greatest, if not
thegreatest, hitters in the game. The editor spoke with me regarding this
book and the creation of it.
Reflections on a Splendid Life is the first in a series
of the Sportstown Series which is made to publish original works about
legendary sports figures of New England as well as reprint sport classics.
This book is one that fits neither mold but is a combination of both.
The book takes a unique look at one of the best as well as one of the
most controversial players to ever hit the game.
The more I read about Ted Williams the more I think that
he and Joe Jackson would have been ideal friends. In fact there is a famous
story about the two. Many years after Joe Jackson was banned from the
game Ted Williams showed up at the liquor store Jackson owned to talk
and to ask Jackson to autograph a baseball for him and to talk about hitting.
Williams never got his autograph - as the illiterate Jackson had never
learned to write (something Jackson hid from the world because he was
embarrassed about it - his wife signed all of his autographs for him),
but he promised to send Williams the ball.
That was true to the nature of Teddy Ballgame, the Kid,
the Splendid Splinter, Thumper, Macer or any of the so many nicknames
by which Ted Williams was known. Williams was a student of hitting - one
of the greatest hitters the game has ever known. He was the last of the
.400 hitters and had a career batting average of .344. Men like Joe Jackson
- another of the greatest hitters to play the game were his models, his
instructors and among the men Williams looked up to.
However there was another side to Williams; the side
that created controversy. He was at times oversensitive, difficult, and
had bad relations with much of the media. This book is a collection of
articles, recollections and analyses of Ted Williams’ psyche by
sports writers, historians, fans and even scientists. The book does not
provide a snapshot of Williams or even Williams in a framework of time,
but puts together a body of work that encompasses Williams from his days
as brash rookie all the way to the thoughts and musings that occurred
upon his death.
Williams touched baseball and especially New England
in a way that no other sports figure ever had. He had mixed relations
with the media at best and was far too sensitive to their reporting, as
well as to the jeering of the fans on the stands. It caused Ted problems
- and led to his famous refusal to tip his hat to the fans or to take
a curtain call following a home run.
Even today Williams makes headlines though they are articles
concerning the cryogenic preservation of his body and the families legal
squabble of the disposition of his body and estate. Some including myself
find those articles smacking of sensationalism - but that was the type
of attention he seemed to draw a lot of, both in life and now in death.
His failed marriages and human flaws - things that were personal and that
Williams felt did not belong to the public caused much of the anger that
he directed towards the media.
Some of the media returned that ire. The poison pen and
anger of the “knights of the keyboard” whom Ted scorned are
here - as well as the articles which praised him for his good deeds, shared
his passions outside of baseball (fishing mostly) and showed what a kind
and generous man he could be.
He was ever a professional but loathed the spotlight
and just wanted to do his job, which as far as he was concerned was hitting.
Some considered that a fault, and accused him of lackadaisical play in
the field and not being a team player. However almost all acknowledge
that Ted grew up, and not just as a player.
All in all this was a fascinating study, dozens of pose
portraits painted by different hands, all depicting the Splendid Splinter
differently though the eyes of the artists who created them. Together
they might form a collage that can let the modern reader see Ted Williams
in a different light.
There are many well-known authors in this collection
of pieces some are sportswriters of this day or days past, novelists,
scientists, and more. These include John Updike, Peter Gammons, Steven
Jay Gould, John Underwood, Jimmy Cannon, Dave Egan, Ira Berkow, David
Halberstam and many more. Only one section of the book truly struck me
as weak - and that was reflection of Ted by a number of modern players
- most of whom had obviously never seen him play and were paying superficial
lip service to the memories of Williams.
I suspect this book would appeal more to those who actually
saw play than to those who only know the legend of Ted Williams. Obviously
he was a remarkable man who I think I would have enjoyed meeting and discussing
baseball and fishing with, but without knowing his mystique from actually
watching him play ball I suspect it loses something in the translation.
Give this one 1.5 balls with a notch up for those
who saw Williams play - and a notch down to those who have no interest
in what made up one of the greatest hitters to ever play the game.
Our Rating System is based on a four ball system as follows:
One Ball: Average. It has something to say but is nothing special.
Two Balls: Something men usually have - also means its a cut
above average, and worth reading/owning.
Three balls: Stands out from its peers and is highly recommended.
Four Balls: More than just what two men have when hanging out
together, it means it is an exceptional book that truly earns a walk
- straight to the local book store to get a copy.
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