Last week, there was a free HBO preview, and Christine DVR'd a documentary, Ted Williams: There Goes the Greatest Hitter that Ever Lived, for me. It was good. It made me think about how there will probably never be an iconic superstar again. In our generation, maybe Cal Ripken, but his back story is bland. I had also forgotten about the whole frozen head thing, so maybe it was not all good.
A few days later, I saw an MLB Network special on the home run Williams hit in his last at-bat, commemorating today's 50th anniversary of the event.
I then tried reading John Updike's classic Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu to Trent, but I gave up. It's harder to read aloud than I thought.
Tonight's games: Irrelevant. The best 2010 regular season National League team lost to the Nationals 2-1. The Red Sox lead the White Sox, but their season is officially done as both the Rays and the Yankees won tonight. Congrats to our AL East foes. Go Rays.
Showing posts with label Ted Williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ted Williams. Show all posts
Sep 28, 2010
Jul 13, 2009
Howard's homers
We're watching the home run derby tonight. Man, they certainly drag out this thing.
Ryan Howard's first go-round yielded seven home runs - not a great showing, but enough to advance to the next round to face off against Nelson Cruz (11), Prince Fielder (11) and Albert Pujols (5).
Pujols won the final spot after a three-way bat-off against Carlos Pena and Joe Mauer. How convoluted does baseball have to make one meaningless exhibition contest?
Howard, looking to become just the second-ever repeat derby winner (Ken Griffey Jr. won three), never seemed to get locked in, and I can't decide whether he was purposely pacing himself or it just isn't his night. Christine liked how on his last out to left field, there were no little kids in the area (they must have read the scouting reports). They were soon racing after the ball.
We'll see how it unfolds.
Happy anniversary: With all the hoopla about the All-Star game, I hadn't considered that it's the 10th anniversary of the 1999 classic. The Boston Globe has a photo gallery of the event, marked by Pedro Martinez's dominance (five strikeouts, no hits or walks in two innings) and a touching pre-game ceremony with Ted Williams.
Unfortunately, the game set an annoying precedent for honoring the past in that now baseball always tries to replicate the experience, but it always just feels contrived.
Speaking of Pedro: He's on his way to Philly for a physical and then most likely to become a Phillie.
Future Red Sox stud starter: The Red Sox announced that Clay Buchholz will get a spot start on Friday. They say it's about giving All-Stars Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield more rest, but I'm not so sure there's not something else in the works.
Oops: I have a confession to make about Christine's "Rookie" of the Year prediction. Details to come on a less eventful night.
Ryan Howard's first go-round yielded seven home runs - not a great showing, but enough to advance to the next round to face off against Nelson Cruz (11), Prince Fielder (11) and Albert Pujols (5).
Pujols won the final spot after a three-way bat-off against Carlos Pena and Joe Mauer. How convoluted does baseball have to make one meaningless exhibition contest?
Howard, looking to become just the second-ever repeat derby winner (Ken Griffey Jr. won three), never seemed to get locked in, and I can't decide whether he was purposely pacing himself or it just isn't his night. Christine liked how on his last out to left field, there were no little kids in the area (they must have read the scouting reports). They were soon racing after the ball.
We'll see how it unfolds.
Happy anniversary: With all the hoopla about the All-Star game, I hadn't considered that it's the 10th anniversary of the 1999 classic. The Boston Globe has a photo gallery of the event, marked by Pedro Martinez's dominance (five strikeouts, no hits or walks in two innings) and a touching pre-game ceremony with Ted Williams.
Unfortunately, the game set an annoying precedent for honoring the past in that now baseball always tries to replicate the experience, but it always just feels contrived.
Speaking of Pedro: He's on his way to Philly for a physical and then most likely to become a Phillie.
Future Red Sox stud starter: The Red Sox announced that Clay Buchholz will get a spot start on Friday. They say it's about giving All-Stars Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield more rest, but I'm not so sure there's not something else in the works.
Oops: I have a confession to make about Christine's "Rookie" of the Year prediction. Details to come on a less eventful night.
Nov 24, 2008
What's in the bag?
The andPhils half of the blog trudged home with a large black bag full of ... of ... of ... I'll tell you on Dec. 26. But Christine didn't bring home any good baseball stories from her shopping expedition, so you're stuck with me still stuck on Christmas.
The season's shopping would have been so much easier if we were aware of this auction of Ted Williams' hunting memorabilia. What sparks the yule better than the head of a buffalo blasted decades ago by the Splendid Splinter? Could you imagine the joy on Christine's face, sitting beside the tree, opening up a rifle once held by the greatest hitter who ever lived? And I'm sure she could have found something for me.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox played Santa Claus today, offering a $6 million contract to Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa. They might have given a one-year offer to Jason Varitek, which I think is a fair balance of last year's awful offensive season and his history with the club, but Scott Boras played Scrooge and said no offer was made.
Boras argues Tek's value is that he's a catcher capable of winning 60 percent of a team's games. That's true, but that can be flipped to say the Red Sox are capable of winning 60 percent of their games despite a catcher with a .672 OPS.
Phillies: A Q&A on MLB.com attempts to explain why Chase Utley waited nearly a month into the offseason to take care of his nagging hip injury. It doesn't clarify anything for me.
The season's shopping would have been so much easier if we were aware of this auction of Ted Williams' hunting memorabilia. What sparks the yule better than the head of a buffalo blasted decades ago by the Splendid Splinter? Could you imagine the joy on Christine's face, sitting beside the tree, opening up a rifle once held by the greatest hitter who ever lived? And I'm sure she could have found something for me.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox played Santa Claus today, offering a $6 million contract to Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa. They might have given a one-year offer to Jason Varitek, which I think is a fair balance of last year's awful offensive season and his history with the club, but Scott Boras played Scrooge and said no offer was made.
Boras argues Tek's value is that he's a catcher capable of winning 60 percent of a team's games. That's true, but that can be flipped to say the Red Sox are capable of winning 60 percent of their games despite a catcher with a .672 OPS.
Phillies: A Q&A on MLB.com attempts to explain why Chase Utley waited nearly a month into the offseason to take care of his nagging hip injury. It doesn't clarify anything for me.
May 31, 2008
The march toward 600 begins ...
Finally, that's over with.
Manny Ramirez has become the first Red Sox since Ted Williams to hit 500 home runs.
Congrats, Manny.
I don't always approve of your antics, but I know you're the greatest Red Sox left fielder. (Of my generation, anyway).
The Splendid Splinter and Carl Yastrzemski are waiting for you in Cooperstown.
Overshadowed by the Manny show, the Red Sox beat the Orioles 6-3.
Before Manny hit No. 500 tonight, Ken Griffey Jr. hit No. 599 this afternoon. Christine is hoping 600 comes tomorrow because on Monday the Reds come to Philly, and she doesn't want to spend the rest of the season watching Griffey's milestone homer fly out of Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies return to first place was short-lived as Cole Hamels is trying to become the most worrisome member of the Phillies rotation now that it appears Brett Myers and Adam Eaton are pitching decently. Marlins 7, Phillies 3. Christine is kicking herself for not talking a walk to reverse jinx a big inning.
[Photo credit: Associated Press]
Jan 13, 2008
Hall of Fame III
Yesterday I looked at the future of Red Sox and Phillies in the Hall, today I'll look at those already enshrined.According to the Hall of Fame's database, which may not be totally accurate since it didn't list Tom Yawkey as a Red Sox, there are 36 Hall of Famers with Red Sox connections, and 34 connected to the Phillies. But with those listed primarily as SoxPhils, only eight are Sox to 11 for the Phils. Surprised me too.
Anyhoo... here's my favorites:
Red Sox
1. Ted Williams
2. Carl Yaztremski
3. Jimmie Foxx
4. Wade Boggs
5. Cy Young
No doubt about Ted. Love the enigma of his character, his confidence and his hitting. Jimmy Foxx -- a little personal, if I ever needed a pseudonym it would be a variation of his. More on him later. Just missing the cut: Bobby Doerr, Carlton Fisk and Tris Speaker.
Phils:
1. Mike Schmidt
2. Steve Carlton
3. Richie Ashburn
4. Grover Alexander
5. Robin Roberts
Not much personal connection. Pretty much how I think most Phils fans would pick 'em.
{C: When Greg asked for my favorites, I immediately asked if I could include Harry Kalas. He doesn't have a plaque in the main hall, he's just in the broadcaster's section, but if he did count, I think he would be battling for the No. 1 spot.}
Those who played for both:
1. Jimmie Foxx
2. Hugh Duffy
3. Fergie Jenkins
4. Tony Perez
5. Bucky Harris
Not a great list. Foxx finished his career for the Phils -- surprised me. Tony Perez shouldn't be in the hall. And Bucky Harris managed each team for one season.
Most surprising names on either list:
1. Sparky Anderson -- played one full season for the Phils.
2. Casey Stengel -- played a few for the Phils.
3. Nap Lajoie -- started his career (5 years) with the Phils.
4. Jimmie Foxx -- the Phillies portion anyway.
Favorite names that pop up but really shouldn't count.
1. Ryne Sandberg
2. Tom Seaver
Well, hopefully in the future years we'll see some additions: Pedro, Manny, Curt, Chase Utley and J-Roll.
ETC. Very interesting piece in the Globe today about NBA and SoxPhils star Gene Conley. I didn't know too much about him, other than he played basketball and pitched for the Red Sox. Apparently he was traded from the Phils to the Sox. Good read.
Jan 10, 2008
Mall of famers
Struggled yesterday to wake up and get through my morning exercises. I stopped for a moment to look at the bookshelf that holds my Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle signed baseballs and to think about how much better it must have been to have been a naive baseball fan when the dirtier aspects of the game were unknown or not yet invented.
These signatures weren't bought, authenticated and truly worthless beyond sentiment.
Ted Williams arrived via an aunt who has a house in the Florida Keys and befriended Ted's nurse. Mickey Mantle came when I was a boy and was invited to a Yankee game by someone who had some special clubhouse tickets to meet a Yankee -- who turned out to be the Mick.
I was more impressed that they had Chunky bars in this place, but duly crawled on the floor, apparently cutting a line, to get my baseball signed. Reminded I should get one for my sister, I crawled back on the floor and shortly returned to the front of the line.
"Weren't you just here?" he said before signing a slip of paper.
On the elevator to our seats we shared the ride with Bill White, a former first baseman, then Yankees announcer and future NL president. I asked him to sign the ball. Later, at a mall visit I had Dennis Rasmussen, a scrubby pitcher, sign it. He tried to refuse, knowing his John Hancock would mar it, but I stupidly insisted. I also had him ruin my '86 All-Star game program, which is filled with signatures from the game courtesy of my Dad's friend.
Coincidentally, in a not so tragic or sentimental story, Christine recently spotted a picture of she and a friend with Dave Hollins from a mall autograph-signing session. Made her laugh.
These signatures weren't bought, authenticated and truly worthless beyond sentiment.
Ted Williams arrived via an aunt who has a house in the Florida Keys and befriended Ted's nurse. Mickey Mantle came when I was a boy and was invited to a Yankee game by someone who had some special clubhouse tickets to meet a Yankee -- who turned out to be the Mick.
I was more impressed that they had Chunky bars in this place, but duly crawled on the floor, apparently cutting a line, to get my baseball signed. Reminded I should get one for my sister, I crawled back on the floor and shortly returned to the front of the line.
"Weren't you just here?" he said before signing a slip of paper.
On the elevator to our seats we shared the ride with Bill White, a former first baseman, then Yankees announcer and future NL president. I asked him to sign the ball. Later, at a mall visit I had Dennis Rasmussen, a scrubby pitcher, sign it. He tried to refuse, knowing his John Hancock would mar it, but I stupidly insisted. I also had him ruin my '86 All-Star game program, which is filled with signatures from the game courtesy of my Dad's friend.
Coincidentally, in a not so tragic or sentimental story, Christine recently spotted a picture of she and a friend with Dave Hollins from a mall autograph-signing session. Made her laugh.
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