Retired number 9 for Ted Williams
Much like my entry for Carl Yastrzemski, I’m going to have a tough time finding new things to say about the greatest Red Sox player ever. He’s been discussed and rediscussed at length. And, why wouldn’t he be? I always have one question when I think about the greats of yesteryear. Who would they compare to in today’s game?
I know that the easy, and correct, answer is “nobody.” But, who comes close? Or, which pieces need to be put together to create Ted Williams?
He could hit. He could hit for power. He could hit for average. So, of current Red Sox players, we’re looking at Adrian Gonzalez, but better. He was disliked by the media. Are we talking John Lackey dislike? Daisuke Matsuzaka level? He had the flair for the dramatic. Like Papi? Is that the buzz he created when he stepped to the plate? Was it Dustin Pedroia level fame and adoration? Nomar in 2000? Pedro? Did people in 1941 know what they were looking at when he stepped to the plate? Looking back at over 100 years of Red Sox history, we can say with some certainty that the great ones really were great. In 1941, with only 40 years of reference, was he just considered pretty good? Who was he?
9 is for Number 9, Ted Williams
They had a "day" for him at Fenway--and he'd go on to play 8 more years! I think people always knew he was special, right from the very beginning.
ReplyDeleteIn 1939, after his first season, one newspaper said that he's "hailed in the Hub as the skinny Babe Ruth."
A UPI story before his second season said "he has a chance to outstrip Ruth's greatest batting feats." (Oddly, that same article said "though he'll never make the money Ruth did." Way, way off.)
All very good points!
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