Ben Bradlee, Jr., the author, neatly defines Ted Williams career and life as baseball and post-baseball. At age 42, after 22 seasons and several injuries, "The Kid" decided to hang up his spikes, as they used to say. Time to move on. Most major leaguers pick their own exit time frame, some must leave after career ending injuries, an unpleasant situation at best.
But Ted was able to finish the 1960 season with a famous final at bat. In his final game in a Red Sox uniform, Ted still had that confidence that was his hallmark: he was never intimidated by any pitcher. His first AB was a walk in the 1st inning. In the 3rd inning, he drilled the ball to deep center that was caught by centerfielder Jackie Brandt. In the 5th inning, he pasted a fast ball to the 380 foot mark which was caught chest high by right fielder, Al Pilarcik.
In the 6th inning, with the Sox down 4-2, Williams was due up 2nd, behind Willie Tasby. He immediately grounded out to shortstop. Then Ted came to bat. The crowd stood and roared. The umpire, Ed Hurley stopped the game. After 2 minutes, with the roar continuing, he signaled the pitcher to throw again.
The first pitch was a ball, low and away. The 2nd pitch was high, and Ted took a mighty cut and missed-a rarity. It was a fast ball and pitcher Jack Fisher said later, " I threw it by him and figured I could do it again. The next pitch, a fast ball, came in belt high on the outside corner- fat. Ted didn't miss this one.
It sailed in a high trajectory out to deep right-center. Jackie Brandt wouldn't catch this one. It sailed into the Red Sox bull pen, hitting an aluminum awning, making a loud racket.
The crowd went wild.
more later
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