From Publishers Weekly
A well-selected collection of articles about baseball great Ted Williams, this volume works on many levels. A slice of 20th-century American literature, it chronicles the evolution of sports journalism from Red Smith to Pete Gammons while showcasing selections from literary giants like John Updike and Donald Hall. Arranged chronologically, the collection works as a biographical collage and stunning account of the cyclical nature of American hero worship. Not surprisingly, several less flattering pieces on the cantankerous Williams are included, but instead of detracting from Williams's legend they help present a comprehensive picture of a man so captivating that more than half this volume's works were written after his 1960 retirement. Collectively, these articles tell readers almost as much about the featured writers as they do about the slugger himself. This is partly attributable to Williams's image as the reluctant hero, but also to the fact that Williams courted both favor and disdain with his single-minded determination to make himself the world's greatest hitter, fisherman, combat pilot and philanthropist, all pursuits as solitary as putting pen to paper. So many of the writers insert themselves into their stories as a means of explaining Williams's complex personality that the underlying similarity between the slugger and the writers becomes a theme of the collection, exemplifying Williams's irresistible lure for reporters, novelists, poets and even mathematicians. Thanks to this unprecedented connection between athlete and authors, this compilation stands as a fitting literary epitaph for a man who may never get one set in stone. Illus. not seen by PW. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
Ted Williams (1918–2002), one of the most colorful and controversial figures in sports history, was a genuine American hero and cultural icon. Considered by many the greatest hitter who ever lived, the "Splendid Splinter" appeared in eighteen All-Star games, won six batting titles and two Triple Crowns, and, in 1941, was the last player to hit over .400. In addition to his accomplishments on the baseball field, Hall-of-Famer Williams served as a fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War, and was a tireless worker on behalf of the Jimmy Fund in the fight against cancer in children. Williams's remarkable talent and passion for excellence, along with his stubborn, head-on approach to life and outspoken, volatile behavior, made him a favorite subject—and target—of sports scribes and other writers throughout his career. Although famous for his feuds with the press during his playing days, the temperamental star matured into a distinguished elder statesman of baseball. This volume collects the best writing about Williams and some classic photographs of the hitter, providing a panorama of his brilliant ability and complex personality from his rookie year in 1939 to the memorial tributes following his recent death. It features thirty-five articles by celebrated sportswriters and best-selling authors, including Al Hirschberg ("Handsome Bad Boy of the Boston Red Sox"), Red Smith ("Ted Williams Spits"), Bud Collins ("'Saint' Goes Marching In"), Peter Gammons ("Williams an Unquestioned Hit with Him"), Ed Linn ("The Kid's Last Game"), John Updike ("Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu"), Donald Hall ("The Necessary Shape of the Old-Timers' Game"), John Underwood ("Going Fishing with the Kid"), Stephen Jay Gould ("Achieving the Impossible Dream: Ted Williams and .406"), and David Halberstam ("The Perfectionist at the Plate"). Taken together, the pieces offer a vivid mosaic of a true American great who is admired and respected as much by today's ballplayers and fans as those of his own generation.
About the Author
Lawrence Baldassaro is Professor of Italian and Comparative Literature and Director of the University Honors Program at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee. He is the coeditor of ‘The American Game: Baseball and Ethnicity.’ A native of Massachusetts, he is a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan. Dom DiMaggio, a teammate and close friend of Ted Williams, played centerfield for the Red Sox. Richard A. Johnson, editor of the Sportstown Series, is Curator of the Sports Museum of New England and the author of ‘A Century of Boston Sports,’ also published by Northeastern University Press.
Ted Williams: Reflections on a Splendid Life FROM THE PUBLISHER
Ted Williams (1918ﾽ2002), one of the most colorful and controversial figures in sports history, was a genuine American hero and cultural icon. Considered by many the greatest hitter who ever lived, the "Splendid Splinter" appeared in eighteen All-Star games, won six batting titles and two Triple Crowns, and, in 1941, was the last player to hit over .400. In addition to his accomplishments on the baseball field, Hall-of-Famer Williams served as a fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War, and was a tireless worker on behalf of the Jimmy Fund in the fight against cancer in children.Williams's remarkable talent and passion for excellence, along with his stubborn, head-on approach to life and outspoken, volatile behavior, made him a favorite subject—and target—of sports scribes and other writers throughout his career. Although famous for his feuds with the press during his playing days, the temperamental star matured into a distinguished elder statesman of baseball. This volume collects the best writing about Williams and some classic photographs of the hitter, providing a panorama of his brilliant ability and complex personality from his rookie year in 1939 to the memorial tributes following his recent death. It features thirty-five articles by celebrated sportswriters and best-selling authors, including Al Hirschberg ("Handsome Bad Boy of the Boston Red Sox"), Red Smith ("Ted Williams Spits"), Bud Collins ("'Saint' Goes Marching In"), Peter Gammons ("Williams an Unquestioned Hit with Him"), Ed Linn ("The Kid's Last Game"), John Updike ("Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu"), Donald Hall ("The Necessary Shape of the Old-Timers' Game"), John Underwood ("Going Fishing with the Kid"), Stephen Jay Gould ("Achieving the Impossible Dream: Ted Williams and .406"), and David Halberstam ("The Perfectionist at the Plate"). Taken together, the pieces offer a vivid mosaic of a true American great who is admired and respected as much by today's ballplayers and fans as those of his own generation.
Author Biography: Lawrence Baldassaro is Professor of Italian and Comparative Literature and Director of the University Honors Program at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee. He is the coeditor of ﾽThe American Game: Baseball and Ethnicity.' A native of Massachusetts, he is a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan. Dom DiMaggio, a teammate and close friend of Ted Williams, played centerfield for the Red Sox. Richard A. Johnson, editor of the Sportstown Series, is Curator of the Sports Museum of New England and the author of ﾽA Century of Boston Sports,' also published by Northeastern University Press.
SYNOPSIS
This collection is a revised and updated version of The Ted Williams Reader (Simon and Schuster, 1991), and incorporates additional works published during the past decade. Thirty-six selections appearing in newspapers, magazines, and books between 1939 and 2002, written by sports scribes and best-selling authors, are presented here in chronological order. Together, they provide baseball fans with unique insights into Williams (1918-2002) and the sport in which he excelled. No subject index. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
A well-selected collection of articles about baseball great Ted Williams, this volume works on many levels. A slice of 20th-century American literature, it chronicles the evolution of sports journalism from Red Smith to Pete Gammons while showcasing selections from literary giants like John Updike and Donald Hall. Arranged chronologically, the collection works as a biographical collage and stunning account of the cyclical nature of American hero worship. Not surprisingly, several less flattering pieces on the cantankerous Williams are included, but instead of detracting from Williams's legend they help present a comprehensive picture of a man so captivating that more than half this volume's works were written after his 1960 retirement. Collectively, these articles tell readers almost as much about the featured writers as they do about the slugger himself. This is partly attributable to Williams's image as the reluctant hero, but also to the fact that Williams courted both favor and disdain with his single-minded determination to make himself the world's greatest hitter, fisherman, combat pilot and philanthropist, all pursuits as solitary as putting pen to paper. So many of the writers insert themselves into their stories as a means of explaining Williams's complex personality that the underlying similarity between the slugger and the writers becomes a theme of the collection, exemplifying Williams's irresistible lure for reporters, novelists, poets and even mathematicians. Thanks to this unprecedented connection between athlete and authors, this compilation stands as a fitting literary epitaph for a man who may never get one set in stone. Illus. not seen by PW. (Apr. 11) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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