Remembering Ted Williams

I saw Ted Williams play only once. It was in Chicago sometime in the early '50s, the Red Sox were in town for a double header. I found my way to Comiskey Park.

There were only three players on the field that day that I remember after all this time. Williams, of course, Lou Boudreau and Marvin Rotblatt. Who in God's name, you will ask, was Marvin Rotblatt? I'll tell you. He was a White Sox relief pitcher, a journeyman with no illusions about ending up in the Hall of Fame. It was a living. Check this link

Rotblatt was a little fellow, 5'7". From my view high in the stands he looked like Evil Eye Fleagle, that character from the Li'l Abner comic strip who could paralyse a person with his double whammy, or an elephant with his triple. Those of you old enough will remember the bulging eyeball with viens running through it. Ugly!! The bill of his cap seemed to be six inches long, just long enough to keep the rain off the tip of his nose. His wind-up was classic. Standing on one leg, his other leg was parallel to the ground and his torso and head parallel in the other direction. A perfect T. Picture it. From that position his extended arm would whip around as he came to a standing position and the ball would hurtle to the plate.

The White Sox pitchers took great care with Williams. A ball, a strike, a ball, a strike, a foul ball, etc. They nibbled at the corners of the plate. Not Rotblatt. He came right after Williams, mostly strikes. He relieved in both games if I remember correctly.

Naturally, I had come to see Ted knock the cover off the ball, to see that beautiful swing, to see him rounding the bases.

He didn't get a hit all day.