Information on the great Teddy Ballgame - Talksox

RedSoxfanforlife305 · 02-06-2013, 09:48 PM

I have a research paper for my English class, and I decided to do it on Ted Williams. He told us to pick a very broad topic and to narrow it down as much as possible. Of course I chose baseball, and ended up with Ted. I'm not really familiar with the Red Sox history but I do know that he was one hell of a player. I found Ted interesting because not only was he a great baseball player, but he also served in the military. I know a lot of members on the site know their history(I'm looking at you Spitball and a700), so I was hoping you guys can give me legit online sources for my research. I should also add one of my resources needs to be a book, so if you can recommend me a book that is both 1)interesting to read 2)will help me with my research paper, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance everyone.

a700hitter · 02-06-2013, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSoxfanforlife305

I have a research paper for my English class, and I decided to do it on Ted Williams. He told us to pick a very broad topic and to narrow it down as much as possible. Of course I chose baseball, and ended up with Ted. I'm not really familiar with the Red Sox history but I do know that he was one hell of a player. I found Ted interesting because not only was he a great baseball player, but he also served in the military. I know a lot of members on the site know their history(I'm looking at you Spitball and a700), so I was hoping you guys can give me legit online sources for my research. I should also add one of my resources needs to be a book, so if you can recommend me a book that is both 1)interesting to read 2)will help me with my research paper, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance everyone.

I read Teddy Ballgame's autobiography when I was a kid. I believe that it was entitled, "My Turn At Bat." It was an excellent book.

His was a rich life, so there is plenty of material. I'd be happy to share stories that I have heard.

RedSoxfanforlife305 · 02-06-2013, 10:04 PM

Thanks, I'm going to see if I find the book on Friday.

a700hitter · 02-06-2013, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSoxfanforlife305

Thanks, I'm going to see if I find the book on Friday.

http://www.amazon.com/My-Turn-Bat-Fi...der_0671634232

This should be available at the Library

RedSoxfanforlife305 · 02-06-2013, 10:11 PM

Yeah, I was going to try Barnes & Nobles and other libraries before buying it online. The shipping is ridiculous for Amazon.

YAZMAN · 02-06-2013, 10:29 PM

Sorts Illustrated
July 8, 1968
The Science of Hitting

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...1357/index.htm

It's amazing how close he was to being correct based just on experience and observation without the benefit of high speed camera analysis in an era before baseball-related human performance science was very empirical.

RedSoxfanforlife305 · 02-06-2013, 10:31 PM

Thank you Yaz, i really appreciate it. Keep them coming guys, the more sources the better.

YAZMAN · 02-06-2013, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSoxfanforlife305

Thank you Yaz, i really appreciate it. Keep them coming guys, the more sources the better.

An interesting angle to take with Ted is the Inverted "U" theory of human performance. It postulates that performance increases with intensity to a certain point, at which increases in intensity actually diminish performance...basically an athlete or performer starts to go on "tilt". But the curve slides along the x-axis, performance, depending on the individual and their mindset.

Ted was intense, but he was also a cocky MF'er with no shortage in the confidence department. There's an argument that guys like him, Manny, Barry Bonds, Ricky Henderson, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Neon Deion, and Ali were the greatest because their mental opinions of themselves never limited their physical abilities.

IRON HORSE · 02-06-2013, 11:20 PM

It sounds like an interesting topic to write about. As a History major myself, I actually would not mind reading it and I could give you pointers and help on grammar and what not. For research check out David Halberstam's, "Teammates" and "Summer of '49". I know there was a Williams biography just recently released. It is a shame that we do not have players like Teddy Ballgame anymore in the age of Free Agency. I hope this helps, if you have any questions please post!

Spitball · 02-06-2013, 11:27 PM

I have been off arguing politics on another board and am just seeing your thread, RedSoxfanforlife305.

The Science of Hitting by Ted Williams is interesting, but Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero by Leigh Montville is my favorite on Ted Williams.

Besides his baseball and military life, Ted Williams was an accomplished outdoorsman and was inducted into the Fishing Hall of Fame. He was employed by Sears to test their fishing and hunting equipment. As a kid, I proudly had a Ted Williams fishing pole from Sears.

IRON HORSE · 02-06-2013, 11:29 PM

Thank you Spitball, the new biography that I was referring to is the Leigh Montville one!

RedSoxfanforlife305 · 02-06-2013, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spitball

I have been off arguing politics on another board and am just seeing your thread, RedSoxfanforlife305.

The Science of Hitting by Ted Williams is interesting, but Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero by Leigh Montville is my favorite on Ted Williams.

Besides his baseball and military life, Ted Williams was an accomplished outdoorsman and was inducted into the Fishing Hall of Fame. He was employed by Sears to test their fishing and hunting equipment. As a kid, I proudly had a Ted Williams fishing pole from Sears.

Ohhh politics, not a fun topic to discuss haha.

Thanks a lot for the information, the more books the better. Hopefully Barnes and Nobles has at least 1 of them available, since they don't have the book a700 referred to me. I did read that he was a skilled fisherman somewhere before, never knew he was employed by Sears though. As of right now, I'm pretty excited to write this research paper.

RedSoxfanforlife305 · 02-06-2013, 11:37 PM

And looks like they have "Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero" available at one of the Barnes and Nobles stores.

SoxSport · 02-07-2013, 12:19 AM

Williams had a strict mother who never gave him approval. She worked for the Salvation Army. His father was a non-factor--gone at an early age. Ted became a perfectionist at hitting a baseball, and some think it had something to do with seeking his mother's approval. Not uncommon with perfectionists.

I should add that he was also a crack Marine pilot--flying trainers in Pensacola during WWII
and jets in Korea, where he was almost shot down--barely making it back to an airbase.
His wingman in Korea was John Glenn--a close friend for the rest of his life. I once met a guy who served with him in Pensacola, and he told me Ted was well-liked there--nice guy.

He's a legitimate American hero. The real deal.

Whiteandnerdy42 · 02-07-2013, 03:32 PM

I personally like the book HITTER, which I read a few years ago.