Ted "The Kid" Williams
Ted Williams Versus the Media
The following is a repeat blog from two years ago while I am plugging away at my new series that will debut during spring training, Baseball: Why We Love It. I believe you will enjoy the new series which pulls at the nostalgia strings that have brought baseball fans to tears, made them howl with laughter, and at times sent them into a rage.
Meanwhile a Happy Thanksgiving to all. Don’t forget if you are still searching for that perfect gift for a baseball fan, my books are available for immediate shipping.
The Spendid Splinter
Baseball fans were often miffed by Williams’s arrogant attitude against the media during his career. Many thought it was because in 1941 the Baseball Writers of America Association voted DiMaggio and his 56-game hitting streak as MVP over Williams who batted .406 for the season. Well, that might have started it, but Ted was more frustrated by what happened in 1942. After batting .406 in 1941, Williams followed up in 1942 by winning the AL triple crown - .356 BA, 36 home runs, and 137 RBIs for the second-place Red Sox. Evidently, in the minds of the writers, it wasn’t enough. That year the award went to another Yankee 2B Joe Gordon who hit .322, with 18 home runs and 103 RBIs. The bias for the Yankees was apparent and Ted’s media criticism of the writers was surely the reason for being overlooked. In 1947 Williams was a triple-crown winner again, but again, was passed over as the MVP in favor of Joe DiMaggio. He did win the award in 1946 and 1949, however, it was not enough consolation for Ted to forgive the Baseball Writers of America Association.