Thoedore Samuel Williams

I cried yesterday. I cried today. I have shed tears over the passing of a man I never met. I never met this man, but in 1999 he helped me regain my love and passion. A love and passion for a sport that I had pretty much lost feeling for since my childhood.

Ted Williams died yesterday of cardiac arrest. He was 83 years old.

In 1999 before the All-Star Game in Boston, Ted Williams made an appearance. He was taken in a golf cart onto the field to throw out the first pitch. He had to be helped up by Tony Gwynn to throw the pitch to another baseball great, Carlton Fisk (pictured on right). What was amazing about this was the admiration of the All-Stars. The best players of the game today crowded around Williams asking for his autograph, or just to be able to talk to him. None of these players had even seen Williams play, they had only heard stories. But in that monment, he turned a group of millionaires into little kids. That showed me that there is hope. There is the argument that players today are paid to much. And that stadiums and tickets cost to much. But it showed me that there is hope for the sport. Today's players have a respect for the past. A respect for the game that I thought was gone. Ted Williams was baseball. No matter how much these players get paid, I know that the game itself has remained unchanged and that the players know this.

In a Peter Gammons article for ESPN.com, he talks about the burning bat. Williams said he could smell his bat burnign when the ball came off the bat a certain way. Mark McGwire, who was named to the All-Century Team along with Williams said he could smell it too when Williams asked him. But even more amazing to me is what McGwire said afterwards: "But can you believe that he knew who I am?" The picture to the left shows Williams at the introduction of the All-Century Team flanked by All-Time Homerun King Hank Aaron and Giants great Willie Mays.

Williams had a way about him from what I understand. He commanded respect and attention. I read that he once did an article with Boston legends Larry Bird and Bobby Orr. Williams sat in the middle of the other two men, and was in control. Larry Bird and Bobby Orr, two of the greatest players in their respective sports ever. During the interview, both Bird and Orr called Williams, "Sir." That is the kind of respect he had. Ted Williams was to the city of Boston as Ernie Banks, Michael Jordan, and Walter Payton are to Chicago. What Cal Ripken Jr is to Baltimore. What Vince Lombardi and Brett Favre are to Green Bay. What BB King, Elvis, and The Beetles are to music. He is a legend, and icon. A legend that until yesterday was walking among men.

I just wish I could have met him. Last year, a friend of mine asked me if I could meet any living person, who would I choose to meet. I said Ted Williams. Ted Williams was the first to turn hitting the baseball into a science. He studied pitchers and kept a record of them. He loved baseball. He liked people who had a geniune love for the game. He said that he could actually see the seams of the baseball when it was thrown. I wish that everyone could find a job that they loved to do, like Ted did.

But his love for baseball didn't stop him from dropping everything and running to his country's defense in World War II and the Korean War. In Korea, he was John Glenn's wingman in their flight squadren. He lost 5 years of playing time during those wars. But he had his priorities. And I truly respect that. Just think what he would have done numbers wise if he didn't go away to wars. He missed the '43-'45 seasons completely. I just did some rough numbers with averaging the three years prior to those year and the three years after. If he would have kept those averages during the three years he was in WWII, he would have been ranked 4th in homeruns, 3rd in runs batted in, 3rd in runs, and 1st in walks. Thats not even including the fact he misses almost all of the '52 and '53 seasons because he was in the Korean War. The numbers he put up were amazing, but they could have been so much more! "There is no doubt in my mind that Ted is the greatest hitter baseball has ever known, especially considering his service to our country. Given back those five seasons in his prime, Ted's number would be untouchable," said future Hall-of-Famer, Tony Gwynn.

Some quotes about Ted Williams:

• "There was no one more dedicated to this country and more proud to serve his country than Ted Williams." - U.S. Senator John Glenn
• "Ted was like John Wayne. He was a man's man. As a Hall of Famer, every time you went to the Hall of Fame, you wanted Ted to be there, as it put the stamp of approval on your being there." - All-Century Team member and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan
• "This is very disappointing news. I will miss him. I remember the first couple of years in the majors being intimidated by him and I've always been in awe of him. A good memory that I remember of him, is one time he told me if he faced me, he would look for my slider. He said, 'Because I sure know I can hit your fastball." - All-Century Team member Roger Clemens
• "He told me, 'You don't even have a clue what makes a ball break, do you?' I said, 'The spin?' 'No, you idiot.' He'd bring out the equations from his aviation terminology. He'd be screaming at you." - Atlanta manager Bobby Cox
• "Nobody was more loyal, generous, courageous, more respected than Ted. He sacrificed his life and career for his country. But he became what he always wanted to be -- the greatest hitter ever." - All-Century Team member and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra
• "With the passing of Ted Williams, America has lost a baseball legend. Whether serving the country in the armed forces or excelling on the baseball diamond, Ted Williams demonstrated unique talent and love of country." - President George W. Bush
• "He was the best pure hitter I ever saw. He was feared." - the immortal Joe DiMaggio

One thing that never changed in Williams was his love for the game. He followed the game and today's players. He said, "Nomar Garciaparra is the best damn player who ever played for the Red Sox." He loved the Red Sox and Boston.

It was a non-Boston player that he gave in my mind one of the best compliments I have ever heard. About Paul Molitor, "Every time I watch Paul Molitor hit, I close my eyes and see Joe DiMaggio."

I regret not being able to meet him. Or to see him play. That is something I would brag to my grandkids about. I feel that I have missed out on an event that I would have cherished my whole life. And that makes me cry. I will leave you now just as I started this page, with tears in my eyes & regret and sadness in my heart.