Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-14
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW >, FRANCIS srApp
Adversely His Shadow

WITHOUT FANFARE OR FUSS, Ted williams slipped
into the Red Sox lineup two days ago. full six weeks be-
hind the rest Of the big htters Williams had tough
no hits in five trips srkeputs The Red sox lost
to Chicago, 4-3.
But I'll be all right the hits will come" Ted
quoted I'm satisfied with my efforts for my first game
back feel real good My problem was that was hitting
at bad pitches They look different in than in bat
ting practice"
Last season williams at 49, became the batting
champion in major league history Furthermore Ted did
it the hard way AS in this campaign and others in the
past Williams wasn't ready for the bell He had bad ankle
all winter and ptomane poisoning on opening day.
The virus bug chewed him and rendered him hors
de combat On June the big guy batting under 300
For all of his fabulous record Williams long shot to
win his sixth hitting championship.
WHATEVER ELSE HIS CRITICS may say, williams
courage and grim determination things like his
batting stroke Adversely has been his shadow, his room
mate his closest follower.
Dscounting the of absence he forced to
take from baseball to with the Marines in World War
II and Korea Ted has been playing short now for
years due to illness and injury lesser guy particularly
one as we'll off financially Williams is presumed to be-
might have retired.
Last winter in training the big guy praisng the
Arizona climate one day and calling attention to his fit
ness and the next he hospital He down
with damaged in his neck and again the Red
Sox opened campaign without him.
In coming back now Williams obviously hasn't the
timing and what's more Ted will have to bat
his way into shape at time when the American League
pitchers peak FORM To other hitters the breakngn
process gradual they weren't at their top levels back
on April 9-10, neither the pitchers.
WILLIAMS is STARTING the SO season with 900
batting average when the htterS he presumably will have
to beat in order to win another batting title are
running Pete Runnels, his teammate whom Ted Shaded
the final day last year. is smuggling at 1923 clip and
Pete isn't even high in the American League.
Harvey Kuenn of the Tigers always high up Will
nams personal list of title contenderS is wngng with
1897 average Nellie Fox of the White Sox who strikes out
fewer than anybody in the league is banging the ball
at loud 1854 clip.
Ted has led in runSbatted FIVE times during his
If he does it this year he'll be spotng Harmon Ke
brew for instance, 28runs batedin start Five times,
too Ted has been the American Leagues No. home run
hitter (although not 1949 But in this department
too he is IL homers back of Kilebrew.
The cards stacked against Ted last year, too.
Under 800 June he boosted his to 308 by
July l. STILL Williams wasn't taken too seriously title
threat by September IA he sl6 four points back
of Runnels On September rs he hit safely twice against
Washington to tie Runnels at 1928 He making his
THE FINAL BURST CAME two days later September
80 which the last day of the Against the Sena
tors the big fellow went 2-for4 to win with 1928 mark
Joe Cronin then general manager of the Red sox and
Ted boss, called it greater feat than Williams 406 in
1941.
Don't look at it difference in 70 points between
those two batting titles Cronin explained Look at it
the difference between being % years old and 40"
Young Kiebrew, who has been getting the press no.
tees Williams rated for long, talking about Teds
belated appearance yesterday. He's great" Harmon
murmured in admiration, it probably will be just ques-
ton short time before he catches up Me- didn't play
for month last spring and sent to Indianapolis
II didn't catch up to the pitchers there l was
just starting to hit when Indianapolis packed me Off
.215 average and ALTO Chattanooga
Still, for Williams it can't be easy"
pPORABIE pTTCHEPS