The Journal of San Diego History
Summer 1992, Volume 38, Number 3
Contents of This Issue

Book Reviews

Ted Williams: The Seasons of the Kid.

By Richard Ben Cramer. New York: Prentice Hall Press, 1991. Illustrations. Index. 256 pages. $40.00.

Reviewed by James D. Smith III, Pastor of Clairmont Emmanuel Baptist Church and Adjunct Professor of Church History, Bethel-Seminary-West, San Diego. Author of articles in The National Pastime, Baseball Research Journal, and the Biographical Dictionary of American Sports.

This past July, Theodore Samuel Williams, San Diego's most famous native, returned home for a visit. For almost a week, his every move was chronicled: the nostalgic visit to "his" North Park playground, the dedication of State Route 56 as "Ted Williams Parkway," the presentation of his Medal of Freedom to San Diego's Hall of Champions, the spotlight at baseball's annual All Star Game. For those who wonder what all the fuss is about, or who already see Williams as (in President George Bush's words) "an American hero," this book has much to offer.

What makes this work on Williams unique is that it is a portrait in two senses. First, it is "a portrait in words and pictures" (superior to Dick Johnson and Glenn Stout's recent bio with that sub-title), masterfully utilizing both mediums to present the story of the man, the slugger. Even more, the portrait clearly has been detailed and nuanced by three expert hands: Richard Ben Cramer, Mark Rucker, and John Thorn.

Cramer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, provides a supremely literate opening chapter which avoids both the sirens of hero worship and the gremlins of iconoclasm. Entitled "Forever Young," it succeeds in offering a summary presentation of who Ted Williams is, weaving key biographical points together with stream-of-life narrative gained by observing Williams in everyday situations involving friends. This text was originally written in 1986, and published that same year in edited form by Esquire, but appears here in full for the first time.

The remainder of this book reflects the collaboration of Rucker (whose photo selections animate Cramer's text) and Thorn, two longtime baseball historians. Rucker, perhaps baseball's finest photo archivist, gained national attention in 1988 for his lucid images of Babe Ruth in The Babe: A Life in Pictures. In presenting Ted Williams, he draws on more than thirty-five archival sources, institutional and personal, including several selections from the Hall of Champions which present "The Kid" starting out professionally with the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres in 1936-37. Thorn, whose credits include The Armchair Books of Baseball and Total Baseball, writes the captions which, as photo essays, continue the tone and quality of Cramer's text through the remaining chapters.

As a title, The Seasons of the Kid, is not simply poetic but also suggests the structure of the book. Following Cramer's contribution, each chapter (with a single-page text introducing the photos and accompanying essays) expresses a broad chronological theme. "The Kid at Bat" briefly offers timeless images of Williams doing what won him Hall of Fame recognition in 1966 -- hitting a baseball for the Boston Red Sox. "The Kid in Spring" chronicles the years 1918 (his birth) through 1942 (when '41 honors as Sporting News "Player of the Year" and a .406 batting average began to sour as his III-A draft deferment was criticized). "The Kid in Summer" focuses mainly on the 1940s, in which his baseball greatness was established, punctuated by three years of decorated military service and a perpetual war with he Boston press. "The Kid in Fall" describes the 1950s during which, hobbled by injuries and recalled as a combat pilot in Korea, he considered retirement, found privacy in his fishing excursions -- and the Sporting News named him "Player of the Decade". Finally, "The Kid in Winter" portrays Williams in the years since retirement as a player in 1960, in which fishing, family matters and several seasons as a manager have occupied his time -- as have personal friends, with whom he has always been generous.

A few words of caution belong here. First of all, Cramer's portion must be read as a biographical summary in its own right, not as a "season," or the chapter sequence will appear confusing. Also his chapter so expertly captures Williams' individualism -- both charming and (at times) profane -- that one should be aware of explicit language which may not be suitable for younger readers. Throughout, the pictures (and thus photo essays) are not always in chronological order, which can be distracting when the mood is disrupted by out-of-era illustrations. Finally, those seeking a fuller (and much cheaper) treatment may prefer Williams' fine autobiography, My Turn at Bat.

On balance, however, this is an excellent book, both in content and presentation. Unlike Richard Whittingham's DiMaggio Albums, for example, the contributors have been highly selective of materials and the graphics are consistently attractive. Daniel Okrent (The Ultimate Baseball Book) offers a helpful introduction. The baseball fan will be instantly captivated, as will those who appreciate the genre of photo-biography. And for those who recall San Diego during the Lane Field era, there is a special delight in reliving the exploits of her most famous son.