In more than one way Williams was a true American hero

First appeared on November 12, 2010
in The Lebanon Reporter

Joe Cronin made some tough decisions in his life. He once passed on signing Willie Mays and chose to marry the niece of a General Manager who would later trade him. But in September of 1941, as manager of the Boston Red Sox, Cronin faced perhaps his toughest challenge of all. With two games left in the season Cronin wanted to sit his left fielder (who was flirting with .400) in order to protect his chance at history.


In legendary fashion, Ted Williams would have none of it and insisted instead on playing the last two games of the year. Struggling in the first game, the future Hall of Famer’s average dipped below .400 after going just 1 for 4. Then, in the final game of the season, “Teddy Ball Game” hammered out 4 hits and the rest is history.

For a variety of reasons 1941 was an unforgettable year. New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio batted safely in 56 straight games while Williams hit .400 for DiMaggion’s arch-rival Red Sox. Both marks stand to this day, almost 70 years later.

But for other reasons entirely 1941 should not soon be forgotten. For what followed that sensational summer on the diamond was one of the most tragic days in our nation’s history. On December 7th over 2,000 Americans would lose their lives during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor changed the course of a nation. It awoke a sleeping giant. It also thrust one of Baseball’s greatest heroes into the action. On May 22nd, 1942 Williams enlisted in the Navy. Though he would finish the 42 season before reporting for duty as most players who were drafted did, he refused an assignment playing for the Navy’s traveling baseball team choosing instead to enroll in the Naval Aviator program.

What followed was a year and a half of intense training, including time spent studying in Bunker Hill, Indiana. Williams earned his wings in May of 1944, officially becoming a Navy pilot. In 1946, as the war was winding down, Williams had reported to Hawaii to await orders as a replacement pilot in the Pacific Theatre before being called home.

From 1946 to 1952 he was back on the diamond winning 2 American League MVP’s and setting an AL record after facing 3 pitchers in the same inning. In May of 1952 however, during what some would call the height of his career, Ted Williams was recalled to duty in Korea. Here he became an award winning pilot after flying over 30 combat missions.

Williams’ career began with an appearance at Yankee Stadium in which he shared the field for the first and last time with Yankee legend Lou Gehrig. He was a Triple Crown winner and the last man to hit .400 and for all of these things he is revered.

Lost in all the gaudy numbers and history is the fact that the most important thing Teddy Ball Game did for his country didn’t happen between the lines. For he is just one of countless men and women who have sacrificed much in defending our nation.

Athletes are heroes to many. Real heroes aren’t interviewed on television after kicking a 55 yard field goal or throwing a no hitter however. Real heroes are those who have marched holes clean through their boots, eaten cold MRE’s and tried to fall asleep on the tracks of a tank with thoughts of road side bombs or Nazi landmines racing through their heads.

These are the ones who deserve the standing ovation. These are the ones whose pictures should hang in a Hall of Fame families can drag their wide eyed kids into every summer. In the mean time it’s up to us to just say thanks. Veterans don’t want a SuperBowl parade or expect to see you wearing a replica jersey with their name on it. Just say thanks. Take the time to hear their stories. Find your own way to show the same pride in our country they did. For celebrating Freedom should be an easy decision for anyone, even Joe Cronin.