How to pitch to Ted Williams

[runningshoes]

Birdie Tebbetts


When I was catching with Detroit we were never able to get Ted Williams out. Finally we hit on the idea of letting him call the pitch. Figured he hit whatever we called, so why not let him in on the act? His first time up, I explained our new plan to him He thought it was a gag, but he said, ‘Fast ball,’ So I called for a fastball right over the plate. Ted let it go bye. He wasn’t sure we mean it. I asked him what he wanted for the next pitch, and he said ‘fast ball’ again. So I called for the same thing. This time Ted swung. But he wasn’t sure we weren’t fooling him this time, so he hesitated, and he swung too late. That went on all day. Williams didn’t get a hit in five times up. And the reason was he wasn’t concentrating on the ball like he usually does. He was concentrating on what we told him, and whether we were kidding him, or were on the level.

[ChrisLDuncan]

I was always wondering if I could find a scouting report on him. Like what he struggles against, and where to pitch him...also how he did in what counts.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Birdie Tebbetts

That's a great story RS. Perfect example of how the smallest of thought can influence a hitter's muscle coordination and disrupt the natural "see/read/react" mechanism necessary for success. Goes for all sport. Hesitation is a brutal enemy.

"An act of skill is one in which a man does more things at once than there is time to think about it." - John Ciardi

As for how to pitch Ted...four sinkers down and out might be the best route :think:

[Ubiquitous]

Ted Williams only went 0 for 5 once in his career against Detroit while Birdie was there and that was on June 7, 1940. It is highly unlikely that this was actual the game.

[DiMag4Life]

Ted Williams only went 0 for 5 once in his career against Detroit while Birdie was there and that was on June 7, 1940. It is highly unlikely that this was actual the game.

He said he didn't get a HIT five times up.... not that he went 0-5. He could've walked or sacrifice flied.

[ChrisLDuncan]

I wonder what would happen if Lefty Grove or Sandy Koufax in their primes pitched to Ted, maybe RJ could get him out but I doubt it. Grove and Koufax are the only two guys that I think could have had a good chance at getting him out.

[leecemark]

--Actually Williams made outs on over half his trip to the plate, so any pitcher had a reasonable chance of getting him out on any given plate appearance. I guess what you mean is a pitcher who could dominate Williams on a consistent basis. My guess would be there were a few who had his number, but I don't know who they were and wouldn't even bet they were the best pitchers of his time. Babe Ruth found Hub Kittel to be his kryptonite. There may have been a similar nobody who had Teddy's number.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

The guy Ruth helped put through medical school was Pruett ;)

[Ubiquitous]

He said he didn't get a HIT five times up.... not that he went 0-5. He could've walked or sacrifice flied.

Sac flies counted as at bats in Birdies day. The only 0-4 day Ted had against the Tigers was May 19, 1942 and he had no walks. Nor was any of his 0-3 days against Detroit containing 2 walks.

[runningshoes]

--Actually Williams made outs on over half his trip to the plate, so any pitcher had a reasonable chance of getting him out on any given plate appearance. I guess what you mean is a pitcher who could dominate Williams on a consistent basis. My guess would be there were a few who had his number, but I don't know who they were and wouldn't even bet they were the best pitchers of his time. Babe Ruth found Hub Kittel to be his kryptonite. There may have been a similar nobody who had Teddy's number.


Ted on just that:


I could name 20 pitchers who were tough on me. Lemon, here's one for you - Willis Huddlin, Ford, Feller, Newhouser. There were a lot of guys who game trouble. There was one guy with the Browns. I can't think of his name. He was aleft hander. Pheew. Boy, I hated to hit against him. He had a good curve and he was herky-jerky, and you didn't know where the ball was going. Then there was Raschi, Reynolds, Page. Trout was tough too, although I could usually hit him.

I wonder who the Brown's pitcher is.

Anyone have any ideas?

[Paulypal]

I wonder what would happen if Lefty Grove or Sandy Koufax in their primes pitched to Ted, maybe RJ could get him out but I doubt it. Grove and Koufax are the only two guys that I think could have had a good chance at getting him out.

Guys lets not get confused here. Williams was awesome, but he still made out in 65.6% of his at bats, and 51.8% of his PA's.

So to say RJ wouldnt get him out.............are you kidding? Your talking about one of the most dominant lefties ever. Look at RJ's numbers against lefty hitters. Lefties hit .195 off of him. No, Ted wasnt your average lefty, so I will give him another .100 points. He is still making out 70% of the time.

[Ubiquitous]

The Browns pitcher is probably Sam Zoldak or Bill Kennedy.

[hellborn]

Ted on just that:

I wonder who the Brown's pitcher is.

Anyone have any ideas?

This isn't the guy you're looking, but Ted spoke highly of Virgil Trucks as a pitcher who was tough in him in "The Art of Hitting".

Any chance the Browns' lefty was Hillbilly Bildilli??
:happy:

[ChrisLDuncan]

Guys lets not get confused here. Williams was awesome, but he still made out in 65.6% of his at bats, and 51.8% of his PA's.

So to say RJ wouldnt get him out.............are you kidding? Your talking about one of the most dominant lefties ever. Look at RJ's numbers against lefty hitters. Lefties hit .195 off of him. No, Ted wasnt your average lefty, so I will give him another .100 points. He is still making out 70% of the time.
I meant on a regular basis, if you were to look at Ted's numbers versus the Unit I bet he would go something like .330/.430/.590 Bonds also dominated the Unit too, and I think Williams was probably better than Bonds as a hitter.