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Red Sox News, Notes, and Views
Last updated: July 8
Which Red Sox is the only player in All Star history to bat twice in the same inning? (Answers at the bottom of page)
All Star Bonuses
Manny Ramirez - $75,000
Sports Illustrated Coverage “It got so bad last year that I remember days when I’d pull out the schedule and pray to God we were coming up to the last day of a home stand. Or if we were on the road, I’d always want to get [called to pitch during] the last game of a trip before we went back to Fenway, hoping I’d have a good game so they wouldn’t get on me so bad. The last day of a trip was always very important for me.” Among other Red Sox related coverage in the July 8 issue is a brief article about the minor league debut of John Henry Williams, under the headline “Splendid Splinter II.” And SI also answers the question “Can the Red Sox dethrone the Yankees in the AL East?”
Oliver Gone
Boston - Pregame moment of silence, a trumpeter playing "Taps',' a short video of Williams playing, and his number 9 etched by a lawn mower in the left-field grass. Chicago (AL) - The American flag was flown at half-staff, and a moment of silence was observed. New York (AL) - Flags were at half-staff. Philadelphia - Before the game, the entire Phillies team and several Expos stood on the top step of the dugout for a moment of silence. Pittsburgh - A video tribute was shown on the scoreboard before the game. Atlanta - A moment of silence was held before the game. Texas - A moment of silence was observed before the game. Ted Williams was the first manager of the Texas Rangers. He was the manager of the Washington Senators from 1969-71, and then remained in that job when the team moved to Texas. Oakland - Before the game, the A's held a moment of silence. Flags at Oakland Coliseum flew at half-staff and a fan in the outfield seats posted a simple sign reading: "Farewell Ted.'' Anaheim - Black-and-white footage of Ted Williams was shown on the Jumbotron and there was a moment of silence.
Baseball Quotes & Wisdom by Ted Williams Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer.
If I was being paid $30,000 a year, the very least I could do was hit .400. There's only one way to become a hitter. Go up to the plate and get mad. Get mad at yourself and mad at the pitcher. There has always been a saying in baseball that you can't make a hitter, but I think you can improve a hitter. More than you can improve a fielder. More mistakes are made hitting than in any other part of the game. Baseball's future? Bigger and bigger, better and better! No question about it, it's the greatest game there is!
Ted’s Son Out of Action, and Perhaps His Senses Williams played semipro ball in the early 1990s but had no formal professional experience when he signed a minor league contract with Boston after a tryout last month.
Unfortunately, John Henry’s woeful performance on the diamond has been overshadowed by his shameful plans for the body of his dad, which, according to newspaper reports, will be frozen in an Arizona laboratory in hopes of reviving it in the future. The technology is called cryonics and goes against the wishes of Ted and his two other children.
For the not-so-flattering full story of John Henry’s relationship with his famous father, read:
The campaign may prove to be a long shot, albeit a worthy one. The Red Sox policy on retiring uniform numbers is based on the following criteria: However, the team created a loophole in order to retire Carlton Fisk’s # 27. Fisk spent the final 13 seasons of his career with Chicago, and the White Sox retired his number 72 in 1997. But at the start of the 1999 season he rejoined the Red Sox organization as a special assistant to the GM, and technically met the third rule, paving the way for the team to retire the number he wore in Boston on September 4, 2000. With this previous precedent and new ownership willing to listen to their fan base, the time to recognize Tony C. as a true Red Sox great may be at its pinnacle.
Tony C. Bio A starting outfielder on the 1967 All-Star team, Tony C.’s career came to a crashing halt on August 18, 1967 when he was hit on the left cheekbone with a fastball thrown by Angels pitcher Jack Hamilton. Although Tony returned to the lineup a year and a half later and hit another twenty home runs in 1969 and 36 the year after, he was forced to retire prematurely due to permanent damage to his eyesight. Conigliaro died in 1990, eight years after a debilitating heart attack, at the age of 45 and since then the Tony Conigliaro Award has been given annually to the player who best overcomes an obstacle and continues to thrive through the adversity.
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Ex-Sox Factor: Bryce Florie His career almost ended on September 8, 2000 in a game against the Yankees, when Ryan Thompson’s ninth inning line drive struck Florie in the face. He suffered facial fractures and his vision was impaired. After a valiant comeback effort, the Red Sox activated Florie on June 27, 2001 and he pitched (ineffectively) in seven games before being released on July 30. One week later, the Tigers resigned Florie and assigned him to their AAA club in Toledo, where he finished the year. After becoming a minor league free agent on October 15, 2001, Florie signed with the Oakland A’s in December. After pitching in extended spring training, Bryce joined the A’s AAA affiliate in Sacramento on May 1 as a starting pitcher. In 13 games, the 32-year old Florie is 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA in 65 innings with 55 strikeouts.
Jim Rice in the third inning in 1983.
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Trivia Questions
On the day of his death, many stadiums showed respect to the man many considered the greatest hitter to have ever lived.