Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox
Photo Image: Charles Conlon
Photo Subject: Portrait of rookie Ted Williams from the 1939 photo image by Charles Conlon.
Fun Fact: Ted Williams is commonly identified with one of his 521 career home runs, the triumphant last-at-bat homer that inspired John Updike to write:
“Like a feather caught in a vortex, Williams ran around the square of bases at the center of our beseeching screaming. He ran as he always ran out home runs—hurriedly, unsmiling, head down, as if our praise were a storm of rain to get out of. He didn’t tip his cap.”
Williams had a smashing rookie season in 1939, hitting 31 home runs and driving in 145 runs; his hitting was electrifying. His sophomore season in 1940 was more difficult. Although he batted .344 for the year, he was in something of a hitting slump in the early months.
The criticism and heckling that arose from the sporting press and the fans soured Williams’s attitude; which began a career-long feud between Williams and the media and a love-hate relationship with Boston fans. Williams began refusing to acknowledge cheering fans—for the rest of his career he would never again tip his cap to the crowd.
Painting Detail: Printed on 8½” x 11” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Finer details were made using Prismacolor pencils.
Acknowledgement: Prospectus Feature: Ted Williams and the Unwritten Rules of Celebration, Ken Schultz