Ted Williams still is quick with an opinion, even in a 10-minute interview after Wednesday’s meeting of the Hall of Fame’s veterans’ committee.
What does he think about the election of Nellie Fox to the Hall of Fame?
“I’m so happy about that,” he said, indicating his vote as a member of the selection group. “I made a comment in the meeting that he was one of my coaches when I managed the Washington club. There was never a more bear-down, hard-nosed little guy than Nellie Fox. I’m just as happy as I can be that he’s in the Hall of Fame. He was a tremendous player and is very deserving. I know he took a lot of hits away from me.”
What does he think of the umpires’ threat to eject players and managers at the slightest infraction in response to the Roberto Alomar spitting incident?
“The Alomar thing was bad and I believe he knows that too,” said the great Red Sox slugger. “But that has been carried over way too far. It’s an issue that should be forgotten because it’s not going to happen anymore. There certainly would be something to worry about if the umpires kick everybody out of the game. I think stronger minds will prevail and they’ll get it straightened out.”
What about the election of a full-time commissioner?
“It is one of the serious problems that baseball is confronted with,” he said. “They ought to get together and elect the one they want and get behind him. The next commissioner has to go in there with the understanding he isn’t going to be controlled by the owners.”
What about the proliferation of home runs? Are the hitters better?
“The hitters are bigger, stronger and faster than ever,” he said. “And that just doesn’t apply to baseball. It has happened in every sport.”
Were the hitters in his day better?
“I don’t think that all,” Williams said. “There is more strength today, more speed, and players are more athletic than at any time in baseball history.”
Some people insist the pitching never has been weaker.
“They can say the pitching is worse, that the ball is lively or the parks are too small. They can always make an excuse for what’s happening,” he said. “I’ve seen balls hit a ton. I never saw a hitter who I thought was capable of hitting a ball as far as Mark McGwire does. And he’s setting records.
“I can only go back to Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis and they always used to say, `Oh, he never fought anybody.’ But there’s plenty of competition. The money matter is a helluva thing. And I know they all try to outdo each other.”
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What was his highest salary?
`A hundred and twenty-five thousand but that’s no longer relevant. That was 50 years ago.”
With the emphasis on home runs and the long ball, doesn’t that diminish the chances of another .400 hitter?
“It’s a funny thing,” he said. “I keep thinking why aren’t the averages going up? If the ball is livelier, it gets through the infield a little faster, the outfielders have to play further back and so there’s more room for singles and doubles. And certainly there are more home runs, more 500-foot home runs and you wonder what the story is. Maybe some of these fellows are thinking more about hitting home runs. That could be one of the reasons. But I believe there will be another .400 hitter.”
Williams batted .406 in 1941 and there hasn’t been a .400 hitter since.
“I know but I’ve been saying that for 20 years and I still haven’t been right,” he said. “But someday I will be.”
What about the state of baseball? Is it making a comeback?
“No matter what anybody says, you can’t destroy baseball,” he said. “If the players and owners do things that are disillusioning, in the end it doesn’t matter because baseball is the greatest game there is. It’s the most loved sport in America.
“I don’t know whether more kids are playing it. But I know the interest is there. Even though some towns and cities don’t have major-league baseball there is still a lot of interest everywhere. You can’t stamp it out.”
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Jerome Holtzman is in his first year as a member of the 15-man veterans’ committee. There are five media members of the committee.