The Frank Howard question - Ted Williams press conference - December 14, 1971 - Arlington, Texas
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- "Ted Williams, manager of the Texas Rangers, holds his first press conference at the Cibola Inn in Arlington. Williams says he hasn't heard from Washington Senators player Frank Howard about whether or not he's coming to Texas; he describes what he would say to Howard if he were to talk to him."
When Ted Williams talks baseball everyone should listen. Greatest hitter who ever lived.
Thing was, Ted absolutely HATED the idea of moving to Texas..but he had one year left on his contract..so being the man he was, he honored it
2nd best.
Please don't say Babe Ruth was the best hitter. Struck out way more than Ted and Ted would have hit more
home runs if he hadn't been called to serve twice in wars, once in the very prime of his career. Ty Cobb????@@donjennings9034
When Ted Williams talks hitting everyone should listen. He doesn't have a lot to say about baseball.
Was a pretty good manager after his playing days . You think you're being cute but you're just being dumb. @@gregshirley-jeffersonboule6258
I was a fan back in the day and took it hard when they left DC. I don’t think that Howard and Williams were very close, Ted was known for helping veterans find their strokes and have career years. But Bob Short ran the team like this: Ted and Frank would never be close because Williams signed a $1.25 million/5 year contract to manage, $250,000/year, and Howard made $125,000/year, exactly half. Williams refined Howard’s eye, because his OBP was under .300, he’d have 50 walks and 125 strikeouts. Hondo walked 102, 132 times in ‘69-‘70. He hit 48, 44, and 23 HR in DC with Williams. His OBP was .402 and .416 in those two years.
Short never paid anyone else, he’d pick up veteran retreads and mix them with rookies. He didn’t care as long as he had Teddy Ballgame and Frank. Williams used to grind bullpens into dust. Casey Cox was a prime example, he was 12-7 in ‘69, had 13 starts but 52 appearances, 171 IP, 2.78 ERA. He hurt his arm and was basically a 4.50 ERA after that. But about Frank’s weight- Eddie Brinkman, SS, used to live with Howard and I think he actually wrote a book, because he was actually in the DC National Guard in those years and ran patrols during the riots, but anyway, he said that Frank could eat 24 eggs, a pound of bacon, some biscuits before they would go to the park. Frank used to say, “you need to pound the Budweiser if you want to pound the ball”. He was d as man near like Andre the Giant when it came to drinking beer. Brinkman would go out with him just to be the designated driver. He smoked cigarettes his whole life, and as far as I know, he’s still around, lives in Falls Church, Va. But yeah, Williams traded Frank to Detroit late in the ‘72 season. The relationship had run its course. I’ll never forget my first game ever, Opening Day’69, Nixon threw out the first ball, and Howard got fooled on a changeup and flicked it 390 feet over the left center field fence 380 sign for a homer. Total thrill. The Yankees beat them but so what- it was a Whole New Ballgame! 👈🏻😁🇺🇸
Yes, I think Williams didn't like Frank Howard striking out so much and often shoddy defense in outfield.. The whole Washington team in 1969 did well but then went down and attendance dropped huge gave them the opportunity to move to Texas. That area where ball park was ( is) was very dangerous people came on mostly Sunday. games. But night they drew 5,000 people some time.. I attended many games mostly on Sunday afternoon because of crime.
Ted was a great US Marine. Fighter pilot.
Well, Ted Williams didn't mince his words. A truly authentic and candid press conference.
Frank had great affection for Ted, and vice versa. Ted got Hondo to cut down on his strikeouts and be more selective at the plate. Between 1968 and '69 when Ted took over, Frank cut his strikeouts by a third and doubled his walks. As far as Ted's managerial skills, he tended to rely on coach Nellie Fox for most strategic decisions, according to several players on the ballclub I've spoken to. After 3 years in Washington, Ted had pretty much lost interest in managing, which is why he bailed late in the '72 season. Also, Frank really didn't look forward to the Texas move. He really loved the DC area, which is why he moved back in the 1980's.
I guess Frank Howard wasn't quite a Hall of Fame player but he once had 10 home runs in a week 🤣. I remember sitting at DC stadium in 1960s he couldn't see fly balls he lose them in lights 🤣. But he was great guy I'm so sorry he just passed away in Aldi, Virginia 😞
Imagine if a manager today said a player in the offseason was too old and fat and had a bad year (He didn't... Howard hit 26 home runs with a .279 BA in 1971). He did have more of an off year in 1972 with 9 home runs hitting .244 until he was traded late in the season.
It seems great players dont always make great managers. I give you Rogers Hornsby, Ty Cobb, & Ted Williams as examples.
Sounds like those two were not very close.
Frank Howard credited Ted Williams with making him a much better hitter. He said Ted was "one in a million and a marvelous marvelous man". I don't know when Howard made that quote but there's no question that they had a great relationship in 1969 and 1970.
Incredibly arrogant human being. Example. During a World Series broadcast years ago he was paid to come into the broadcast booth for half an inning for an interview. This was talked up earlier in the game. “In the bottom of the fifth inning, we’re going to have a real treat for you fans. Ted Williams is going to join us here in the booth”.
He shows up, brief greeting as they gush over his past career a bit. Bing, bang, boom. Four pitch, three out inning or close to it. He gets and leaves, because that’s all he committed to. Went to cash his paycheck. The announcers are stunned and a little pissed off. They go on for a bit along the lines of “Wasn’t that a thrill, having the old “Splendid Splinter come visit. What a great man. Not just a great ball player, a great sportsman. Hunter and fisherman. Just great”. Really laid it on, instead of saying what they were no doubt thing. You could hear the sarcasm in Joe Garrigola’s voice.
He was always an arrogant dick.
So was DiMaggio, but even worse.
1971 was before the DH in the American League so wouldn't have been the reason that Frank Howard had gained size.
6 ft 8 big man
@@bobo44donemilking51 6'7''
It was probably a combination of age and a massive appetite that caused the weight gain. Superstars Frank Howard, Harmon Killebrew, Boog Powell, Carl Yastrzemski, and Willie McCovey all had their last great seasons in 1970 and were never the same hitters after that.
Without all the conspiracy theories, how do you think that Howard had gained so much size?
@@wadevandort1598 I've seen video of the 1971 All-star game and Howard looked like he may have had a little extra weight around the middle but nothing dramatic. Howard is a huge man with a huge appetite. A sportswriter told a funny story about going out to eat with Howard and two other sportswriters after a night game in Kansas City. Frank ordered 4 orders of bacon, eggs, and pancakes as well as 4 milkshakes. The waitress, thinking the order was complete asked if everyone's order was all set and Howard said "no, that's just for me, find out what the other guys want and put it on my check". It's not only a funny story, it also shows how generous Howard is.
John Wayne in real life.
Williams fought in two wars Wayne was just an actor aka a phony
@@jaymoon5906 Plus John Wayne was a bigot and Ted wasn't.
No, you got that one wrong. John Wayne WISHED he could have been Ted Williams in real life.
Marion was a pretender, an actor
Bunch of Commies in the comments here.
So what happened?
Ted didn't watch Tv and rarely movies.
It was always said that Rogers Hornsby, the greatest right handed hitter of all time, wouldn't watch
the silent films that started coming into the vaudeville theatres during his playing days.
Actually what happened Howard didn't show up very good shape and Williams wasn't happy he was eventually traded to Detroit after Washington moved to Texas 1972. I think his defense in out field was terrible he couldn't see fly balls 🤣. I'm in Washington I i been Senators and Washington Nationals fan. But Frank had good career but not quite Hall of Fame
Here's a Ted story for you: When asked by a young photographer what he thought of Pensacola when visiting there circa 1960, Williams said nothing. Instead the often surly Ted simply spat on the street and walked away. Years later, the same photographer (now an old man) said of Williams and the incident: What a piece of sh*t!
Ted Williams was not a good manager. reason, he expected every player to work as hard as he did and concentrate solely on the game. may work today, but not in 1970 when the players were paid peanuts.
Today;s players…concentrating SOLELY ON THE GAME?….😂😂😂😂😂
@@willdrucker4291 I know, Right, what a laugh that is!!
How much do you think a 30 year old Frank Howard would be paid (or could possibly be paid) on today's open market?@@toyman81
He only cared about hitting.