Poking around...

Yeah.  Apparently, this guy could hit a little.

...a bit on Baseball-Reference.com.

Ted Williams.

He took the three years off from ages 24-26 to serve in WWII.  He hit 521 home runs in his career, while TAKING THREE YEARS OFF.  Oh.  Wait.  There's more.

He averaged 97 games a season his last 9 years in the league.  In fact, over his career he only played in 78% of the games available to him WHEN HE WASN'T OUT KILLING PEOPLE IN THE WAR.

Let's do some math on that, shall we?

He played in 63% of the games available to him for the last 9 years of his career, and TOOK THREE FULL FUCKING SEASONS OFF.  And still hit 521 home runs.  Babe Ruth averaged 128 games a year for his last 9 seasons.  If Williams had just played at his average output for 128 games per season in his last 9 years,  he'd have hit another 63 HR's.  Add in the approximate 105 or so he would have gotten over the THREE FULL FUCKING SEASONS HE WAS FLYING PLANES IN THE WAR, and you're looking at 689 HR's for his career.  As a left handed hitter playing half his games in Fenway.  I've been there.  Lefties don't get cheap home runs in the park.  It's a LONG way to the power alley in right field.  Sure, you can wrap one around Pesky's Pole in right, but that's a weird way to hit a home run...and as good as Teddy Ballgame was, I can't imagine he was able to manipulate ball flight that much.

Oh wait.  There's more.

His On Base Percentage was .488.  He was on base basically every other plate appearance. His Batting Average was .344 for HIS FUCKING CAREER.  He had 2654 hits.  While playing only two thirds of the games his last nine years and TAKING THREE FUCKING SEASONS OFF IN THE PRIME OF HIS YOUTH TO FIGHT IN THE WAR.  Extrapolate a bit, and he's EASILY in the 3200 hit club.

Babe Ruth will ALWAYS be the greatest player...and until someone wins a World Series game or two as a pitcher, while batting .342 for his career, hitting 714 HR's and having an OPS of 1.164, he will ALWAYS be the best.

Ted Williams might have been the greatest hitter.

Maybe.

Musings....

Theatre is something that is so vital to me, yet I try so hard to pretend that I can take it or leave it.  However, when an opportunity/experience like "A Little Night Music" enters my life, well, I get all..."oh yeah." 

I had a wonderful time doing the show.  Sometimes it was hard on my family.  I cannot ever express to them how much I know they give up for me.  Selfish, I am.  A less selfish man would probably stop.  Like right now.  Likewise, a more selfish man would probably not even acknowledge the amount of time it does take.  For now, I am still struggling to find that balance.  Oft times, I get wrapped up in my own stuff.  Randy, Randy, Randy.  You know the way it is with me.

Other times, I get out of my way, and realize that I do this not only selfishly, but unselfishly.  Unselfishly sounds silly when there is so much "glory" involved with this.  But, I need it in order to be a better husband, a better Daddy, and a better Randy.  Many times I get that wrong.  Eventually, I hope, those that care about me realize why I'm there.  Sometimes, that fails. Striking the balance is something that I struggle with, and for that, I apologize.  Yikes, this is getting maudlin. 

I had a wonderful time doing the show, meeting new people, strutting, being "on."  Hard as it may seem to believe, I really liked the people I was playing with.  Overly talented, overly nice, overly patient, and overly qualified; the cast was a delight.  Plenty of kudos to go around.  Everyone was just great. 

Years have taken their toll on me.  One show after another has blended into each other.  Unfortunately, I've become jaded.  Like so many others, it loses its magic at times.  I need to say a big thank you to the people I worked with for helping me remember why I love it so.  Kidding aside, you were a wonderful group of people.  Every one of you. 

I won't soon forget it.

Thank you.