Ted Williams in Fishing Hall of Fame

[jeff reed]

Here's a topic some that should create some lively discussion.
I read recently that Ted Williams was inducted into some Fishing Hall of Fame. I say, if he wasn't a famous baseball player his chance of getting into anybody's "Fishing Hall of Fame" other than Sears and Roebuck's would be slim to none. Sounds to me like the selection committee was a little short of candidates. Ted Williams in a Fishing Hall of Fame is akin to Tom Cruise making the Fighter Pilots Hall of Fame. What do you guys think? No bashing just your thoughts. If you can't remember him playing baseball, don't feel bad because I can't either

[Scott]

I can't remember him playing baseball, but I'd say you are right that he'd not be in the hall of fame if he'd been a ditch digger. However, he did use his fame from baseball to bring fishing into more of a, for the lack of a better word, limelight. His noteriety coupled with his involvement in fishing and hunting for that matter had to be positive for the outdoor sports. For that, I would say his nomination and selection is not all that far fetched. Now if we just had a few more high profile atheletes today who'd step up to the plate and make as much positive impact for the hunting and fishing sports, we'd have something. Sadly, today, a good ole boy like Ted Williams doesn't grab the attention of our youth. You have to be either choking you coach, fathering your 24th child with the 19th different mother, etc. to get heavy press these days. The more I think this through, I think Ted got what he rightly deserved. Wonder if Ken Griffey JR. will spend anymore time in his Ranger that Jimmy Houston set him up with. Jr. could be a big help for our cause.

[Phil T.]

Ted Williams was a world-famous conservationist and fisherman (primarly salt water). His gruff manner and usually course language kept him from being a media darling. Okay, he swore, but I think he still has the highest lifetime batting average of any baseball player. The secret of his ability to hit seemed to be in his unusual vision. He was able to read the label of a phonograph record while it was being played, and this in the days of 78rpm recordings. Harmon Killebrew of the Twins could see almost as well. Williams could watch the rotation of a pitched baseball; Harmon always said the best place to hit a ball was between the seams.

[Phil T.]

Saying Ted Williams is a famous fisherman because of his association with Sears is like saying Bud Grant is known as a waterfowler because his picture is in the CAbela's catalogs.

[cisco]

If you were my age you'd know of the many Ted Williams stories in the big three of the day -- Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, and Sports Afield. He was well known for extrordinary skill as a fresh and salt water angler, fly and bait caster, and (as someone noted) an "early" conservationist.
He doesn't own baseball's highest career batting average, but who knows what he might have done had he not fought brilliantly as a fighter pilot in both WW II and the Korean War. This guy is a legend and hall of famer in more ways than folks today would know, unless they take time to read some biography and history. Many celebrities used their muscle to avoid military service. Williams served at the height of his baseball career -- nothing at all like today's one-dimensional millionaires who are lucky to hit .250 in a "good" year. I'd go on, but it's probably no use.

[Leo Kam]

You said it all, Cisco. He was one ##### of a ballplayer, fisherman and an American. I was lucky enough to meet him 25 yrs ago at our state high school baseball convention. He was very warm and cordial, not at all like the media image that is projected. His powers as a fly fiserman for Atlantic salmon are legendaey. I was honored to be at the Ted William's mueseum by Inverness, Fla. a couple of years ago; but, it was sad to see him confined to a wheelchair when one remembers him in his prime.