The Pecan Park Eagle

1960: Ted Williams says goodbye with a home run in his last time at bat.

It’s still a classic. Writer John Updike’s description of Ted Williams’ last major game in 1960 is without peer as a literary work of art and tribute to one of the greatest hitters of all time. Here’s the box score of the game in which Teddy Ballgame struck his last career home run in his last time at bat in the 8th inning. It was Ted’s 29th HR of the season and the 521st of his career and, at the time, it was good enough for 3rd place all time behind Babe Ruth (714 HR) and Jimmie Foxx (534 HR).

When you have time to read and savor its timeless descriptive prose, hope you enjoy “Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu” by John Updike:

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/hub_fans_bid_kid_adieu_article.shtml

Baltimore Orioles 4, Boston Red Sox
Game played Wednesday, September 28, 1960 / Fenway Park
Baltimore Orioles ab   r   h rbi Brandt cf 5 0 0 0 Pilarcik rf 4 0 1 0 Robinson 3b 4 1 1 0 Gentile 1b 3 1 1 1 Triandos c 4 1 2 2 Hansen ss 4 1 2 0 Stephens lf 4 0 2 0 Breeding 2b 2 0 0 0   Woodling ph 1 0 0 1   Pearson pr 0 0 0 0   Klaus 2b 1 0 0 0 Barber p 0 0 0 0   Fisher p 4 0 0 Totals 36 4 9 4	Boston Red Sox ab   r   h rbi Green ss 3 0 0 0 Tasby cf 4 1 0 1 Williams lf 3 2 1 1   Hardy lf 0 0 0 0 Pagliaroni c 3 0 2 0 Malzone 3b 3 0 0 0 Clinton rf 3 0 0 1 Gile 1b 4 0 0 0 Coughtry 2b 3 1 2 0 Muffett p 2 0 0 0   Nixon ph 1 0 0 0   Fornieles p 0 0 0 0   Wertz ph 1 0 1 0   Brewer pr 0 1 0 0 Totals 30 5 6 3
Baltimore 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 – 4 9 1 Boston 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 – 5 6 1   Baltimore Orioles IP H R ER BB SO Barber 0.1 0 2 2 3 0   Fisher  L (12-11) 8.1 6 3 2 3 5 Totals 8.2 6 5 4 6 5   Boston Red Sox IP H R ER BB SO Muffett 7.0 9 4 4 0 4   Fornieles  W (10-5) 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 Totals 9.0 9 4 4 0 6 E–Klaus (2), Coughtry (5).  DP–Baltimore 1.  2B–Baltimore Stephens (15,off Muffett); Robinson (26,off Muffett), Boston Wertz (22,off Fisher).  HR–Baltimore Triandos (12,2nd inning off Muffett 1 on, 0 out), Boston Williams (29,8th inning off Fisher 0 on, 1 out).  SF–Gentile (5,off Muffett); Clinton (6,off Fisher).  Team LOB–6.  HBP–Pagliaroni (1,by Barber).  Team–7.  WP–Barber (10), Muffett (4).  HBP–Barber (3,Pagliaroni).  U-HP–Eddie Hurley, 1B–John Rice, 2B–Johnny Stevens,3B–Cal Drummond.  T–2:18.  A–10,454.
Game played on Wednesday, September 28, 1960 at Fenway Park
Baseball Almanac Box Score |

As a side note, the events of this day also supply us with a Houston baseball related trivia question:

Question: What future member of the Houston Colt .45s took Ted Williams’s place in the field after the great Red Sox hitter took his position on defense in the top of the 9th inning?

Answer: Carroll Hardy, who later played outfield for the 1963-64 Houston Colt .45s.