Red Sox Sign Ted Williams' Son

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0620/1397066.html

Thursday, June 20

Sox offer deal to honor request from Williams

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Associated Press


BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox signed the son of Hall of Famer Ted Williams and assigned him to Class-A Sarasota in the Gulf Coast League, even though he is 33 and has no professional baseball experience.


John Henry Williams asked for the opportunity and was given a tryout at the club's spring training home in Fort Myers, Fla., out of respect for Ted Williams, the last major league player to hit .400 when he batted .406 in 1941.


The request was ''unusual and irregular'' said Charles Steinberg, Red Sox vice president of public affairs, but ''we are willing to go beyond the norm to accommodate this special request.''


The younger Williams, who lives in Florida and has been the principal caretaker of his ailing father, played baseball in high school and some in college.


He is 6-foot-5 and weighs 220 pounds, according to the Boston Herald. Williams bats and throws right-handed, although his father hit left-handed and threw right-handed.


It was unclear what position the younger Williams would play, Red Sox spokesman Kevin Shea said, although the Herald reported that he thought of himself as a ''power-hitting first baseman.''


Team president Larry Lucchino told radio station WEEI that he had not seen the tryouts but heard that ''results have been mixed.''


John Henry Williams could not be reached for comment.


The elder Williams, 83, has been slowed by a series of strokes and heart problems in recent years.


In November 2000, doctors placed a pacemaker in Williams' chest and two months later he had open-heart surgery because of congestive heart failure. He spent part of his time recovering in San Diego, his hometown, and has been at his Florida home since Aug. 30.

[Craig S.]

I thought this was another Netshrine "Onion" effort, but then I realized that it was too funny to be made up. I realize Williams meant a lot to the organization, but this seems like serious nepotism.

[poorme]

Jeez, what a sad situation...

[KCBOOMER]

I think this is a sign that Ted is not going to be with us much longer.

[SmedIndy]

What does the Red Sox nation think of this?

Personally, I don't like it because I think players should always get chances based on their own merits.

[ChrisCary]

Originally posted by SoDoMoJo82101
It was unclear what position the younger Williams would play, Red Sox spokesman Kevin Shea said

left out?

[soxfan121]

Geez, the Son of The Kid will get a few Ab's in short-season Class A ball. What's the big deal?

There has been quite a few articles in the Boston papers, basically calling this a joke and/or nepotism. Truth is, there is a long and storied baseball tradition of nepotism for the kids of major league personel. The Red Sox, in particular, have a history with stuff like this. Jimy Williams son, Brady, was drafted, signed and played 2 years of low-A ball for the Sox. He has since been traded to MIN. Kerrigan's kid got the same kind of deal.

Ron Schuler drafted his DAUGHTER in the draft a bunch of years back, ahead of Frank Menechino.

Pete Rose Jr. has been given opportunity after opportunity, especially by the Reds organization.

Granted, all those examples (except Schuler's daughter) may be more legit than John Henry Williams. But seeing as how The Kid's kid has the owner's moniker and his pop's genes - what does it hurt? Maybe it sells some more tickets locally for the Sarasota club and the real prospects get a chance to play in front of larger than normal crowds. Maybe JH Williams finally got around to reading The Science of Hitting and was crushing the ball in the slow-pitch batting cages.

Long story short: who really cares?

[ChrisCary]

Surely it's more legit than Michael Jordan and Garth Brooks

[satchel]

Originally posted by soxfan121
Ron Schuler drafted his DAUGHTER in the draft a bunch of years back, ahead of Frank Menechino.

I love this story. The radio broadcaster I heard it from (Michael Kay, I think) said she was actually a pretty good ballplayer, but of course that doesn't speak to her chances of making it to the majors.

At any rate, I agree with soxfan; this kind of publicity move is nothing new and not really worth getting one's knickers in a knot over. Reporters are always looking for a story, however.

[CubFan7125]

Originally posted by satchel

I love this story. The radio broadcaster I heard it from (Michael Kay, I think) said she was actually a pretty good ballplayer,

I don't put much credibility into anything Mike Kay says(if he indeed did say it), he is pretty much a mouthpiece, which is too bad since he does have talent.

Back to the Williams situation, why not, sounds like a cheap promo stunt while at the same time honoring the greatest Red Sox player ever(sorry Marty Barrett, your not it). I wonder if he can get his 3 or 4 AB's for a Mike Veeck team, what other team would be better equipped to host a promotional stunt like that.

Let's also remember Piazza was drafted as a favor to Lasorda, so sometimes those type of players do work out.

[Craig S.]

Originally posted by CubFan7125
Let's also remember Piazza was drafted as a favor to Lasorda, so sometimes those type of players do work out.

I don't think that's a very fair comparison. For one thing, Piazza was an excellent college hitter, and Lasorda wanted him drafted because he believed in his talent. In the case of Williams, they're obviously doing it for Ted's benefit.

Even more glaring is the age factor. Williams is 33 right now, the same age as Piazza. Somehow, I don't see him being the next Jim Morris.

[VNV Nation]

I think this is a nice story and nothing to get worked up over. It's not like he's being put on a major league roster. People in the entertainment or sports world or in politics..hell, in life in general...always get opportunities to do things based on who they know or some talent in another field. Coppola giving his daughter a major role in one of the greatest movie franchises of all time seems about 1,000 times worse than giving Ted's kid 15 minutes of fame in a low minor league.

[CubFan7125]

Originally posted by Craig S.


I don't think that's a very fair comparison. For one thing, Piazza was an excellent college hitter, and Lasorda wanted him drafted because he believed in his talent.

I wasn't comparing J.H. Williams to Piazza, what I meant to say was that it was as is a time honored baseball tradition to draft favors & orginization kids. I was making the Piazza reference to "soxfan121's" references to Jimy Williams & several others he made.

[Craig S.]

Originally posted by CubFan7125


I wasn't comparing J.H. Williams to Piazza, what I meant to say was that it was as is a time honored baseball tradition to draft favors & orginization kids. I was making the Piazza reference to "soxfan121's" references to Jimy Williams & several others he made.

Okay, I can agree with that. I still hate the idea, but it certainly happens.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Young Williams is 33; he's no prospect. He deserves a job ONLY IF he is better than the guy who won't be playing Rookie Ball, or A Ball.
If he's the best qualified for the minor league slot he will occupy, then, maybe, he deserves a contract.

However, what happens, when the Sox decide to bring up John Henry Williams to the big club for the stretch drive, when the rosters expand to 40?
Doesn't this become an integrity of the game issue?

All you good people in Red Sox Nation must be well aware of Marc Sullivan, catcher, and son of Heywood Sullivan. Marky Marc hit .202 in the Eastern League in 1986; he was brought up to the big club and hit .193 in 119 ABs, then, in 1987, hit .169 in 160 ABs.

THIS WAS A SCANDAL! A ROSTER SPOT ON A MAJOR LEAGUE BALLCLUB WAS TAKEN UP BY THE OWNER'S SON JUST SO DAD COULD FEEL PROUD!

What about the integrity of the game? What about the catcher who was better than Marc Sullivan, who may have wanted the benefits of being a big-leaguer, whose father didn't own a team? We decry affirmative action when a woman or a member of a minority group obtaines needed employment when we believe a white male was more qualified.
What was this, affimative action for owner's offspring? Where was the outcry?

In truth, I doubt that John Henry Williams IS better than the best player competing for that spot in the lowest minor league. He's not there because of his ability; he's there because he's the seed of the Splendid Splinter. I call on Bud Selig to void this contract, at once. The integrity of the game is at stake here.