Baseball and the Washington Senators found themselves at a crossroads at the end of the 1968 season.  Jerome Holtzman said the game had become "dull and lacking in excitement," and attendance in Washington fell to their lowest levels after race riots and another last place finish.  There was growing concern that DC was just a "sleepy southern town," that could not support baseball.  The mound was lowered, the strike zone reduced to pump new excitement into the game.  Ted Williams came to Washington and woke the sleeping giant.
 
The book Ted Williams and the 1969 Senators, by local SABR member Ted Leavengood, examines how these plot lines played out, how Ted Williams as a manager fit into the context of the changing game and the changes he wrought in the team.  Utlimately it is an examination of what was wrong in DC and how owner Bob Short undercut manager Williams as he prepared to scuttle the team.  Bill Nowlin, SABR Vice President and noted Ted Williams expert says the book, "Does not hit a false note on Ted Williams...It is good work."
 
The book was the top selling McFarland baseball book in February where it is available as well as via Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.  The author is a regular columnist for the seamheads web site, http://www.seamheads.com/blog  Extensive excerts from the book can be found on this site that supports the good work of numerous SABR members from around the country, and is home to the Simulated Historical League where Bill James currently holds a commanding lead.

Ted will also be discussing his book at our November 14 Talkin' Baseball event.