In the 1940's, the Boston Red Sox was one of the best teams in baseball, with Ted Williams, Dominic DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr in the lineup, as well as a friendship that would last a lifetime. In 2001, Dominic DiMaggio and Johnny Pesky drive 1300 miles to pay a last visit to Ted Williams, who is dying. The book is an account by a master baseball writer of the beginning of their friendship, their lives in baseball, and their final time together. Of particular interest to me, a St. Louisan, is the account of the 7th game of the 1946 World Series between Boston and the Cardinals at Sportsman's Park - which Boston, of course, barely lost. They would not win a Series in modern times until the 2004 series, again against St' Louis (they swept). A fine and touching story about a time when baseball and friendships seemed to be more enduring. Halberstam may be the best baseball writer there is. ( )

It's October 2001. Johnny Pesky, Dominic DiMaggio and Dick Flavin are on their way to Florida. Friend Bobby Doerr unfortunately cannot make the trip. Their purpose? One final visit with Ted Williams, friend and baseball legend, who is very close to death.

Admittedly, I don't know very much about baseball and the great players of yore. Of course, I know their names and that they are revered, but I don't have a brain for statistics and I wasn't alive to see how these players got to be the legends they are today. I've watched baseball my entire life, but not MLB until college. I bought this book for my dad a number of years ago - he being the man that instilled a love of baseball in me - and he never read it (my mother claims he's "saving it for retirement"), so I've been in a baseball mood (having watched the 18+ hours of Ken Burns' "Baseball" documentary) and decided to pick it up while I waited for my boyfriend to finish our book club book. I liked learning more about these men - they are, after all, the greats from my team. And it felt appropriate to read after the recent passing of Dominic DiMaggio - he comes across as the biggest hero of this tale. However, something was missing for me. I can't put my finger on it, though. I think perhaps I am too woefully ignorant of these men's backstories that I couldn't fully appreciate the story of their friendship. For me, this book almost felt like the bare bones of the story - yes, there is information about each man's baseball career, and his childhood, and his life post-baseball, and how they've managed to stay in touch, but something was still lacking. I'm definitely glad I read it - I appreciate each player more now and I want to expand my knowledge about them. ( )

This book is a short biography of Ted Williams, Dominic Dimaggio, Johnny Pesky, and Bobby Doerr, four men who formed lifelong friendships while playing for the Boston Red Sox. I generally am not interested in reading about baseball players' personal lives, and this book is no exception, its best parts are when they talk about baseball. Halberstam is far too worshipful of his subjects to make this anything more than a cute little book. I’m particularly fond of Dom Dimaggio though, the type of man and ball player he is in the shadow of both his brother and Ted Williams. ( )

Insight into relations among a famous foursome. ( )

This was a quick enjoyable listen.

I liked the story about Ted Williams signing a baseball for a pitcher who struck him out with the ball.

He then went on to hit a huge home run against the same pitcher.

As he was rounding the bases he said:
"If you can find it, I'll sign that son-of-a-bitch too!" ( )