Ted Williams and the 1969 Washington Senators - by Ted Leavengood (Paperback)

About the Book

Heading into their ninth season, the expansion Washington Senators had never won more than 76 games in a season. The team even seemed to be backsliding, as the 1968 season brought 31 more losses than wins. Desperate to try something new, Senators owner Bob Short hired Hall of Famer Ted Williams to manage the team. Williams sparked the Senators to the best record for a Washington team since the old Senators (now the Minnesota Twins) had won 87 games in 1945. The Splendid Splinter oversaw dramatic improvements in both offense and pitching, with Dick Bosman even leading the league in ERA.

Book Synopsis

Heading into their ninth season, the expansion Washington Senators had never won more than 76 games in a season. New Senators owner Bob Short hired Hall of Famer Ted Williams to manage the team. Williams sparked the Senators to their only winning record for a Washington team since 1952. This book recounts that 1969 season in-depth.

Review Quotes

"Ted Williams and the 1969 Washington Senators does not hit a false note on Ted Williams and digs into interesting aspects of the team and Williams as their manager. It is good work."-Bill Nowlin, author of numerous books on Ted Williams, including Ted Williams at War, and is Vice President of the Society for American Baseball Research; "The book brings back that time so vividly. I remember it so well, it's amazing."-Dick Bosman, former 1969 Senators pitching great and current pitching coach for the Tampa Bay Rays "Ted Williams and the 1969 Washington Senators is very interesting, well researched, and well written."-Mike Epstein, member of the 1969 Senators baseball team

About the Author

Ted Leavengood is managing editor and a regular contributor of seamheads.com. He is the co-host of "Outta the Parkway," which broadcasts weekly on Blogtalk Radio as part of the Seamheads Podcast Network and is the author of two other books on Washington baseball history.