Over the Monster: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Around SBN: Has Kentucky Improved Since the Non-Conference Season?

John Updike

John Hoyer Updike (March 18, 1932 – January 27, 2009) passed away today. Novelist, poet, critic - genuine man of letters.

Why, you may ask, is this at all relevant to OTM? Because his article "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu" just might be the best piece of baseball writing.

Here's a taste:

Greatness necessarily attracts debunkers, but in Williams' case the hostility has been systematic and unappeasable. His basic offense against the fans has been to wish that they weren't there. Seeking a perfectionist's vacuum, he has quixotically desired to sever the game from the ground of paid spectatorship and publicity that supports it. Hence his refusal to tip his cap to the crowd or turn the other cheek to newsmen. It has been a costly theory—it has probably cost him, among other evidences of good will, two Most Valuable Player awards, which are voted by reporters—but he has held to it from his rookie year on. While his critics, oral and literary, remained beyond the reach of his discipline, the opposing pitchers were accessible, and he spanked them to the tune of .406 in 1941. He slumped to .356 in 1942 and went off to war.

 

R.I.P.

 

0 recs  |  Comment 3 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

My wife would tell you “The Impossible Dream” is the best piece of baseball writing ever, but Updike’s work was pretty good too.

by RSNexile on Jan 27, 2009 11:48 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I like how he says he "slumped" in '42.

Just goes to show you how incredible the Splinter was.

The rhythm is the bass and the bass is the treble

by DirtySouthSox on Jan 28, 2009 6:56 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

If I'm not mistaken

The first time I ever heard of the man was years ago when reading an article in the New Yorker. I was hooked.

If there’s a God and a heaven, John Updike has just been anointed God’s scribe.

" PLEASE! CHANGE THE PATCH! "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Jan 29, 2009 8:47 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Over The Monster, an SB Nation community that delivers news and analysis while encouraging discussion regarding everything regarding the Boston Red Sox organization. OTM was founded Feb. 22, 2005.
Start posting about the Red Sox »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Einstein_small
The STI List
Small
Johnny D.
39135485-59af19dbb26654095f910f34176af094_4ae8a81e-scaled_small
Predictions Group
Small
Red Sox sign Joe Nelson
Einstein_small
AL EAST WAR Projections - Positional
39135485-59af19dbb26654095f910f34176af094_4ae8a81e-scaled_small
Cameron Overpaid?
Anthony_rizzo_small
The Tale of The 1985 St Louis Cardinals
Small
Brief Sabermetric Primer: GPA
Small
Brief Sabermetric Primer: IsoP
Small
OT: The Red Sox of the NFL - Go Saints!!!

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Managers

N32606527_32219358_6072_small Randy Booth

Editors

Master_shake_small Allen Chace

Rorscach_small 0157H7

Red_seat_small Ben Buchanan

Authors

Zissou551_small SoxDevil

Red_sox_logo_small Logan Lietz

Photo_small wolf9309