By Billy Crawford

Shortly after moving to Baton Rouge in 1995 to work at the Louisiana State Department of Education, I met a small group of guys in a coffee shop who loved watching sporting events as much as I did. I was so fortunate!

It was not long afterwards we started planning baseball trips. At first it included me, Steve Carter, Bridger Eglin, and Stanley Triche. We began by attending spring training games in the Tampa area.

After retiring, we decided to start traveling to different cities to watch Major League Baseball games. Then our goal was to attend a game in as many different parks as possible.

These were really good times–good friends, good weather, and lazy afternoons watching baseball with a hot dog and cold Brewski. Good Memories!

This reminded me of our trip to Fenway Park. Fenway is one of the most beautiful parks, situated in downtown Boston with the Green Monster dominating the left field wall. What I remember most though was reading the large Ted Williams plaque located under the stands behind first base.

In 1941 was posted William’s .406 batting average. In 1942 he won his first Triple Crown. Then, he served the next three years as a naval aviator during World War II. He returned to the Red Sox and was voted the Most Valuable in the 1947 World Series and won his second Triple Crown.

He returned to active duty for portions of the 1952 and 1953 seasons as a Marine combat aviator in the Korean War. In 1957 and 1958 at the ages of 39 and 40, he was the American League batting champion for the fifth and sixth time.

He retired in 1960. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966, in his first year of eligibility.

I was amazed by these amazing accomplishments as I read the plaque all those years ago. I still am!