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From: petec@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Opening day!
Message-ID: <6444@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 5-Apr-84 20:36:01 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.6444
Posted: Thu Apr  5 20:36:01 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Apr-84 05:44:46 EST
References: <144@ganehd.UUCP>, <668@pyuxa.UUCP> <7277@cornell.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 24

>>>  I'll ask a question that has often occurred
>>> to me: Has anyone else out there read either (or both)
>>> of the wonderful baseball Abstracts by Bill James? ....

Yes, he is a good writer, and it is a wonderful book. I always come
away with the feeling that he is totally fair about his observations.

>>> James has gotten me - a lifetime Red Sox Fan and devout supporter of
>>> all things Bostonian - to believe that Joe DiMaggio was probably
>>> a better player than Ted Williams! 

Now, this is interesting; I haven't read the books as thoroughly as 
you (I only have 1983 edition), so I would be interested in a pointer
to his argument. I have always thought Ted Williams was about the best
hitter that ever lived (I didn't say greatest player; DiMaggio was better
all around); Williams lifetime stats are amazing enough alone, but when you
consider the fact that he gave up *5* of his prime years to fight in 2 wars,
you begin to wonder just how good his stats could have been. He would have
had a decent shot at Ruth's home run record.
-- 
Call-Me:   Pete Cottrell, Univ. of Md. Comp. Sci. Dept.
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