The first time Jim Bunning ever pitched to [Ted] Williams, he struck him out three times, the one and only time I believe in his career that he was ever struck out three times in one game. This was the first series of the year. In those days, it was about a month before you played a team again. Well, Williams is hitting .450. [This was 1957. Williams finished the season with a league-leading .388 batting average. Bunning finished the season at 20-8.] We talked to guys on the sidelines, and they said, "That Williams is going nuts."

We said, "What do you mean?"

They said, "Well, he pretends every pitcher is Bunning. He can't wait to get to Bunning."

That second series, it wasn't Bunning's turn to pitch in the three games. So another month goes by, we go back to Boston. Williams is still hitting .420. They said, "Man, is Bunning going to pitch? That Williams is driving us crazy."

Well, one of them had the flu, so they didn't meet that time, either. So another month goes by, and they come back to Detroit. Ted predicts in the morning paper, "I'm going to hit three home runs off Bunning today, including one on the roof." That's in the paper before the game even starts. We go out there, and the first time up, he hits a bullet into the lower deck. But we get two runs. The second time up, he hits a bullet into the upper deck. Two to two. We get another run. The third time up, it's the seventh inning, we're ahead 3-2, there's one out, nobody on base.

Jack Tighe was our manager, a very short-time manager. He won't win any awards at all in any of the books, but he stood up-and I was catching the game-he stood up on the dugout step and says, "Walk the big donkey."

Now there's one out and nobody on base. A 3-2 game. That's something you just don't do, walk a guy to bring the lead run up. Jackie Jensen, who leads the league in runs batted in [Jensen drove in 103 for the season] is the next hitter. We walk Williams. Jensen hits into a double play, we're out of the inning.

Top of the ninth rolls around, same identical situation, same identical score. He walks him again. Jensen hits into a double play, we win 3-2. You know, you're supposed to be tossed out of the game if you throw your bat? Williams threw his bat both times, as far as he could throw that sucker. He was so mad.

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