Should there be a rain delay (or a pause for injury) tonight during the Mets-Padres game, flip over to your PBS affiliate at 9 o’clock EDT. Whatever the state of the skies, set your DVR accordingly, either for its premiere airing or later in the week when it’s scheduled to be rerun at some off hour, because you should definitely catch the latest installment of American Masters, Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived. If you’re a baseball fan, you already kind of know the story, but when you watch this crisply paced one-hour film, you will be glad you got to know it in detail. You’ll meet Williams the Mexican-American, Williams the young San Diegan, Williams the toast of New England, Williams the war hero, Williams who didn’t doff his cap when his playing days were over, Williams who fished like he hit and Williams who hit like nobody else. Even if his career was before your time, you’ll understand why his story needed to be told anew in the 21st century.
And, to be parochial about it, you should see what a Mets fan can do on PBS, because this edition of American Masters was directed by Nick Davis, not only a talented auteur but a lover of all things orange and blue (including this blog). Nick did a great job incorporating modern touches into a classic baseball tale and does all Mets fans proud as he spotlights the quintessential Red Sox legend.
Even if he wasn’t a Mets fan, Nick’s movie is worth watching. It’s that much better because he’s one of us. Seriously, check it out.