In celebration of its centennial, The New Yorker revisits classic essays from its history. Louisa Thomas highlights John Updike's iconic piece "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu," which reflects on Ted Williams's final game with the Boston Red Sox. Thomas notes the importance of subtleties in both writing and sports, emphasizing how Updike's meticulous word choices parallel Williams's precision in baseball. This connection underscores the skillful artistry in both fields, illustrated through examples of how small changes can impact the outcome, similar to shifts in performance on the field.
Marginal differences really matter, and it's those marginal differences that are the difference between a pop-up, a long fly, and a home run. Updike really understood that, and so did Williams.
In honor of The New Yorker's centennial, the magazine's staff writers are pulling out some classics from the long history of the publication.
Collection
[
|
...
]