“But immortality is nontransferable. The papers said that the other players, and even the umpires on the field, begged him to come out and acknowledge us in some way, but he never had and did not now. Gods do not answer letters.” – JOHN UPDIKE, author of Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu published in the New Yorker, The New Yorker magazine publishes Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu, an article by 28 year-old John Updike which chronicles Ted Williams’ last game in the major leagues. The future Pulitzer Prize-winning author, among the 10,000 fans to watch the fabled game in Boston, ends the much-celebrated baseball essay with, “Gods do not answer letters,” as an explanation of why the 41 year-old superstar did not acknowledge the Fenway faithful after homering in his final major league at-bat.

On October 22, 1960 — “But immortality is nontransferable. The papers said that the other players, and even the umpires on the field, begged him to come out and acknowledge us in some way, but he never had and did not now. Gods do not answer letters.” – JOHN UPDIKE, author of Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu published in the New Yorker, The New Yorker magazine publishes Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu, an article by 28 year-old John Updike which chronicles Ted Williams’ last game in the major leagues. The future Pulitzer Prize-winning author, among the 10,000 fans to watch the fabled game in Boston, ends the much-celebrated baseball essay with, “Gods do not answer letters,” as an explanation of why the 41 year-old superstar did not acknowledge the Fenway faithful after homering in his final major league at-bat.

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Sources:
Baseball Reference October 22
National Pastime October 22
Retro Sheet
Hall of Fame
SABR Games Project
Replay The Game