Yesterday in our weekly arts report (do you get it? sign up here) I linked to this commentary from local baseball historian Bill Swank.
In the U-T, Swank argued that the waterfront needs a sculpture of baseball great Ted Williams, who grew up in San Diego and began his baseball career here with the minor-league Padres in the 1930s. (Swank also made that argument in our Q&A last year.)
Here’s Swank on the open space planned along Harbor Drive where Lane Field, once a baseball stadium, has become a parking lot:
There is also at issue the choice of appropriate public art for this newly created park area.
I believe it is incumbent upon the port district to recognize the significance of this historic site. Lane Field was the original home of the Pacific Coast League Padres from 1936 though 1957. Before that, it was variously known as YMCA Field, Navy Field and Sports Field. Baseball was first played at this location almost 100 years ago. …
I predict that a statue of “The Kid” would become an instant iconic San Diego landmark.
Also, I’d missed this post this week over in KPBS’s Culture Lust blog where freelancer Randy Dotinga (who also pens a number of things for VOSD) rounded up a few historical tidbits of local Williams lore.
Seems most of the commenters on the U-T commentary and on Randy’s post think the statue’s a great idea. What do you think?
I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a line directly at kelly.bennett@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.325.0531 and follow me on Twitter: @kellyrbennett.