SubscribeLest we forget: J.D. Salinger
How often was his seminal novel of youth struggling for identity and acceptance mistaken for a baseball story? Maybe that’s because of former major league catcher — and later TV personality and broadcaster — Bob Uecker’s homonymic book. (Quick aside: In the mid-90s, I worked part time for one of those statistical companies that track every pitch of every game. I was finishing up on a contest between the Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers in which the hosts embarrassed their guests with a blowout win. I encountered a weary-looking Uecker, the Brewers’ color guy, at the press elevator. Perhaps it was because we were the only two waiting, but I felt compelled to say something. I don’t recall the exact words, but it was along the lines of “tough game.” Well, he went off on an amusing foul-mouthed tirade about the Brewers that even I found somewhat shocking. True story.)
Salinger died Wednesday at the age of 91. It might come as a surprise to some that Salinger is of Jewish ancestry: his grandfather was a rabbi.
There actually is some baseball reference in Salinger’s book. Come on, all you English majors out there — can you remember it?
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