* Lest we forget: J.D. Salinger

January 29, 2010 · 2 comments

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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Tagged as: Bob Uecker, J.D. Salinger

{ 2 comments }

1 Robert Loy January 29, 2010 at 7:56 pm

What I want to know is why the ever-litigious Salinger didn’t sue Bill Kinsella over being included in “Shoeless Joe.” And if he was okay with it why did they change it for the movie?
Thanks,
Robert Loy

2 Robert Loy January 29, 2010 at 2:56 pm

What I want to know is why the ever-litigious Salinger didn’t sue Bill Kinsella over being included in “Shoeless Joe.” And if he was okay with it why did they change it for the movie?
Thanks,
Robert Loy

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