More Famous Citrus Visitors

More Famous Citrus Visitors

By: Ken Marotte, Citrus County Historical Society

“In the history of sports, there’s only been four men who stepped larger than life: Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Muhammad Ali and Joe DiMaggio.”  All four of them have either visited or lived in Citrus County.

Babe Ruth

George Herman “Babe” Ruth was a national hero to legions of baseball fans.  Most people remember his home run records but forget that he started his career as a pitcher.  Today’s pitchers are seldom expected to complete games and enjoy several days rest before their starting their next game.  Babe Ruth joined the Boston Red Sox and became the best left-handed pitcher in the American League.  He won 23 games in 1916 and again in 1917.  He could also hit home runs and requested to be shifted to the outfield so he could play more often.  He was later traded to the New York Yankees and headed south for Spring Training with the team

He became friends with fellow MLB ace pitcher “Dazzy” Vance who owned property in Citrus County.   Ruth loved fishing in the rural environment and frequently returned to area whenever he could.   He and Vance announced plans to build a sportsman’s resort in Crystal River named the Sylvanus Club in 1930.   The plans called for an airfield, clubhouse, golf course and boat rentals for customers.   While a clubhouse was completed, the other plans were shelved when Vance purchased property in Homosassa Springs.   Ruth continued to enjoy the hospitality of Citrus County after retirement.

Ted Williams was a hitting expert who played his entire career with the Boston Red Sox.  His single-season batting average of .406 still stands as a record today.   His baseball career was twice interrupted by service as a pilot in the US Navy (WWII) and Marines (Korea).   While on missions in Korea, he served as John Glenn’s wingman on several raids and survived an emergency landing when his jet was damaged by enemy flack.   Glenn later described Williams as one of the finest pilots he flew with in Korea.  After returning to Boston, Williams continued to perform as one of the game’s upper echelon hitters.  He won the American League batting title six times and managed to hit a home run on his last at-bat in 1960.

After retirement, Williams pursued his other passion, which was fishing.  A friendship with the New England based Tamposi family brought him to Citrus County.  He retired to the new Citrus Hills development in Hernando.  William’s friends urged the notoriously shy ballplayer to open a museum that chronicled his life.  He finally relented and allowed his  supporters to build the “Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame” in Hernando.  The building opened to national fanfare in 1994.   The list of attendees was a who’s-who in the sports world.  His longtime rival Joe DiMaggio traded good-natured quips with Williams.   Bob Feller, Whitey Ford, Stan Musial, and Brooks Robinson were some of the two dozen Baseball Hall of Famer’s who made the journey to Hernando.  Joe’s brother Dominic DiMaggio (Williams’ former Red Sox teammate) was a fan favorite.  Bobby Orr represented the Boston Bruins and NASCAR’s Richard Petty joined the list of celebrities.  Homosassa resident Monte Irvin, who was one of the first black baseball players signed after Jackie Robinson, was also in attendance.  Country singer Lee Greenwood provided musical entertainment

Basketball’s Michael Jordan had decided to pursue a second career as a baseball player in 1994 so the assembled legends were asked about MJ’s chances to succeed in the MLB.   Ace pitcher Bob Feller replied that “He couldn’t hit a curve ball with an ironing board” to the amusement of the crowd. 

The first induction of players into the “Hitters Hall of Fame” was held the following year.   Williams selected twenty former players who, in his estimation, had perfected the art of hitting.   He was adamant that his name would not be added to the list until after he passed away in the future.

The induction ceremony featured a list of participants that exceeded the previous year’s museum opening.  Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara traveled to Hernando to headline the event.  President Bush served as Master of Ceremonies at a private event at Andre’s Restaurant in Citrus Hills the night before the main event.  Bush, who loved baseball, had been a first baseman for the Yale team that competed in the College World Series in 1947 and 1948.  Sportscaster Bob Costas was MC for the induction of luminaries such as Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, and Stan Musial among the thirty-one Baseball Hall of Famers in attendance.  Singer Michael Bolton provided musical entertainment.

The 1995 induction ceremony represented the high point for Hernando’s Ted Williams Museum.   While new players were added to the list, the number of luminaries in attendance seemed to fade.   Some of the original legends, such as Joe DiMaggio passed away.  Williams suffered multiple strokes and his participation in the event was limited.   At 81 years old, he underwent heart surgery in 2001 and could not attend due to recuperation in a hospital.   He passed away at Citrus Memorial Hospital the following year.  Williams, according to his wishes, was inducted to his Museum after his death.

The Museum made international headlines when baseball’s all-time hits leader Pete Rose was announced as an inductee in 2003.   Unfortunately, without the presence of founder Ted Williams, the Museum closed it’s door in Hernando and was relocated to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.   Recent reports indicate that the display has closed.

Mohammed Ali

Mohammed Ali was one of the greatest boxers of all time.  If you don’t believe that statement, you could just ask him and he would loudly tell you that “I’M THE GREATEST”.  During his career, he won the Olympic Heavyweight boxing Gold Medal and was a three-time Heavyweight Champion after turning professional.  His record was 57-4 with 37 knockouts.  During this time in the ring, he was called the most recognizable athlete in the world and had fans in every continent.  Ali traveled to Citrus County to honor Ted Williams at the opening of his museum in 1994. 

A crowd was waiting for Ali as he exited his limo and rushed to meet The Champ.  He had a particular fondness for youngsters and joked with the fans.  A young lady from Ocala presented him with a key to the city and he graciously signed autographs for his fans.  Some people had been tipped off that he would be coming and brought boxing gloves for Ali to sign.   A group of special needs students approached in a single lines and he took the time to chat and greet each one of them.

Reporters noticed that Ali was suffering from the effects of his years in the ring.  His hands shook due to Parkinson’s Syndrome from the estimated 200,000 hits he had absorbed during his career.  They noted that, while Ali’s body had aged, his mind was as sharp as ever.

“Two-Ton” Tony Galento was a heavyweight boxer in every sense of the word.  His claim to fame was that he was that he knocked down Joe Louis during a title bout.  He was also known as a “colorful” boxer who later became a professional wrestler and for sparring with a bear.  He met “Happy” Helen Terelia at a club she owned in Lowell Mass.  They developed a lifelong friendship in his role as an entertainer.  When she moved to Ozello, Galento periodically stopped by to recount old times (but hopefully not fight any of the nearby bears)

Gentle Ben

Speaking about bears, a popular television show in the 1960’s featured a black bear known as “Gentle Ben”.  The series was produced by Ivan Tors, who was also instrumental in bringing “Flipper” to television.  The show featured Dennis Weaver and Clint Howard (brother of Andy Griffith’s Ron Howard) in an adaptation of a children’s book about a bear that is befriended by a family.   Gentle Ben was played by a bear named Bruno.  Bruno and co-star Clint Howard visited Homosassa Springs in 1967 as part of a publicity campaign.  Hilarity ensued when Bruno visited a local restaurant.