Halberstam, David. The teammates; a portrait of a friendship.

HALBERSTAM, David. The teammates; a portrait of a friendship. Hyperion. 217p. illus. c2003. 0-7868-8867-9. $12,95. SA

In his latest sports book, Halberstam follows the lives of four teammates: Ted Williams, Dominic DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky, and Bobby Doerr. "For their entire careers they were basically one-city, one-organization men," playing for the Boston Red Sox beginning in the 1940s. The book begins with an odyssey in 2001, not from the clubhouse to the pitcher's mound, but from New England to Florida, where Dom and John visit the dying Ted Williams. During their trip they reminisce about their careers and their friendship. Each man overcame a humble background to become part of a great baseball team. Each man receives individual attention.

Ted Williams, for example, was a difficult and imperfect man, known for his bad tamper and X-rated language; he was tough on his wives, his children, and himself. Halberstam spent a day interviewing the 70-year-old Williams, learning more about Ted's alcoholic father, their poverty, and his mother, who was half Mexican, a fact Williams kept secret. Dom DiMaggio grew up in a strong immigrant family from Palermo. All the sons grew up to be baseball players; the most famous was Joe. But Dom, a small boy with glasses, was voted Most Valuable Player in the league in 1939. John Pesky may best be remembered for the controversial play he made in the 7th World Series game in 1946. Each man faced personal illness and family tragedy, but the four remained friends all their lives. That warmth and concern shines from the pages.

The Teammates deserves the critical praise it bas received. It will certainly satisfy sports fans, but it is also a touching biography of four strong, admirable, flawed boys of summer. Ted's X-rated language is faithfully quoted. Janet Julian, Grafton, MA