The Wingmen : The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Williams

Summary: CASEY Award Finalist for Best Baseball Book of the YearThe untold story of the unique fifty-year friendship between two American icons: John Glenn, the unassailable pioneer of space exploration and Ted Williams, indisputably the greatest hitter in baseball history.It was 1953, the Korean War in full throttle, when two men—already experts in their fields—crossed the fabled 38th Parallel into Communist airspace aboard matching Panther jets. John Glenn was an ambitious operations officer with fifty-nine World War II combat missions under his belt. His wingman was Ted Williams, the two-time American League Triple Crown winner who, at the pinnacle of his career, had been inexplicably recalled to active service in the United States Marine Corps. Together, the affable flier and the notoriously tempestuous left fielder soared into North Korea, creating a death-defying bond. Although, over the next half century, their contrasting lives were challenged by exhilarating highs and devastating lows, that bond would endure.Through unpublished letters, unit diaries, declassified military records, manuscripts, and new and illuminating interviews, The Wingmen reveals an epic and intimate portrait of two heroes—larger-than-life and yet ineffably human, ordinary men who accomplished the extraordinary. At its heart, this was a conflicted friendship that found commonality in mutual respect—throughout the perils of war, sports dominance, scientific innovation, cutthroat national politics, the burden of celebrity, and the meaning of bravery. Now, author Adam Lazarus sheds light on a largely forgotten chapter in these legends’ lives—as singular individuals, inspiring patriots, and eventually, however improbable, profoundly close friends. TWO AMERICAN ICONS: It doesn’t get much more American than baseball and astronauts. Ted Williams is commonly considered the greatest hitter of all time. Immortalized in numerous films and books, including The Right Stuff and Hidden Figures, John Glenn is the greatest aviator and possibly the greatest explorer in American history.A UNIQUE BOND: John Glenn—NASA astronaut, US Senator, and presidential candidate—and Ted Williams—Major League Baseball All Star—forged their friendship when they served together during the Korean War. This fraternal bond between soldiers was a brotherhood that lasted their entire lives.A NEW PERSPECTIVE: Adam Lazarus characterizes each of these American heroes—together and separately—as no other author has before, and tell the story of the incredible fraternal bond between soldiers, the demands of fame and public service, and the resilience of friendship. HUMANIZES RATHER THAN MYTHOLOGIZES: The Wingmen accurately portrays Glenn and Williams not only as remarkable, brave men, but also as human beings with fears, feelings, and shortcomings. And it is within that shared plane of realism, rather than mythology, that John Glenn’s and Ted Williams’ friendship comes into focus. They were not untouchable gods; they were ordinary men, flawed but capable of extraordinary feats.NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN: Adam Lazarus unearths exciting new research, including unpublished letters, diaries and manuscripts, declassified military documents, and other never-before-cited materials, to chronicle the unique and exceptional relationship between two twentieth century American icons.INCLUDES PHOTOS AND LETTERS: In addition to a fascinating photo insert, The Wingmen includes letters and diaries so readers learn about these icons in their own words.FOR FANS OF: Baseball history; NASA and space travel history; Korean War and nonfiction military history; American politics; readers of The Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team That Helped Win World War II by Anne R. Keene; The Kid by Ben BradleeFOR READERS OF UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP STORIES such as Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World (58k copies sold) and Gordon S. Wood’s Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (59k copies sold)ANNIVERSARY TIE-INS: 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of both Ted Williams and John Glenn’s service together as well as the 70th anniversary of the ending of the Korean War. 2023 also marks the 25th anniversary of John Glenn’s remarkable return to space at the age of 77ACCOMPLISHECD AUTHOR: Adam Lazarus has written highly-acclaimed non-fiction books on sports history. He has taken the research skills and access he has gained throughout his career and utilized them for this project. Lazarus’ writing has appeared in ESPN the Magazine, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bleacher Report, and USA Today, among other publications.Quotes:Praise for The Wingmen "Historian Lazarus (Best of Rivals) provides an affable account of the war-forged friendship between Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams and astronaut-turned-politician John Glenn. As a marine fighter pilot, Williams became acquainted with veteran flying ace Glenn during the Korean War. Cheerful Glenn was initially wary of the quarrelsome, brooding Williams, but the pair developed a tight bond built around a near-death experience.... For the rest of their lives, the pair maintained a strong bond. Drawing on interviews and archival research, Lazarus narrates his story in an easy and accessible style It adds up to a touching and highly readable story of male friendship." —Publishers Weekly“In many ways, John Glenn and Ted Williams were dissimilar. But they shared the essential traits of bravery, loyalty, devotion to excellence, and despite political differences, authentic patriotism. Carefully researched and skillfully rendered, this is the compelling story of the enduring bond between two genuine American heroes.” —Bob Costas, award-winning sportscaster on The Wingmen “The detail in this book gave me a whole new perspective on the bond between John Glenn and Ted Williams, one forged through combat missions in Korea and which lasted the rest of their lives. Adam Lazarus captures not just a great American friendship, but also a great American ideal: that for all that makes two people like John Glenn and Ted Williams different, there are special bonds that unite us through service and patriotism.” —Mark Kelly, U.S. Senator, astronaut, U.S. Navy combat pilot on The Wingmen “Adam Lazarus has given us a prize: This is an account of two American heroes who must not be forgotten--John Glenn and Ted Williams. They shared combat duty during the Korean War in exceptionally dangerous duty and then returned home to write their place as space legends and baseball legends. I cannot imagine two more gifted and heroic Americans and I will always treasure my personal relationship with both. Generations to come must honor them forever.” —Tom Brokaw, author of The Greatest Generation on The Wingmen“Of all that has been written about ‘The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived,’ Adam Lazarus’ portrayal of Captain Ted Williams, USMC, and a friendship forged in war with John Glenn is a remarkable story told in great detail that makes The Wingmen an automatic member in the starting lineup of any and all tales of Number 9’s incredible life.” —Mike Barnicle, senior contributor, Morning Joe on The Wingmen“I thought I knew the story of the Splendid Splinter, Ted Williams, on the baseball diamond and battlefields. Just like I thought I knew all there was about Old Magnet Tail, John Glenn. Wrong on both counts. But thankfully Adam Lazarus saved my tail with his splendid narrative on these two American icons and their extraordinary friendship.” —Larry Tye, author of Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend and Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Lion on The Wingmen“In the air with Captain Teddy Ballgame, tight on Major John Glenn’s wing, dropping bombs and dodging flak, is about as thrilling as reading gets for this baseball fan. A terrific, surprising book about two American heroes who trusted each other with their lives and became the unlikeliest of friends.” —Robert Lipsyte An Accidental Sportswriter on The Wingmen“Lazarus does a wonderful job of explaining the particulars of this relationship and the reciprocal esteem in which these two authentic American heroes held each other. A gripping, well-told “Only-in-America” tale.” —Spitball, the Literary Baseball Magazine on The WingmenThe Wingmen —DOD Reads“Lazarus draws on original and previously published interviews, declassified documents, and personal papers (including private letters) to tell this touching story. One standout feature is the way he frequently quotes from Williams’ and Glenn’s own writing, putting them in dialogue with one another and allowing them to speak for themselves. This gives readers a sense of intimate familiarity with the men that a recitation of what they did and when they did it could never provide. Quite simply a wonderful book.” —Booklist“A tour de force that covers their time together as fighter pilots in the Korean conflict as well as other high and low lights of their respective lives and careers and their decades-long friendship. At their peak, Williams and Glenn were arguably the two most famous men in America . . . American icons with completely different personalities. Williams was a loud, profane, thrice-married atheist and very sensitive to real or perceived slights. Glenn was quiet, thoughtful, deeply religious, and married to his childhood sweetheart Annie for 73 years. You could easily write an entire book just about one of these guys, but Lazarus has managed to deftly combine their two lives into one nifty, entertaining package.” —Royals ReviewPraise for Adam Lazarus “A nostalgic trip down East Capitol Street to RFK Stadium, a memory lane peppered with familiar nicknames… and important victories and milestones.” —The Washington Post on Hail to the Redskins "Through extensive research and interviews, they can easily loop the tales together, and the momentum they build en rote is palpable, an achievement