Eddie Waitkus

The Natural

 

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The Rehab Experience

 

Bernard Malamud will immortalize the shooting incident in his novel, "The Natural", which will later become a very successful movie starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs.

 

(Click on image to enlarge)

Eddie Waitkus during his rehab

at Clearwater, Florida

 

Waitkus was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital with a bullet in his chest.  The bullet had punctured his lung and lodged next to his spine and was near his heart.  He was given two transfusions but surgeons were afraid to remove the bullet because of its location.

As it turned out, Waitkus will have to have four operations before he is able to go to Clearwater, Florida for rehabilitation. It is while he is in rehabilitation that he will meet Carol Webel.

In 1951 Eddie and Carol will walk down the isle together. They will have two children, Veronica ("Ronnie") born is 1953 and now living in Marshfield, Mass., and Edward Jr. ("Ted"), born in 1956 an Attorney living in Boulder, Colorado.

 

(click on image to enlarge)

Eddie Waitkus

 and 

Carol Webel 

in 1951 Wedding Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the marriage didn't last and the couple were divorced in the early 1960's.

 

 
 
 

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   Can't Cry Hard Enough !

 

 

The Book

The Poster

 

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John Theodore has created a book that takes you into the life of Eddie Waitkus.  If you are a fan of baseball history you must add this book to your collection.

The DVD

The VHS

The Soundtrack

 

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Home

Early Years

Shooter

1949

Rehab

Catch

Final Years

Success

Stories

Notes

Guest Book

Sources

Links

Posters

Movies

WaitkusNet

This site was last updated on 01/02/2004

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