Claus for a cause: Bill Swank, a local baseball historian who doubles as Santa Claus during the holidays, took his campaign to get a statue of Ted Williams erected at downtown’s former Lane Field to the S.D. Port Commission board meeting Tuesday. Guards allowed the red-suited “Baseball Santa” to enter, but minus his candy cane-striped baseball bat and his “Occupy Lane Field” protest sign.
Swank delivered his plea Santa-style:
“T’was the night before baseball
and all through the town
Not a creature was stirring
when Santa took the mound.
He told the board members
I have a goal,
a statue of Ted Williams…
or I’ll give you all coal!”
Swank elicited a few chuckles but no comment on the statue. Given the current cold snap, coal might actually be much appreciated.
Bill Swank: Baseball Santa 
This is a great idea. What can we do to help make it a reality?
Hi Dex,
Thanks for your kind words. I’m a political neophyte, unaccustomed to art commissions, board meetings and the “occupy public property” movement. For the past 15 years, I have peacefully attended many meetings in an effort to preserve the historic importance of Lane Field, the original home of the San Diego Padres.
For five years, I have campaigned on behalf of a statue of native son Ted Williams to represent all the men who played for the Padres. Ted really was a kid when he played for the brand new Padres in 1936 and 1937. At the end of the ’36 season, he returned to Hoover High school to complete his senior year.
I am very encouraged by recent developments in the design of the bayfront park at the Lane Field site. The Port Commission has asked the developer to incorporate baseball in the design. It is my understanding that a portion of the money used to develop the site must be used for public art.
Hopefully this means a statue of Ted Williams in Padres pinstripes will be erected at the corner of Broadway and Harbor Drive.
Public support is appreciated.
Art committees do not understand the importance of Ted Williams. When I appeared before the Port’s art committee in 2008, I thought I was talking to a room full of stuffed owls.
I believe the Port Commissioners do have an appreciation for San Diego’s “Kid” and the significance of Lane Field.
Yours in baseball, Bill “Baseball Santa” Swank
Hi Dex, Thanks for your kind words.
I’m a political neophyte, unaccustomed to art commissions, board meetings and the “occupy public property” movement. For the past 15 years, I have peacefully attended many meetings in an effort to preserve the historic importance of Lane Field, the original home of the San Diego Padres. For five years, I have campaigned on behalf of a statue of native son Ted Williams to represent all the men who played for the Padres. Ted really was a kid when he played for the brand new Padres in 1936 and 1937. At the end of the ’36 season, he returned to Hoover High school to complete his senior year. I am very encouraged by recent developments in the design of the bayfront park at the Lane Field site. The Port Commission has asked the developer to incorporate baseball in the design. It is my understanding that a portion of the money used to develop the site must be used for public art. Hopefully this means a statue of Ted Williams in Padres pinstripes will be erected at the corner of Broadway and Harbor Drive. Public support is appreciated. Art committees do not understand the importance of Ted Williams. When I appeared before the Port’s art committee in 2008, I thought I was talking to a room full of stuffed owls. I believe the Port Commissioners do have an appreciation for San Diego’s “Kid” and the significance of Lane Field. Yours in baseball, Bill “Baseball Santa” Swank
Greetings Santa Swank!!! …This is Anthony Ortega. I’m working on a forthcoming book on Mexican-American in baseball from a San Diego perspective. I need your help on this project, I’ve tried on several occasions to contact members in the Mexican-American community to contribute photos for this book. A few have contributed some photos but that’s the extent of it. I am wondering if you can guide me to a university archive and historical society archive that may have some photos in relations to the Mexican-American community and their involvement in San Diego’s history in baseball. I need pictures that show Mexican-American baseball players and teams from professional to minor league, from community baseball leagues to military baseball, and I want to include Mexican-American women who played baseball – all in the San Diego area. I really need your help on this project. Or maybe you may have pictures of players and baseball teams in your personal collection that could play a significant role and contribution in this book. Please contact me by e-mail…with a prompt response. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Mrr. Swank,
I am a niece of Manual (Nay) Hernandez, (Great Niece), Philp (Chappo) Hernandez was my grandfather. Can you please contact me by email or cell. I would love to get ahold of a copy of Echo of Lane Field. Tina Hernandez is my great aunt and I would love to find that side of the family again. My youngest daughter is following in the step foots of that side of the family with softball, as I have and coach high school and travel for san diego team.