A Giant Thank-you

Edited by Alexander Wolff

September 11, 1995

Matt Williams has so impressed his newest fans that they probably don't care that he has been struggling since spending 11 weeks recovering from a broken foot. Williams became a favorite of Moran Masai tribesmen when they learned he had donated an autographed jersey and other equipment to a Merced, Calif., group holding an auction to raise money for a medical mission to Kenya this summer. As thanks, the tribe sent Williams a hunting spear, which he considered using at the plate. "Nothing else is getting me on base," he said. On Friday, Williams used a regular bat—and perhaps another Masai gift, a ceremonial good-luck wildebeest's tail—to hit a two-run homer in a 6-5 defeat of the New York Mets.