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 A Life Remembered
A special section published by the Globe July 6, 2002.
An appreciation
His .406 season
The greatest hitter
Writers spelled trouble
Ted's All-Star games
The longest home run
The later years
The fisherman
The San Diego years
The last game
Talk of the town

 Lasting Impressions
A special section published by the Globe July 22, 2002.
Why we remember
The science of hitting
Legends' tales
Red Sox' tales

 Splendid Portraits
John Updike, David Halberstam and Peter Gammons capture small parts of a life that in many ways was beyond words
'Hub fans bid Kid Adieu'
Day with a great one
Williams was a big hit

 Photo galleries
The life of Ted Williams
Ted Williams memorabilia
Fans' reactions


Ted's will
Cyronics pact
Compare his signatures

Download wallpaper

 Message boards
Tributes to Ted
The remains debate

 Other stories

Additional stories

 Globe Archives
The Kid
    A Shaughnessy tribute
    from August, 1994
Tunnel of love
    Dedication of the
    Ted Williams Tunnel
    in December, 1995
It went far away
    50th anniversary
    of longest home run
    in Fenway history
Ted's the star attraction
    Williams' appearance
    at the 1999 All-Star
    game at Fenway
More archives

MESSAGE BOARD
Ted Williams, 1918-2002

Legendary Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams, the last baseball player to hit above .400, has died. Share your thoughts about The Kid.

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Page 17


There'll never be anyone like him again, one of the reasons being a "Ted Williams" of today would be signed to a shoe contract by the time he reached the big leagues, would have an agent and a PR guy, and would never, never speak his mind for fear of spoiling his chances at more outside money. Rest easy, Ted, you broke the mold, and you were the greatest all-round hitter who ever lived.

Steve, Herndon, VA


I'll say about Ted Williams what Bob Hope said about Charlie Chaplin: "We were fortunate to have lived in his time."

Kevin , Rumford, RI


I grew up in Brockton, MA. He was our hero, saw him play in Fenway Park several times. He came to Brockton at the Club National and I saw him there he spoke to us seemed so big. I met him in Ft. Myers the 1st yr the Red Sox were there but at almost 50 was still in awe of him. All I could say was hello Mr Williams. When I think back to my first games in Fenway we always had our eyes on him. When he came to bat everyone stopped and watched. As a Marine later on in life what he did 2 tours of duty he is a REAL HERO in many way. A true legend THANKS for everything TEDDY BALLGAME you were and always will be my greatest hero. You'll be missed and may God be with you.

Mike , Jupiter,FL.


Baseball and the world will miss Ted Williams. A complex man who did what he thought was right A player who excelled in hitting back when baseball was a game and not the business it is today. Godspeed, Ted.

Bud, flat rock


I never saw Ted play but he provided me with one of my greatest thrills at Fenway. It was during an Old-Timers game in the early 1980's. Seeing him come out of the dugout was something else. He was swarmed by the media. The highlight of the day was when he was at bat. He still had that famous swing that I had seen many times in old film clips. Baseball fans will forever wonder what kind of numbers he would have put up if he had not gone in the military. But, his decision to serve his country was of much greater importance, which just added to the legend. Good bye to a great man.

Rick, Topsham, ME


Since his playing days superceded my youth, i can only echo what others have stated about his baseball career,as well as rely on old film clips. From the start what you perceived about Williams was his smooth and relaxed swing. It seems to me,in many areas of baseball life, he was a perfectionist, including his dealings of discord with the press. Any slight,or perceived slight was magnified in his mind. The character of Ted Williams will never be forgotten, as he gave time and money to charitable causes, without ever seeking one moment of publicity. His heart was the only thing as great as his baseball swing.

Ron , Yakima Washington


I was born 9 years after Ted Williams retired, and obviously never got to see him play in a real game. My mom, a huge Red Sox fan, was born and raised in Maine, grew up listening to Ted Williams on the radio, but also never got to see him play live. By the time she was an independent adult and went to NY and Boston to see some games, Ted had retired. In 1981 or 82 (I can't remember which for sure)they had an Old Timers' Day at Fenway before the real game and Ted actually played in it. My family went, and for my mom this was finally her chance to actually see Ted play--20 years past retirement or not. Well, the game started and my mom, who has the smallest bladder in the world, had to go to the bathroom as usual. Ted's team was batting, but he was something like 6 batters into the order. Thinking it safe, my mom made her getaway to the bathroom. Wouldn't you know it, Ted's team made a run and he came to bat that inning (and flied out). Five minutes later, knowing nothing, my mom returned and said, "When's Ted due up?" When we informed her that he had already batted, my mom cried as hard as I've ever seen her cry--and she doesn't cry that much. Unfortunately, we kids (we were all boys) weren't all that sympathetic because we reasoned that if she didn't go to the bathroom so darned much she wouldn't have missed it (I'm in my 30s now and realize how stupid that was). Only after a few minutes did it dawn on me that my mom had gone her entire baseball fan life (40 years at that point) without once seeing her favorite player--the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived--bat. I felt profoundly hollow at that point. But fate intervened again. Before the game was over, Ted managed to come to bat again. And he struck out--badly. Most people in the stands either chuckled or sighed--but not my mom. She clapped furiously as if he had hit a home run. I honestly believe that even if he had done something really bad like lose control of his bat, my mom would have wanted it to hit her--she was that locked in on Ted. I remember when the Ted Williams Museum opened a few years back and there were a limited number of tickets available for around $250. I thought about getting my mom one and flying her down to Florida to actually meet the man. I told her about the idea, and she smiled and said, "That's ok, I don't need to--I got to see him play." Thanks Ted for making my mom so happy.

Robert , Bucharest, Romania


The rumble from his bat will be heard forever......The field of dreams just got another member. GOD BLESS TEDDY BALLGAME !!

Kevin , Revere


At a book signing, while I tried to sneak a picture of Ted and my five year old son together, Ted went out of his way to stop the proceedings, put my son on his lap, smile broadly, and say, "NOW take it"!!!! Everyone nearby was touched by the legend in their midst.

Nick , North Reading


The Kid is gone. Time to say good-bye to my idol of the last 50 years. What a hero.

Tom , Enfield, Ct


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