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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I grew up in Dorchester and my brothers used to take me to Fenway Park in the 30's, and 40's. Seeing Ted Williams hit homeruns gave me a love of the game which I still have and watch the Red Sox every game, either on TV or on the computer. The last of the great ball players who stayed with one team.
Theresa Mc Collum, Holly Hill, FL
As a healthcare provider in San Diego, I have worked with several individuals who went to Hoover High School with him here in S.D., and they all told the same story about Teddy Ballgame... people would come from miles around, from other high schools and towns, just to see him play. Their assessment, to a man: "The Greatest I ever saw."
Mike, San Diego, CA
The year was 1948, perhaps one of the great baseball years in Boston baseball history. I was visiting my uncle in newton upper falls and he showed me the house Ted had rented for the summer and urged me to go and visit him. It took a while to get uo the courage but my brother and I went to his house and knocked on the door. His wife answered and we asked to see Ted. She was very nice and asked us to wait a minute and yelled down to the basement that two boys were here to see him. In his deep voice we heard " SEND THEM DOWN". We spent the afternoon with Ted while he was winding fishing files. I still have the autograph but the memory of this day and how well he treated us will be with me forever.
jim duffy, FRAMINGHAM
I just wanted to offer my condolences to his daughter Claudia, a former classmate of mine in Vermont. With her family in the news so much these past weeks I wondered how life has turned out for her and am sorry for the loss of her father.
Karrie, Cambridge, MA
In my estimation Ted Williams was the greatest ball player ever. Had his career not been interrupted by two wars, he would have surpassed everyone. Ted Williams was greater than Ruth and DiMaggio. His baseball record will live on forever. Ted was the greatest!
Joanne Sweeney, Seabrook, NH 03874
As A die-hard Yankee fan, my heart goes out to all Red Sox fans today Ted was the greatest player who ever lived, and will be deeply missed for what he did on the field, but also for what he did off the field.
Jeff, Allston
About 10 years or so ago, my dad and I went to Sec Taylor Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, home of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, to see Ted Williams. He was appearing with Bob Feller, who was raising money for his baseball museum in Van Meter, Iowa, his home town. Feller was to throw a pitch to Ted, and then all in attendance could say they saw Ted Williams bat against Bob Feller. It didn't work that way. The pitch was low, so of course Ted didn't swing. After chatting for a minute or so, Ted finally tossed the ball in the air and hit it. No big thing. It was a letdown, but then again, what did we expect? Ted then got on the p.a. system and talked about why he always admired Feller. "Because when the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor, this guy was there in line the next day enlisting in the Navy." My dad, who grew up in Manchester, Conn., and watched Ted as a kid, was mortified. "Ted said Japs." I loved it. So that was it. My dad, born in 1937, got to take his son, born in 1965, to see Ted Williams bat. I think he always wanted to do that. He and his dad, who was born and raised in Lynn, used to go to Boston to see Ted and the Sox. Ted was around for four generations of my family. He died three months after my son was born. My grandfather got to see the Sox play at the old Huntington Avenue Grounds. When my dad and I weren't connecting during my teens and 20s, we could at least talk about Ted and the Sox. I called my dad this morning to tell him he was dead, and could barely speak the words. My dad and I connect much better now. Thank God there was Ted to help us bide our time.
Christopher Nelson, Batavia, Ill.
One of the things I remember most about Ted Williams was at age 3, after my father took me to Fenway to see him play, I'd look for Ted on T.V. My father would say, "Who do you like?," and I'd reply, "I like Ted Williams." He was my first idol.
Marguerite Vacca-Kaye, Frederick, MD
i am deeply saddened today... the red sox are in my blood and with me forever and today, my family and i, even though i have never saw him, lost a true sports figure. we will miss you teddy- the kid... he was a true baller. love ya' BOSTON loves ya'
Allyn Howe, Medford via Newport R.I.
There goes the greatest hitter who ever lived.
Mike, San Francisco