Ted Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ted Williams
Williams in 1949
Left fielder / Manager
Born: (1918-08-30)August 30, 1918 San Diego, California, U.S.
Died: July 5, 2002(2002-07-05) (aged 83) Inverness, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Right
debut
April 20, 1939, for the Boston Red Sox
Last appearance
September 28, 1960, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average	.344
Hits	2,654
Home runs	521
Runs batted in	1,839
On-base percentage	.482
Managerial record	273–364
Winning %	.429
Teams
As player Boston Red Sox (1939–1942, 1946–1960) As manager Washington Senators / Texas Rangers (1969–1972)
Career highlights and awards
19× All-Star (1940–1942, 1946–1951, 1953–1960²) 2× AL MVP (1946, 1949) 2× Triple Crown (1942, 1947) 6× AL batting champion (1941, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1957, 1958) 4× AL home run leader (1941, 1942, 1947, 1949) 4× AL RBI leader (1939, 1942, 1947, 1949) MLB record .482 career on-base percentage Boston Red Sox No. 9 retired Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame San Diego Padres Hall of Fame Major League Baseball All-Century Team Major League Baseball All-Time Team
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1966
Vote	93.4% (first ballot)
Military career Williams being sworn into the U.S. Navy Reserve on May 22, 1942. Buried Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. Allegiance  United States Service/branch  United States Navy  United States Marine Corps Years of service 1942–46, 1952–53 Rank Captain Unit U.S. Navy Reserve U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Battles/wars World War II Korean War Awards  Naval Aviator Badge  Air Medal with two Gold Stars  Navy Unit Commendation  American Campaign Medal  Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star  World War II Victory Medal  Navy Occupation Service Medal  National Defense Service Medal  Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars  United Nations Service Medal  ROK Presidential Unit Citation Other work Baseball player

Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) was an amazing American baseball player and manager. He played his entire 19-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox. He was a left fielder from 1939 to 1960. His career was paused twice because he served in the military during World War II and the Korean War.

People called him "Teddy Ballgame", "the Kid", "the Splendid Splinter", and "The Thumper". Many consider Williams to be one of the best hitters in baseball history. He is the last player to hit over .400 in a season. His .482 on-base percentage is the highest ever.

Williams was a 19-time All-Star. He won the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player Award twice. He was also a six-time AL batting champion. He won the Triple Crown twice. He ended his playing career with a .344 batting average, 521 home runs, and a 1.116 on-base plus slugging percentage. This was the second highest of all time. His batting average is the best for any player mainly from the modern "live-ball era".

Williams was born and grew up in San Diego. He played baseball all through his younger years. He joined the Red Sox in 1939 and quickly became a top hitter. In 1941, he hit .406, which is still a record. He won his first Triple Crown in 1942. Williams then served three years in the United States Navy and Marine Corps during World War II.

When he came back to MLB in 1946, Williams won his first AL MVP Award. He also played in his only World Series. In 1947, he won his second Triple Crown. Williams went back to military duty in 1952 and 1953. He served as a Marine combat pilot in the Korean War. Even at ages 39 and 40, he was the AL batting champion in 1957 and 1958.

Williams stopped playing in 1960. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. He managed the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers from 1969 to 1972. Williams loved sport fishing. He even hosted a TV show about it. He was inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame. Williams also helped the Jimmy Fund raise millions for cancer care and research.

In 1991, President George H. W. Bush gave Williams the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award for a civilian in the U.S. He was chosen for the Major League Baseball All-Time Team in 1997. He also made the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999.

Ted Williams's Early Life and Baseball Start

Williams was born in San Diego on August 30, 1918. His full name was Theodore Samuel Williams. He was named after former president Theodore Roosevelt and his father. His father was a soldier and photographer. His mother, May Venzor, was from a Spanish-Mexican family. She was an evangelist for the Salvation Army. Williams did not like how much time his mother spent working for the Salvation Army.

Williams's family had roots from Wales, England, and Ireland. His mother's side also had Spanish, Russian, and American Indian heritage. He once said that if he had his mother's last name, he would have faced problems due to prejudice.

When he was eight, his uncle, Saul Venzor, taught him how to throw a baseball. Saul was a former semi-professional player. Williams looked up to Pepper Martin and Bill Terry. He went to Herbert Hoover High School in San Diego. He was the star of the baseball team, playing as a pitcher. He also played American Legion Baseball.

He got offers from the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees in high school. But his mother thought he was too young to leave home. So, he signed with the local minor league team, the San Diego Padres.

Ted Williams's Professional Baseball Career

Williams always wanted people to say, "There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived."

Playing in the Minor Leagues (1936–1938)

Williams started with the Pacific Coast League's San Diego Padres. He was a backup player. In 1936, he met future teammates Dom DiMaggio and Bobby Doerr. Williams hit .271 in 42 games that year.

The Boston Red Sox general manager, Eddie Collins, noticed Williams. Collins said, "It wasn't hard to find Ted Williams. He stood out like a brown cow in a field of white cows." In 1937, Williams hit .291 with 23 home runs. The Padres won the PCL title. In December 1937, Williams was traded to the Boston Red Sox.

In 1938, Williams was late for spring training due to a flood. He had to borrow money for the trip. The Red Sox equipment manager, Johnny Orlando, nicknamed him "the Kid." This name stayed with Williams his whole life. Williams was sent to the Double-A Minneapolis Millers. There, he met Rogers Hornsby, a famous hitter. Hornsby gave Williams advice on how to "get a good pitch to hit." Williams often talked with other great hitters like Ty Cobb.

In Minnesota, Williams became a star. He hit .366 with 46 home runs and 142 RBIs. He won the American Association's Triple Crown.

Joining Major League Baseball (1939–1942, 1946–1960)

Williams was late for spring training again in 1939. The Red Sox traded another player to make room for him. He wore number 9 on his uniform. He made his major league debut on April 20 against the New York Yankees. This was the only game where Williams and Lou Gehrig played against each other.

In his first games at Fenway Park, Williams hit a double, a home run, and a triple. By July, he was hitting .280 but leading the league in RBIs. He finished the season hitting .327 with 31 home runs and 145 RBIs. He led the league in RBIs, a first for a rookie. He also led the AL in walks with 107. Even without a Rookie of the Year award, Babe Ruth called Williams the Rookie of the Year.

In 1940, Williams's pay doubled. A new bullpen was added at Fenway Park, making it easier for him to hit home runs. This area was called "Williamsburg." Williams moved to left field. He made his first of 16 All-Star Game appearances. He hit .344 with 23 home runs and 113 RBIs.

The Amazing 1941 Season

In 1941, Williams broke a bone in his ankle during spring training. This forced him to put less pressure on his right foot, which some say helped his hitting. On May 7, he hit a huge home run against the Chicago White Sox. Some say it was the longest ever hit in old Comiskey Park.

Williams's batting average climbed above .400 in May. By the All-Star break, he was hitting .406. In the 1941 All-Star Game, Williams hit a game-winning home run in the ninth inning. He later called it the "most thrilling hit of my life."

In late August, Williams was hitting .402. Before the last two games of the season, he was batting .39955. This would have been rounded up to .400. Red Sox manager Joe Cronin offered him a chance to sit out. But Williams said, "If I'm going to be a .400 hitter, I want more than my toenails on the line." He went 6-for-8 that day, finishing the season at .406.

His 1941 season is often called one of the best offensive seasons ever. His .406 batting average is still the highest in Red Sox history. It is also the last time any major league player has hit over .400 for a season. Williams also had a .553 on-base percentage and a .735 slugging percentage. These are also Red Sox records. He finished second in MVP voting to Joe DiMaggio.

Winning the Triple Crown in 1942

In January 1942, Williams was drafted into the military. He was reclassified to avoid service because he supported his mother. This caused a lot of public criticism. Despite this, Williams had a new salary of $30,000 in 1942.

In the 1942 season, Williams won the Triple Crown. He had a .356 batting average, 36 home runs, and 137 RBIs. On May 21, he hit his 100th career home run. Even with the Triple Crown, he came in second in MVP voting. He lost to Joe Gordon of the Yankees. Williams felt the draft board issues affected the voting.

Ted Williams's Military Service

Ted Williams served as a Naval Aviator during World War II and the Korean War. He did not just play baseball for the military. He chose to become a pilot.

Serving in World War II

Williams joined the Navy Reserve on May 22, 1942. He went on active duty in 1943. He became a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps as a Naval Aviator on May 2, 1944.

Williams was very good as a pilot. His Red Sox teammate, Johnny Pesky, said Williams could learn complex problems very quickly. Williams broke records in aerial gunnery training. He was described as having amazing reflexes and coordination.

Williams became a flight instructor at NAS Pensacola. He taught young pilots to fly the F4U Corsair fighter plane. When World War II ended, Williams was in Pearl Harbor. He was waiting for orders to join the fleet. He was released from active duty on January 12, 1946. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Serving in the Korean War

On May 1, 1952, Williams was called back to active duty for the Korean War. He had not flown for eight years. He turned down offers to stay safe and play baseball. Williams was upset about being called back, but he did his duty.

After refresher training, Williams was sent to South Korea. On February 16, 1953, Williams was flying with John Glenn (who later became an astronaut). Williams's plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. His plane's systems failed. He had to make a difficult belly landing. For his bravery, he received the Air Medal.

Williams flew 39 combat missions in Korea. He earned the Air Medal with two Gold Stars. He was taken off flight duty in June 1953 due to an ear infection. John Glenn said Williams was one of the best pilots he knew.

Williams's military service took almost five years out of his baseball career. If he hadn't served, he likely would have hit over 600 home runs. He might even have passed Babe Ruth's record of 714. He never complained about his time in the Marine Corps. He returned to the U.S. in August 1953 and went back to baseball.

Returning to Baseball (1946–1960)

Williams was discharged from the Marine Corps on January 28, 1946. He signed a $37,500 contract with the Red Sox. On July 14, after Williams hit three home runs in a game, Lou Boudreau created the "Boudreau shift" against him. This was a special defensive setup to stop Williams's powerful pull hitting.

In 1946, Williams hit .342 with 38 home runs and 123 RBIs. He helped the Red Sox win the pennant. He hit the only inside-the-park home run of his career. He also hit a home run in Fenway Park that was marked with a red seat because it was so far. Williams won the MVP award easily.

Before the 1946 World Series, Williams was hit on the elbow. He could not swing properly. He batted only .200 in the series. The Red Sox lost in seven games. Williams later said if he could change one thing, it would be to do better in that World Series. This was his only World Series appearance.

In 1947, Williams signed a $70,000 contract. He almost got traded for Joe DiMaggio. Williams won the Triple Crown again in 1947. But he lost the MVP award to Joe DiMaggio by one point.

In 1948, Williams hit a league-leading .369 with 25 home runs and 127 RBIs. He was third in MVP voting. On April 29, he hit his 200th career home run. He tied and then broke Jimmie Foxx's record for most home runs in a Red Sox uniform. Williams is still the Red Sox career home run leader.

In 1949, Williams earned $100,000. He hit .343, missing the batting title by a tiny amount. He hit 43 home runs, a career high, and drove in 159 runs. He also got on base in 84 straight games, an MLB record. He won the MVP trophy. However, the Red Sox lost the pennant to the Yankees. The Yankees then won five straight World Series. The Red Sox never finished better than third place for the rest of Williams's career.

Injuries and Comebacks (1950–1955)

In 1950, Williams broke his left arm crashing into the scoreboard during the All-Star Game. He played the rest of the game and even singled. But his arm was very painful. Doctors operated on him. He only played 89 games that year. After the season, his elbow hurt so much he thought about retiring. The Red Sox owner, Tom Yawkey, convinced him to keep playing.

In 1951, Williams hit .318 despite his elbow pain. He played 148 games, hit 30 home runs, and had 126 RBIs. He made the All-Star team. On May 15, 1951, he hit his 300th career home run.

In August 1953, after returning from Korea, Williams practiced with the Red Sox. He hit a home run in his first game back. He ended up hitting .407 with 13 home runs in 37 games. On September 6, he hit his 332nd career home run.

In 1954, Williams broke his collarbone in spring training. He was out for six weeks. He returned on May 7 and hit .345. However, he didn't have enough at-bats to win the batting title. He led the league in walks with 136. On September 26, Williams "retired" after the last game of the season.

Williams was offered the Red Sox manager job in 1954 but declined. He suggested Pinky Higgins instead. Williams missed the first month of the 1955 season due to a divorce. When he returned, he signed a $98,000 contract. He batted .356 and was named "Comeback Player of the Year."

Final Years Playing (1956–1960)

On July 17, 1956, Williams became the fifth player to hit 400 home runs. A few weeks later, he spat at a fan who was booing him. He was fined $5,000. The next night, fans gave him a huge cheer when he hit a home run. Williams later said he realized fans were "for me" from then on. He lost the batting title to Mickey Mantle in 1956.

In 1957, Williams batted .388, leading all of MLB. In February 1958, he signed a record $125,000 contract. At age 40 that season, he led the American League again with a .328 batting average.

In 1959, Pumpsie Green became the first black player on the Red Sox. Williams openly welcomed him.

Williams ended his career with a home run in his very last at-bat on September 28, 1960. He did not tip his cap to the fans. An essay by John Updike called "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu" describes this moment. Williams is one of only 29 players to play in Major League games in four different decades.

Ted Williams's Playing Style and Personality

Williams was very focused on hitting. He used a lighter bat to swing faster. In 1970, he wrote a book called The Science of Hitting. It explains his idea of only swinging at pitches in his perfect strike zone. Pitchers were often afraid to pitch to him. His ratio of walks to plate appearances is the highest for any Hall of Famer.

Williams almost always took the first pitch. He also helped Carl Yastrzemski, who took over his left-field position, learn how to play in front of the Green Monster.

Relationship with Media and Fans

Williams had a difficult relationship with Boston newspapers for almost 20 years. He felt they talked too much about his personal life. He had a long-running feud with Sport magazine. He was insecure about his childhood. He believed the "knights of the keyboard," as he called the press, were against him.

Sportswriters sometimes criticized his fielding and his "clutch hitting." Williams said it made no sense to crash into an outfield wall for a difficult catch. He worried about injuries or missing the ball.

Williams was often difficult with the press. But he was very kind one-on-one. He appreciated the fans' passion. However, he was also temperamental and sometimes tactless.

Williams was very generous to people in need. He was especially involved with the Jimmy Fund. This fund supports children's cancer research and treatment. Williams used his fame to help the fund raise over $750 million. He often visited children with cancer in hospitals. He insisted these visits not be reported. Sometimes, parents found their hospital bills paid by "Mr. Williams."

Williams wanted loyalty from those around him. He couldn't understand why fans would boo a player for a mistake, then cheer them for a home run. Because of the occasional boos, Williams stopped tipping his cap after home runs.

He kept this policy even in his last game in 1960. After his final home run, he did not tip his cap. The manager sent him back out to left field, then replaced him. This allowed Williams one last ovation. But he still did not react to the crowd. The writer John Updike famously said, "Gods do not answer letters."

In 1991, on Ted Williams Day at Fenway Park, Williams finally tipped his cap to the crowd. This was the first time he had done so since his early playing days.

Williams was friends with Ty Cobb, another baseball legend. They often discussed baseball. Williams believed Rogers Hornsby was the greatest right-handed hitter. This belief once caused a disagreement with Cobb.

Life After Baseball

After retiring as a player, Williams helped Carl Yastrzemski with his hitting. He visited the Red Sox spring training camps from 1961 to 1966. He worked as a special batting instructor. He also served as a team vice president.

From 1961, he spent summers at the Ted Williams Baseball Camp in Lakeville, Massachusetts. He gave hitting clinics there. He was often seen fishing in the camp's pond.

Williams managed the Washington Senators from 1969 to 1971. He continued with the team when they became the Texas Rangers in 1972. His best season as a manager was 1969. He led the Senators to an 86–76 record. He was named "Manager of the Year." Like many great players, Williams sometimes got impatient with less talented players.

Williams was also a very skilled fly fisherman and deep-sea fisherman. He spent many summers fishing in New Brunswick, Canada. He was inducted into the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame in 2000. Williams is one of the few athletes in more than one professional sport's Hall of Fame. He also enjoyed hunting.

Williams had a big deal with Sears. He lent his name to a line of sports equipment. This included boats, motors, and fishing gear. He continued to support the Jimmy Fund. He lost a brother to leukemia.

In his later years, Williams appeared at autograph shows. His son, John Henry Williams, managed his career. He helped stop fake autographs and managed his father's public appearances.

One of Williams's most memorable public appearances was at the 1999 All-Star Game in Boston. He was brought to the pitcher's mound in a golf cart. He proudly waved his cap to the crowd. This was a gesture he had never done as a player. Fans gave him a long standing ovation. Players from both teams surrounded him. He threw out the first pitch. Later that year, he was part of the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Ted Williams's Personal Life

On May 4, 1944, Williams married Doris Soule. Their daughter, Barbara Joyce, was born in 1948. They divorced in 1954. Williams married model Lee Howard in 1961. They divorced in 1967.

Williams married Dolores Wettach in 1968. She was a former Miss Vermont and Vogue model. Their son John-Henry was born in 1968. Their daughter Claudia was born in 1971. They divorced in 1972.

Williams lived with Louise Kaufman for 20 years until she died in 1993. Some say she was the love of his life.

Williams greatly respected General Douglas MacArthur. He called him his "idol." For Williams's 40th birthday, MacArthur sent him a painting. It said, "To Ted Williams—not only America's greatest baseball player, but a great American who served his country."

Williams was a Republican. He campaigned for Richard Nixon in the 1960 United States Presidential Election. He supported Nixon again in 1968. As manager of the Senators, he kept Nixon's picture on his desk. He met with President Nixon several times. In 1972, he called Nixon "the greatest president of my lifetime." He later supported other Republican candidates.

Friends said Williams was an atheist. This influenced his decision to be cryogenically frozen after his death. His daughter Claudia said it was like a religion for them.

Williams's brother Danny and his son John-Henry both died from leukemia.

Ted Williams's Death

In his last years, Williams had heart problems. He had a pacemaker put in in 2000. He had open-heart surgery in 2001. He died of cardiac arrest on July 5, 2002, at age 83. This happened near his home in Florida.

His will stated he wanted to be cremated and his ashes scattered. However, his son John-Henry and younger daughter Claudia chose to have his body frozen cryonically.

Awards and Recognition for Ted Williams

In 1954, Williams was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions. This hall honors San Diego's best athletes.

Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 25, 1966.

On November 18, 1991, President George H. W. Bush gave Williams the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest civilian award in the U.S.

The Ted Williams Tunnel in Boston, Massachusetts, was named after him. It opened in 1995. Ted Williams Parkway in San Diego County, California, opened in 1992. In 2016, the San Diego Padres inducted Williams into their hall of fame.

The Tampa Bay Rays home field, Tropicana Field, has the Ted Williams Museum. It was moved there in 2006. Fans can see Williams's artifacts and pictures. The museum also honors other great hitters like Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle.

In 2013, Williams was honored with the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award. This award recognizes Baseball Hall of Fame members who served in the military.

Ted Williams's Legacy in Baseball

When he retired, Williams was third all-time in home runs. He was seventh in RBIs and batting average. His career batting average of .3444 is the highest for any player who played their whole career after 1920.

Many experts say Williams, along with Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds, are the three most powerful hitters ever. Williams's 1941 season is often compared to the best seasons of Ruth and Bonds. This is based on stats like slugging and on-base percentage.

In 1999, The Sporting News ranked Williams as number eight on their list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. He was the highest-ranking left fielder.

Career Statistics

Military and Civilian Awards

Williams received many honors for his service and achievements:

Images for kids

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  Williams in his rookie year

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  Williams's 1940 Play Ball baseball card

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  Williams on a 1948 baseball card

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  Williams on a 1954 baseball card

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  Williams in 1947

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  Williams aboard the USS Haven in 1953

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  Williams in 1998

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  Ted Williams tribute by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 22, 2002

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  Plaque of Ted Williams in Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame at Fenway Park

See also

In Spanish: Ted Williams para niños