Biography

Ted Williams

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Theodore Samuel Williams was born in San Diego, California, on August 30, 1918. He signed a contract at the age of 18 in 1936 with the Boston Red Sox baseball team. He was assigned to their farm team in San Diego. In 1939 he made his Major League Baseball debut, where he set the record for most runs batted in by a rookie with 145. Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941, placing him with baseball's all-time elite. In 1942 Ted won the American League Triple Crown and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he would serve through 1945. In 1946, on his return to baseball, lead the Red Sox to the American League Pennant. The next year he won his 2nd Triple Crown. In 1957 he became the oldest player in history to win a batting crown. Ted retired as a player in 1960, amd hit a homerun in his last at bat. 6 years later he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He became the manager of the Washington Senators in 1969, and resigned three years later in 1972. He is considered by many to be the best hitter in baseball history.
- IMDb mini biography by: Matt Dicker

His father, Samuel Williams, was of Irish and Welsh descent. His mother, May Venzor, was of Mexican Basque descent. He kept his Mexican ancestry hidden throughout his career in order to avoid racial prejudice.
Has a freeway in San Diego named after him.
He dubbed the Boston beat writers "The Knights of the Keyboard" sarcastically.
His birth name was "Teddy" and his was named after President Theodore Roosevelt who was nicknamed "Teddy". Williams changed his legal name to "Theodore" some time later.
Hit a home run in his final Major League at-bat. Elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. Won six American League batting championships, four home run championships, four RBI titles, led in runs six times, and slugging nine times. Last Major League baseball player to hit .400 (.406 in 1941). American League Most Valuable Player in 1946 & 1949. Later managed the Washington Senators and Texas Rangers.

Baseball's future? Bigger and bigger, better and better! No question about it, it's the greatest game there is!
A kid copies what is good. I remember the first time I saw Lefty O'Doul, and he was as far away as those palms. And I saw the guy come to bat in batting practice. I was looking through a knothole, and I said, 'Geez, does that guy look good!'
There's only one way to become a hitter. Go up to the plate and get mad. Get mad at yourself and mad at the pitcher.
At Fenway, I remember him hitting this long, long homer over the Wall into the teeth of a gale, and I remember looking at all those muscles as he trotted around the base and shaking that huge hand of his as he crossed the plate - and feeling almost weak. I was a skinny guy anyway, and I felt weak in comparison to Jimmie Foxx.
There has always been a saying in baseball that you can't make a hitter, but I think you can improve a hitter. More than you can improve a fielder. More mistakes are made hitting than in any other part of the game.

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