Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero
by Leigh Montville
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He was The Kid. The Splendid Splinter. Teddy Ballgame. One of the greatest figures of his generation, and arguably the greatest baseball hitter of all time. But what made Ted Williams a legend – and a lightning rod for controversy in life and in death? What motivated him to interrupt his Hall of Fame careertwiceto serve his country as a fighter pilot; to embrace his fans while tangling with the media; to retreat from the limelight whenever possible into his solitary love of fishing; and to show more become the most famous man ever to have his body cryogenically frozen after his death?New York Timesbestselling author Leigh Montville, who wrote the celebratedSports Illustratedobituary of Ted Williams, now delivers an intimate, riveting account of this extraordinary life. Still a gangly teenager when he stepped into a Boston Red Sox uniform in 1939, Williams’s boisterous personality and penchant for towering home runs earned him adoring admirers--the fans--and venomous critics--the sportswriters. In 1941, the entire country followed Williams's stunning .406 season, a record that has not been touched in over six decades. At the pinnacle of his prime, Williams left Boston to train and serve as a fighter pilot in World War II, missing three full years of baseball. He was back in 1946, dominating the sport alongside teammates Dominic DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky, and Bobby Doerr. But Williams left baseball again in 1952 to fight in Korea, where he flew thirty-nine combat missions—crash-landing his flaming, smoke-filled plane, in one famous episode. Ted Willams's personal life was equally colorful. His attraction to women (and their attraction to him) was a constant. He was married and divorced three times and he fathered two daughters and a son. He was one of corporate America's first modern spokesmen, and he remained, nearly into his eighties, a fiercely devoted fisherman. With his son, John Henry Williams, he devoted his final years to the sports memorabilia business, even as illness overtook him. And in death, controversy and public outcry followed Williams and the disagreements between his children over the decision to have his body preserved for future resuscitation in a cryonics facility--a fate, many argue, Williams never wanted. With unmatched verve and passion, and drawing upon hundreds of interviews, acclaimed best-selling author Leigh Montville brings to life Ted Williams's superb triumphs, lonely tragedies, and intensely colorful personality, in a biography that is fitting of an American hero and legend. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Leigh Montville's biography of Ted Williams is exhaustive in its analysis of one of baseball's greatest hitters. At times childish and self-absorbed, but always focused upon his art, Ted Williams emerges as a troubled genius in this wonderful book. Some of the anecdotes about Williams' intensity evoke a character who loves a few things in life to obsessive delight while ignoring almost everyone and everything else. An absolute master in the science of hitting a baseball, Williams loves his talent and nourishes it in a way that illuminates how beautiful, powerful, and fragile is the human desire to achieve greatness. A must for baseball fans.
Ted Williams was John Wayne, before John Wayne. Brash, crass, arrogant at times but obsessively commited to being the best hitter ever, Williams was a fascinating man. Montville has written an amazing biography of arguably the greatest hitter in baseball history. From his childhood in San Diego to his sad death and cryongenics story, Montville covers it all. Imagine what Williams stats would have been if he had not served in both WWII and Korea.
An excellent book. It is very well written, and gives a great story of Ted Williams, the man. Does not focus on his playing, but more or less his personality on and off the field. HIGHLY recommended
A painful slog through quote after quote of people who knew Ted Williams, with the author failing to construct an engaging narrative and avoiding to provide any analysis.
Teddy Ballgame!
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Books About Baseball Hall of Famers
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Author Information
11+ Works 1,155 Members
A senior writer for Sports Illustrated, Leigh Montville also served for twenty-one years as a sports columnist for The Boston Glove. He lives in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Bowker Author Biography)
Awards and Honors
Awards
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Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Ted Williams
- Original language
- English
Classifications
- Genres
- Sports and Leisure, Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 796.357092 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Sports Ball sports Ball and stick sports Baseball Biography And History Biography
- LCC
- GV865 .W5 .M66 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Recreation. Leisure Recreation. Leisure Sports Ball games: Baseball, football, golf, etc.
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 324
- Popularity
- 97,806
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (4.15)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 11
- ASINs
- 3
