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| Teddy Ballgame My Life in Pictures by Ted Williams with David Pietrusza |
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| Award-winning author David Pietrusza teamed with Ted Williams (who won a few awards himself) to bring you Ted's life story in words and pictures. |
| Ted Williams and David Pietrusza at the Ted Williams Museum, Hernando Florida (Courtesy Bill Nowlin) |
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| Teddy Ballgame My Life in Pictures By Ted Williams with David Pietrusza Foreword by Bobby Doerr, Tribute by Bob Feller Introduction by John Thorn Teddy Ballgame is an intimate portrait of one of the most compelling sports figures of the 20th century, vibrantly told in Ted Williams own plain-spoken words, and framed by more than 240 photographs, many from Williams’ own collection, revealing this American icon in all his guises—baseball and fishing superstar, war hero, father and elder statesman of the game he lived and loved The extraordinary life of Ted Williams exemplifies achievement. Williams was driven as a ballplayer, courageous as a combat pilot and relentless as a trophy fisherman. His no-nonsense, straight-talking approach often ignited controversy, but Williams never flinched in his conviction that honesty, courage and hard work, not newspaper headlines, were the true measures of a man. This is very much Williams’ own book. Sitting at his kitchen table in October, 2000, just weeks before heart surgery, he reviewed hundreds of photographs and reminisced about his life with co-author David Pietrusza. The earthy, ebullient timbre of Williams’ voice is everywhere in these pages. Revised following Williams’ death on July 5, 2002, Teddy Ballgame is the story of a classic American hero. |
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| From Teddy Ballgame: Featuring more than 250 images, many of them never before published, Ted Williams: My Life in Pictures is the story of a true American hero. The earthy timbre of Williams's voice rings true on every page as he recounts his remarkable life. The book progresses from his boyhood years in San Diego, through his unparalleled major league career—twice interrupted by military service—to his eventful years after his retirement from baseball, including his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a managerial stint with the Washington Senators, and a well-earned reputation as one of the world's finest fisherman. For example: * On hitting: "The idea is pretty simple: get your pitch-and when it arrives swing at it. Certain areas, certain choices, make you a .400 hitter, a .350 hitter. Other areas, it's the pitcher's game. So when you have a choice-on that first pitch, or when you're ahead 1-and-0, 2-and-0, 3-and-0, lay off the pitches you can't hit well, where the odds aren't in your favor." * On being inducted into the Hall of Fame: "I can't say it was a surprise I was elected. No, I did deserve it, and there was no way the writers could ignore my numbers-what I had accomplished, what I had worked to accomplish. But there was the question back then if you'd go in first ballot or not. DiMaggio took three ballots. DiMaggio! Hank Greenberg, Jimmie Foxx—not first ballot! So even though I wasn't really surprised, I've got to say I was still moved. How can you not be moved?" * On tipping his cap to the Boston fans on Ted Williams Day in 1991: "I thought I'd give the fans a little surprise. I hid a Red Sox cap in my pocket and reached in and tipped it to the fans. I did it, as I said [then], so they can never write, ever again that I was hard-headed, so they can never write again that I never tipped my hat to the crowd, today I tip my hat. I tip my hat to all the people in New England, the greatest sports fans on earth." |
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| Ted Williams and David Pietrusza in Crystal River, Florida in 1997 |
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| David Pietrusza presents the 2000 Ted Williams NL Rookie of the Year Award to Atlanta Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal. Looking on are (left to right): Nomar Garciaparra, Jim Rice, Mark Quinn, and Dave Winfield. |