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The last player to hit .400 in the Major Leagues, Ted Williams approached hitting as both an art and a science. Through his discipline, drive, and extraordinarily keen eyesight, "The Splendid Splinter" became the best hitter in baseball. From his early days as a cocksure rookie for the Boston Red Sox, through his two Triple Crown seasons, six batting titles, his service in two wars, and his tenure as a Major League manager, Ted Williams forged an indelible image in the minds of baseball fans. Yet Williams's public resentment toward fans and, especially, the media, made him few friends. Bruce Markusen presents the brilliant and often embittered career of the man whose mission was to become the greatest hitter of all time. A timeline, bibliography, and narrative chapter on the making of Williams' legend enhance this biography.

It has been said that hitting is the hardest thing to do in professional sports. Baseball's All-Time Greatest Hitters series presents biographies on Greenwood's selection for the twelve best hitters in Major League history, written by some of today's best baseball authors. These books present straight forward stories in accessible language for the high school researcher and the general reader alike.

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Recounts the illustrious career of famed Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams, nicknamed "The Splendid Splinter," known as baseball's purest hitter, and who was, in 1941, the last Major League ballplayer to bat over .400. ... Read more

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Michael Seidel is a professor of English at Columbia University, and the author of several books including "Streak: Joe DiMaggio" and the "Summer of '41". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Flawed Hero
I am not the type of person to pick up a book about a sports figure even if I am a fan.I love history books especially Civil War, Napoleonic history and biographies of great leaders.I surprised myself by taking the time to read this book. If you are interested in Ted Williams or baseball especially during the era in which he played 1939-1960, this book could not be rated higher.The author has an introduction of Teds early life and then the remainder of the book is broken down so that each chapter covers a year of his career. This puts Teds life in context of World events which the author neatly weaves within its pages. During his career Ted Williams displayed and developed his hitting skills with the desire of becoming the "greatest hitter who ever lived".Hitting the ball was his obsession.His great desire to excel however was balanced by a contentious personality which was easily set off by the goading of the Boston media. Looking at his stats and realizing that almost 5 years of his life during his prime was spent in the military, I have no doubt that he would have broken Ruth's home run record.Ted Wiliams was both an artist and a scientist at hitting.He studied pitchers, strike zones, handling the bat like no other player.When Mickey Mantle was asked about converstaions with Ted Williams on hitting he said "He makes me crazy."Mickey Mantle did not understand the science of hitting.
Ted Williams probably was the greatest hitter that ever lived, but his personality marred his relationships with the Boston media, sometimes his team mates, and his own family.

I do have a few criticisms however.The book is called A Baseball Life, and that is the authors focus. Ted Williams was an intensely private man whether the author out of respect for Ted Williams or lack of investigation gives very little information on his private life.We learn some things about his family such as his mother was an ardent salvation army worker, yet we know nothing of how Ted Williams felt personally about spiritual matters.We also are denied any information on his relationships with his wife Doris or his daughter.The last chapter stops without little mention of his business interests or his managerial stint in the late 60's.Despite these ommissions, Ted Williams A Baseball Life is an exciting, informative look at perhaps the greatest hitter that ever lived yet at the same time considered by others a selfish egotist.When Joe Dimaggio was asked "what do you think of Ted Williams?"His reply was "greatest lefthanded hitter that ever lived?" ""What do you think of Ted Williams as a ballplayer?"
"greatest lefthanded hitter that ever lived".

so awsome
this is the best book i have ever read if i had the time i would read thisbook a hundred times. The reason i bought this book is because ted williamsis the best hitter in baseballs long history. ... Read more

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Discusses the life and career of baseball great, Ted Williams, the Boston Red Sox slugger who has held the game's highest batting average since 1941. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Coach and Athletic Director, published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2005. The length of the article is 2570 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: What I learned about hitting from Ted Williams.(BASEBALL)
Author: Dell Bethel
Publication: Coach and Athletic Director (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 74Issue: 6Page: 24(7)

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Chapters: Ted Williams, Nomar Garciaparra, Evan Longoria, Russ Ortiz, Lefty Gomez, Freddy Sanchez, Joel Zumaya, Dan Haren, Carlos Quentin, Jesse Orosco, Matt Garza, Sergio Mitre, Andy Laroche, Adrian Gonzalez, Gerald Laird, Michael Young, Brian Fuentes, Jerry Hairston, Jr., Anthony Reyes, Rubén Amaro, Jr., Edgar Gonzalez, Scott Hairston, Andre Ethier, Eric Chavez, Chad Cordero, Adam Laroche, Mike Garcia, Augie Ojeda, Rod Barajas, Jorge Cantú, Hank Aguirre, Eddie Guardado, Abe Alvarez, Pat Corrales, Mel Almada, Dave Laroche, Johnny Estrada, Sid Monge, Horacio Ramírez, Mark Carreon, Manny Parra, Marco Estrada, Jorge Orta, Randy Flores, Mike Torrez, Frank Arellanes, Albie Lopez, Omar Quintanilla, Luis Gómez, Sergio Romo, Ron Flores, Bobby Castillo, Cam Carreon, Rich Rodriguez, Armando Almanza, Jesse Flores, Carlos Muñiz. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 256. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: As player As manager Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams (August 30, 1918July 5, 2002) was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball. He played 21 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, twice interrupted by military service as a Marine Corps pilot. Nicknamed The Kid, the Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame, and The Thumper, he is widely considered one of the greatest hitters ever. Williams was a two-time American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) winner, led the league in batting six times, and won the Triple Crown twice. He had a career batting average of .344, with 521 home runs, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. He is the last player in Major League Baseball to bat over .400 in a single season (.406 in 1941). Williams holds the highest career batting average of anyone with 500 or more home runs. His career year was 1941, when he hit .406 with 37 HR, 120 RBI, and 135 runs scored....More: http://booksllc.net/?id=31496 ... Read more

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PUBLICATION DATE: APRILSHIPPING DATE: MARCHBaseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams is a true sports legend, a superstar who was his era’s greatest hitter. His lifetime .344 average remains one of the highest marks ever achieved. Known at various times as “the Splendid Splinter,” “Teddy Ballgame,” and simply as “the Kid,” Williams played his entire career with the Boston Red Sox. Although missing nearly five full seasons due to military service and two major injuries, Williams still managed to hit 521 home runs to go with his six batting titles, two Triple Crowns, two Most Valuable Player awards, eighteen All-Star selections, and a .406 batting average in 1941 that remains the last time any major-leaguer has topped the .400 mark for a season.

Williams was a talented sportsman who hated to lose. He was also an athletic perfectionist who spent half his career being compared with and contrasted to fellow superstar Joe DiMaggio of the rival New York Yankees. The temperamental yet outgoing Williams wasn’t exactly a media darling, but he was a respected, hard-working student of the game. Some observers say Williams was to hitting a baseball what Ben Hogan was to striking a golf ball, which might help explain why the two men had a mutual respect for each other that led to a casual friendship.

In I Remember Ted Williams, the legendary Red Sox outfielder is remembered through dozens of anecdotes, stories, and insights offered in their own words by former teammates as well as friends, associates, media, baseball officials, and fishing buddies. Together these contributors offer a unique and unforgettable reminiscence of one of the greatest and most enigmatic performers in baseball history.SPORTS; BASEBALLILLUSTRATED5” X 7 3/4”, 240 PAGESHARDCOVER ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Probably the greatest hitter and one of the most enigmatic persons who ever played baseball

This is one of several volumes in the Cumberland House "I Remember" series. Each is an anthology of reminiscences of those who personally knew the subject, in this instance, Ted Williams (August 30, 1918 - July 5, 2002). David Cataneo edited the material and contributed brief but perceptive introductions to each chapter. From childhood, Williams was determined to be recognized as the greatest hitter in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB) but resisted and resented most efforts to know him as a person. However, he did have a circle of especially close friends with whom he maintained direct and frequent contact until just before his death. The highlights of his MLB career include a lifetime average of .344, a total of 521 homeruns, and 1,839 runs batted in, and only 79 strikeouts s in 2,292 games. He made his MLB debut on April 20, 1939, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966. According to Catanero, "He was a pal with the press, and he was brutally heartless with the press. He was a charming gentleman, and he had a notorious foul mouth. He had a voice like a howitzer, and he was gently sweet with children. He was sarcastic, and he was sensitive. He was an intelligent grownup, and he threw tantrums like a spoiled kid. He was a chatterbox, and he was a loner."

Catanero obtained reminiscences and observations from Williams' teammates at Hoover High School in San Diego and when he played in the minors as well as from teammates on the Red Sox and those who served with him during two tours of duty as a Marine fighter pilot. Here is a representative selection of comments from the narrative:

Hoover baseball coach, Wos Caldwell, finally allowed young Williams to take some batting practice with the varsity team. "The first ball that Caldwell threw him, Ted hit it up on this lunch arbor. There was no other guy who had [hit] any ball near it. He threw him another pitch, and it went up on the roof. Caldwell says, `What's your name, kid?' He says, "My name's Ted Williams, and I'll be here next Monday.'"(Len Cassie Jr., Hoover classmate)

After Williams returned to the Red Sox from service in Korea and began to take his first lengthy batting practice in more than two years, he developed severe blisters on his hands. "At this time, his agent was Freddie Corcoran. He was golf pro." He suggested that Williams use a golf glove. He did "and everybody around the league would see him with a golf glove on. First thing you know, everyone around the league was wearing a golf glove. That's how the batting glove got introduced into baseball." (Mel Parnell, Boston Red Sox teammate)

After Williams broke his collarbone and was admitted to the Santa Maria hospital, a very ill patient (Jim Cleary) was forced to give up his room. "When Ted found out, he raised hell. `You can't move out a man who's sick! I want him moved into the room next to me!'" Williams then made sure that Cleary was introduced to all of the ballplayers who came by to visit. Later, "Cleary went to check out, and he found that Ted had paid his entire bill. Cleary's father wouldn't let him, but Ted wanted to."(Tim Horgan, Boston Herald columnist)

When a former batboy came by the Red Sox clubhouse years later, he was greeted warmly by those who knew him. Williams exclaimed "Jee-sus Christ!" and asked him what he was doing. Feeling "proud as punch," he replied that he was a sportswriter. As he recalls the moment, "It looked like I had hit him with an electric prod. He just dropped my hand and stepped back and looked me up and down with almost disdain. He said, `You used to be a good kid. Where did you go wrong?'" (George Sullivan)

"Ted really loved the enlisted men more than the officers. Ted had to be around the officers because he was one. They always wanted to be around him. But Ted would get a baseball bat and a softball. Once or twice a week in the afternoon, he'd just go down there and hit fungoes to the enlisted men. They enjoyed it. And believe it or not, they didn't hang on him the way a lot of people did. They were real people. He liked real people." (Edro Bucher, Marine fighter pilot)

After batting .406 in 1941(the last MLB player to do so), Williams learned that Joe DiMaggio had been named the American League's most valuable player that year. "Well, a good man got it, anyhow." And he meant it. (David Catanero)

"Curt Gowdy had told me that you have to really watch that he doesn't get on top of you. You got to argue with him. You've got to get on his ass. He said, `Now, I know that will be hard for you, because you've idolized him. But you just can't let him have his way with you. He'll drive you nuts. You've got to get on him.'" Gowdy was the Red Sox announcer and a very close friend who frequently fished with Williams. (Bob Knight, Hall of Fame basketball coach and another of Williams' frequent fishing companions)

These comments only begin to suggest what a complicated man Ted Williams was. There are several hundred other reminiscences in this book from those who knew him and, with few exceptions, greatly admired him. Some even loved him despite his sometimes exasperating behavior and toxic remarks. Those interested in a more comprehensive discussion of Williams' life and career are encouraged to check out Leigh Montville's biography and Richard Ben Cramer's What Do You Think of Ted Williams Now?: A Remembrance.

very good book on Ted
I got this book and TED WILLIAMS, THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION at the same time, since they both came out after Ted's death.This book is very good, very nice stories. The other book costs twice as much but has about four times more - over 100 photos, many more stories from many more famous baseball players and a CD with 67 minutes of interviews with Ted Williams. I recommend both books. ... Read more

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"Baseball is at the core of our national life, and the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is the game's national shrine, the repository of its heritage."So begins this tour of the treasures of the Hall of Fame.Every baseball fan knows that Cooperstown stands for the best of the history and tradition of the great game.For those fans who visit this village in upstate New York--400,000 make the pilgrimage annually--and for those who cannot get there, John Thorn, baseball's foremost historian, has selected the Hall of Fame's most important artifacts.He has written about each piece and what it represents in the larger context of the game's history, and David Jordano has meticulously and lovingly photographed these treasures, capturing their essence perfectly.

In words and pictures, Treasures of the Baseball Hall of Famespans the whole of baseball's history from its semi-mythical beginnings through successive ages of legends and giants all the way to today's heroes. A lithographic panorama of a game from the 1860s at the Elysian Fields in Hoboken, home of the New York Knickerbockers, begins the Time Line that runs through the book. It includes mementos of the Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869, the first openly professional team; bats and balls from the dead-ball era; the ball Cy Young pitched during his five hundredth victory; Eddie Gaedel's unique uniform; the bat that Bobby Thomson used to break the Dodgers' fans hearts; George Brett's pine tar bat -- a sequence of baseball's outstanding memories. The Hall of Fame's Special Exhibits are showcased, detailing the place in the game's heritage of the Negro Leagues, plus features on the Minor Leagues, the women's game, and baseball abroad. There are paintings, movie posters, magazines, baseball cards, tickets, and scorecards. The game's showpieces, memorable moments from the All-Star Game and World Series, are recalled. Pieces of baseball equipment from across the ages are commemorated alongside souvenirs of old parks(the cornerstone of Shibe Park and blueprints for the old Comiskey Park) and fascinating artifacts from the Hall's huge archives.
        
It is where Treasures of the Baseball Hall of Fame chronicles the magnificent individual achievements of the game that its echoes will resonate most profoundly perhaps: Harvey Haddix's no-hitter that wasn't; triple-play balls, Roger Maris's bat, a base Lou Brock stole and a ball Hank Aaron hit out. Baseball's immortals are remembered in magnificent photographic collages and evocative essays. Tributes left at the Hall of Fame on the day of Mickey Mantle's death and the letter Lou Gehrig wrote to his wife from a hotel in Detroit on May 2, 1939 -- the day he benched himself after 2,130 games -- almost speak for themselves. And the great names reverberate now and for all time: Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Cy Young, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente, Ted Williams.
        
All that is best in baseball is here, dramatically brought to life. Treasures of the Baseball Hall of Fame reflects the teamwork by John Thorn David Jordano, and the staff of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. This is a magnificent souvenir of America's Pastime, its pageantry, and the glories of its continuing history. Amazon.com Review
The Hall of Fame is baseball's mecca; every true fan shouldmake the pilgrimage to Cooperstown at least once in a lifetime. Andwhile Treasures, officially sanctioned by the National BaseballHall of Fame, can't replace the real thing, it can certainly whetappetites, rekindle memories, and fire up imaginations. Large in sizeand packed with illustrations, it is great show-and-tell; scores ofbeautifully photographed artifacts are on display with accompanyingtext to explain their significance. Flip the pages and you'll findRuth's and Mantle's locker, Cobb's spikes, Shoeless Joe's shoes,Mays's glove, Aaron's bat--and that barely scratches thehorsehide. Besides batracks of expected (and unexpected) Major Leaguememorabilia, other treasures include relics from the Negro Leagues,the minor leagues, and the All-American Girls Baseball League as wellas momentos from the press box, the library, the movies, and the artgallery. Sweeping from the mythic Doubleday ball to thepresent--Treasures would have benefitted from some more recentremembrances--it celebrates the game with affection and bravura, andthrough its very celebration, offers tangible insight into theNational Pastime's firm grip on the national consciousness. --JeffSilverman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Baseball Masterpiece
John Thorn is one of our great baseball writers and his skills make this book the best of its kind.It is loaded with fascinating anecdotes that I've seen nowhere else.In addition, the illustrations are outstanding."Treasures ..." will give you the most enjoyable history lesson you'll ever find.

Well, I Can't Make It There...
This will serve until I get a chance to go there.Being far from any major metropolitan canter, getting there requires a great deal of effort.This is a great book which shares some of the riches of the hall.A musthave book for all baseball lovers.

Excellent choice for any baseball collection.
This volume should be considered an excellent addition to any baseball library.Every fan of the game will find something new and interesting.While the text is excellent, the large number of intensely detailedphotographs provide a fascinating insight into the history of the game.There is no other such collection available for the fan or scholar toenjoy.This volume is highly recommended.

Great photos and all the stories behind the game's treasures
The photos alone are worth the price of the book, but John Thorn adds great anecdotes that remind us why the items in the photos are so special.The end result is a history of baseball written like no other history I ever read on any subject.

Any fan of the game will enjoy this book and, if they are not careful, will find themselves learning something new about their game. ... Read more

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Brand new! LEATHER BOUND book accented in 22kt gold! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

My Turn At Bat
My Turn at Bat: The Story of My Life (Fireside Sports Classics)This book was purchased as a gift for my grandson and he is very pleased with it.

Unrepentant and unapologetic Ted Williams on the life of Ted Williams
This book, in Williams' own words, is a biased, yet largely honest appraisal of his life and career as a player. Written in 1970, approximately one decade after he retired as a player and shortly after he re-entered the game as a manager, Williams was still young enough to be assertive about his role in the game. He shows no repentance for his actions, time has not yet mellowed Williams, a fact that helped lead to his dismissal as a manager shortly after the book was published.
There is much to speculate about what Williams would have accomplished had be not been called into military service twice, in both World War II and in Korea. He lost four and a half seasons due to his service, all of which were in the prime of his career. Had he been exempted, even if only for Korea, it is possible that when he retired he may have owned every significant batting record.
Williams mentions this, how deeply bitter he was about the call up for Korea and yet how he kept from complaining. He saves most of his invective for the baseball writers, as there was a mutual dislike between Williams and some of the press that covered the sport. Ted Williams was a great baseball player, while he had the potential to be the greatest circumstances intervened to prevent it. Off the field and to ordinary people, Williams was also a great person, he exhibited a kindness to others that many players never exhibit. In this book we see all sides of Williams, from his arrogance to his humility.

WOW Teddy can ramble
Interesting book, it appears to have been written as if Teddy Baseball were speaking into a tape recorder.Strange at times but VERY enjoyable!!

In His Own Words
In its original printing, "My Turn at Bat" was a real eye opener for those seeking the real story of Ted Williams.Continuously battered by negative media attention throughout his playing days, myth and scandal seemed to terrorize Williams.While Williams may not have always made the best public relations decisions through his career, he may in fact be the greatest hitter in baseball history.This is his story in his own words.

Though some biographies go into greater detail about Williams' life, this is a very personal version.At times, one must realize that he is creating a positive image of himself.I suspect more often than not, he is being completely accurate.The matter of fact story telling seems as though it is coming right from the mouth of Ted Williams.This creates the one major problem with the book.The chronology of the story seems to jump all over the place.It really takes away from the story.

The book is also advertised to be an explanation of Ted Williams' theory and practice for hitting. Yet in reality, there are only a few pages.But the brief thoughts are still valid today.Today's hitters would be well served to follow his theory.

Fans of Ted Williams will enjoy this book, particularly if you can find an older copy like I did.It is a treasure.

From the hip
In his autobiography, legendary Ted Williams details his illustrious career in baseball with a wide spectrum of human emotions.From passion to disparity, Williams tells it like it is.
He blasts sports writers for their one sidedness's and fabrications, talks highly and respectful of many managers, players and close friends, and above all he talks baseball...especially hitting.
Losing nearly six years to military service and injuries, there is a strong possibility that Williams would have set even more incredible records.
A strong-willed reflection of his life in his own words. It's as if you have Ted right there in your own home and listening directly to the greatest hitter of all time. ... Read more

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An initimate portrait of one of the most compelling sports figure of the 20th century, vibrantly told in Ted Williams own plain-spoken words. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best Damn Book on Ted Period.
This revised edition of Ted Williams: My Life in Pictures is even better than the original which was terrific.If one is not moved to tears by David Pietrusza's account of his last meeting with the Splendid Splinter, you have no heart.This book is a wonderful combination of genuine straight-from-the-hip anecdotes and commentary by one of the most opinionated men in the history of the game and brilliant editing of pictures and text by co-author Pietrusza.Coming on the heels of Pietrusza's excellent biography of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, this book establishes him as one of the top baseball writers of his generation. ... Read more

Product Description
The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues is the mostambitious book ever undertaken "On the other half of baseball'shistory".For the first time, almost every man who ever batted orpitched from 1862 to 1948 is listed, along with his annual battingaverage or won-lost record.It will change forever the way Americanbaseball history is perceived and written. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues
"To appreciate any sport, you must learn about its entire histroy.And you can't truly appreciate baseball without learning about the Negro Leagues.Begin with this book."

-Sports Columnist, Kansas City Star

The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues
"The food industry has Emeril, the political pundits have O'Reilly and the Negro Leagues has Holway.Artfully wrote by the premier expert on Negro Leagues history."

-President, Legends of Sports

The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues
"To appreciate any sport, you must learn about its entire history.And you can't truly appreciate baseball without learning about the Negro Leagues.Begin with this book."

As submitted to Hasting House on Dec. 10, 2001 via e-mail

Negro Baseball Tour de Force
This is a fine overview of the contributions made by black ball players from the mid 19th Century to the more well known players of the 20th.I judge baseball books on how they contribute to the overall understanding of their subject matter.This book stands among the others, including Only the Ball Was White and Larry Lester's pictorials on the Negro Leagues in Chicago, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh.

The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues
". . . statistics that prove the greatness of the Negro League players.Now, we can truly call baseball the National Pastime." ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Letras Libres, published by Editorial Vuelta, S.A. de C.V. on August 1, 2002. The length of the article is 614 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Ted Williams (1918-2002). (Beisbol).(TT: Ted Williams (1918-2002). (Baseball).)(Artículo Breve)(Obituario)
Author: Carlos Azar Manzur
Publication: Letras Libres (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 1, 2002
Publisher: Editorial Vuelta, S.A. de C.V.
Volume: 4Issue: 44Page: 94(1)

Article Type: Artículo Breve, Obituario, Biography

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