Ted Williams

The Biography of an American Hero

By: Leigh Montville

Narrated by: Scott Brick

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 career twice to 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 become the most famous man ever to have his body cryogenically frozen after his death? New York Times bestselling author Leigh Montville, who wrote the celebrated Sports Illustrated obituary 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.©2004 Leigh Montville; (P)2004 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

“It is unlikely that any reader could view Ted Williams as just a ballplayer ever again.” — New York Times Book Review

“Exceptional. Montville on Ted Williams is can’t-miss, one of America’s best sportswriters weighing in on one of the last century’s most intriguing figures. A great read.” —Chicago Tribune

“Leigh Montville reaches a threshold even the mighty Williams could never touch: perfection. The beauty of Montville’s work is that it is not a baseball book, per se, so much as the life and times of an oft perplexing, always fascinating man.” —Newsday

“A comprehensive look at a gargantuan life.” —People

A must for all baseball fans

If you like the game or you are a Real baseball fan to your core, you must listen to this book. Ted Williams was one of a kind. The greatest hitter in the game, his relationship with the writers, war hero, crazy family life, his bizarre end, it's all here.

The author does the research to be the authority on the splinter. It is well written, Scott Brick is a great voice, and what an extraordinary true story. This was one of a kind. Treat yourself baseball fans, you won't be sorry.

Fantastic

Leigh Montville is one of America’s finest sportswriters of all time. His portrayal of Williams is a perfect illustration into who the man was and what made him tick. A perfect read for any person.

All around awesome

I chose the unabridged version of this book, and was not disappointed. Great info on Ted Williams, but the reader on this book also does the job very well even when alternating between different sexes during the section with Ted Williams's 2nd or 3rd wife. The quality definitely won't let you down.

Amazing read!!!

This was an amazing telling of an amazing life filled with highs and lows and stardom. Ted Williams has always been a "hero" of sorts in my eyes, but is more so now after listening to his full story so eloquently presented.

Phenomenal Book (Felt like 3 books)

This is not only a book about one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game. This is a must read book for anyone even those who aren’t baseball fans. The man who would visit countless sick children in hospitals and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars towards the Jimmy V foundation. This books is about the man that was Ted Williams, warts and all. His public persona and the mask he wore around fans. His anger towards the media. How he was a neglectful father towards his kids and how his kids would fight, sue and argue to get every single cent they had out of him. Even fight about how they should burry him. This book perfectly encapsulates the great life of Ted Williams.