WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Old Ballgame: Ted Williams

Episode Date: October 23, 2024

A look at the life of  ball player and war hero Ted Williams.

Welcome to the Old Ball Game, where we talk about the past of America's favorite pastime. I'm Tate Christensen. Today we talk about baseball great and war hero, Ted Williams. Ted Williams grew up in Southern California, the son of a United States Army veteran. At the age of eight, Williams' uncle Saul taught him how to throw a baseball. He then went on to become his high school's star pitcher and played American Legion baseball throughout high school. In 1960, he was named American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year. Throughout high school, Williams received offers from Major League Baseball teams, but his mom refused to let him leave home at such a young age. As a compromise, he signed up to play with the local minor league club, the San Diego Padres. After high school graduation in 1937, Williams led the Padres to the Pacific Coast League

Championship. From there, the Boston Red Sox took notice of Williams and signed him on beginning the next season. Four years later, in 1942, Williams was drafted into the Navy. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, as the Naval Aviator in 1944. Williams played on the service baseball team in his time in the military. Although, unlike many other professional baseball players in the military, it did not consume his life. After being discharged in 1946, Williams returned to the Red Sox for another successful season. That year, the Red Sox made it to the World Series finals. But Williams had suffered an arm

injury earlier that month that prohibited him from swinging a bat up to one day before the series started. Williams went five for 25 in the series with only one RBI. The Red Sox ended up losing the series in seven games. For his extensive and impactful career, Williams was honored in many ways. In 1966, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and in 1991, President George H.W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Williams died in 2002 at the age of 83. This has been the old ball game on Radio Free Hillsdale, 101.7 FM.