Ted Williams (1918–2002) was a paradox. His cool, controlled, and patient attitude while at the plate was incongruous with his explosive, unpredictable temper out of the batter’s box. With a swing that was both admired and feared, Williams has been called the greatest hitter of the last half of the twentieth century and was perhaps the greatest left-handed hitter of all time. In this biography Michael Seidel explores the complexities of the mercurial personality and amazing career of the near-mythic “Splendid Splinter.”

 

With the death of Williams in the summer of 2002, baseball lost one of its true greats. Yet controversy continued to surround Williams in death as news of a bizarre family dispute over the fate of Williams’s body captivated the country. In a new foreword to this edition, the author discusses the odd events surrounding the ballplayer’s death and their significance to the legend of Ted Williams.

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 (Nebraska 2002).

“Seidel’s work should stand the test of time as an accurate, evenhanded portrait.”—Library Journal

“Michael Seidel’s rounded biography . . . Suggests, delicately, why, in spite of his virtuosity at the plate, [Williams] does not belong on any all-time all-star team. . . . Still, as a pure hitter Williams was in a class by himself.”—New York Times Book Review