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The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite History & Biography (2014)From the catalog: At long last, the epic biography Ted Williams deserves – and that his fans have been waiting for. Ted Williams was the best hitter in baseball history. This Red Sox legend's batting average of .406 in 1941 has not been topped since, and no player who has hit over 500 home runs has a higher career batting average. Those totals would have been even higher if Williams had not left baseball for nearly five years in the prime of his career to serve as a Marine pilot in World War II and Korea. He hit home runs as far as or farther than any player before him – and traveled a long way himself, as Ben Bradlee, Jr.'s, grand biography reveals. Born in 1918 in San Diego, Ted would spend most of his life disguising his Mexican heritage. During his 22 years with the Boston Red Sox, Williams electrified crowds across American–and shocked them, too: His notorious clashes with the press and fans threatened his reputation. Yet while he was a God in the batter's box, he was profoundly human once he stepped away from the plate. His ferocity came to define his troubled domestic life. While baseball might have been straightforward for Ted Williams, life was not. "The Kid" is biography of the highest literary order, a thrilling and honest account of a legend in all his glory and human complexity. In his final at-bat, Williams hit a home run. Bradlee's marvelous book clears the fences, too.
855 pages, Hardcover
First published December 3, 2013
345 people are currently reading
3338 people want to read
About the author
Ben Bradlee Jr.
8 books35 followersBen Bradlee, Jr., spent 25 years at the Boston Globe as a reporter and editor, overseeing as deputy managing editor, among many critically acclaimed stories, the Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. Bradlee has three children. He and his wife Janice live outside Boston.
Son of Ben Bradlee.
Son of Ben Bradlee.
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April 25, 2024
After reading some other baseball player biographies in the past, such as Jane Leavy's excellent work on Mickey Mantle, I no longer approach these thinking it will be a light, fun-filled jaunt through the career of an incredible player, which Ted Williams certainly was. Because even though they played a game for a living, their lives outside of that game were often far from fulfilling or joyful. And sadly so it is with Williams, perhaps the greatest hitter ever to play the game. The richness and complexities of Williams and his life provide plenty of space for Ben Bradlee Jr to write a wonderful book, and he has done so.
Brilliantly, Bradlee Jr begins the book on the day that Williams died, July 5, 2002. He was 83 and in abysmal health, having suffered one health problem after another for the prior decade of his life. But his death was no ordinary death - partially due to who he was, but also due to what happened leading up to that event and immediately afterwards. That is because Williams' son, John-Henry, who had power of attorney over Williams' affairs (and seemingly Williams himself), had made arrangements with Alcor to fly Williams' body across the country from Florida to Arizona so that it could be cryogenically frozen and then kept that way until - so cryogenics and its adherents believe - medicine and science have advanced enough to be able to bring someone back to life and cure them of whatever illness/disease they had that killed them. It sounds like something from Star Trek, yet people spend lots of money to have themselves or their family members frozen and stored at Alcor's facility outside of Phoenix. Jarringly, Bradlee Jr. begins with explaining the process to cryogenically freeze a body, including detailing how the staff at Alcor cut Williams' head off. And yes, if you are thinking "Like with a saw?", you would be correct. So that is how we are introduced to Williams: headless and frozen.
Yet, as quickly becomes apparent with Williams: not even this was as straightforward as it would seem, regardless of whether you might believe this process could one day come to fruition. That is because - and here Bradlee Jr makes you wait all the way until the end of the book before detailing this part - there was confusion over whether Williams actually wanted this to happen or not. John-Henry was the one who was pushing this, and pushing this hard. He himself signed up to be frozen, just like his dad (he only outlived Williams by less than two years, dying of leukemia in 2004). Williams had never filled out an application with Alcor, and had never told anyone that he believed in cryonics. On the contrary, he thought it was a joke, and repeatedly stated that he wished to be cremated and have his ashes scattered amongst the sea in Islamorada, FL, where he lived for many years and spent countless hours out on the water, fishing for bonefish. He had stated this in his will as well. But by the time of his death, John-Henry had taken complete control over Williams' affairs, and made secret arrangements to place Williams inside Alcor. John-Henry's sister, Claudia, agreed with him, but his older half-sister, Bobby-Jo, was adamantly opposed. Unfortunately for Bobby-Jo, she had several things working against her: she was outnumbered, Ted had years earlier disinherited her from his will, she was estranged from Ted and rarely saw him (this was part her doing, but John-Henry certainly contributed), and she didn't have any money whereas John-Henry had control of Williams' money. She also had a blemished past, which included alcohol and substance abuse (she too would not outlive Ted by too long, dying in 2010), and failed marriages. So despite facts not really supporting John-Henry (he produced a "Pact" that was signed by himself, Ted, and Claudia, saying that all three wanted to be cryogenically frozen - yet the piece of paper that this "Pact" was written on was only found by him after the fact, it had stains on it, had never been notarized or witnessed, and the date was in dispute), Bobby-Jo was not going to win this fight. And she didn't.
The last quarter of the book revolves around Williams' failing health and John-Henry slowly taking over. Williams, who gained a lot of weight after his playing days were over, suffered several strokes. Ironically, they eventually robbed him of most of his eyesight. I say ironically because he had 20/15 eyesight as a player - which is one of the reasons why he was such an amazing hitter. John-Henry comes across as an absolute jerk. I am not sure what other word to use to sum him up. He was the poster child of the entitled kid of a famous person: throwing his dad's name around, spending extravagantly and recklessly on luxury items, not studying in school, manipulating Williams and playing on his regret at not being a good father when John-Henry was young, exploiting Williams' signature in the memorabilia market and his name for favors. Bradlee Jr interviewed over 600 people for this book, and pretty much anyone that he spoke to about John-Henry had negative things to say about him.
But enough about Williams' death and John-Henry! Williams was a complicated man, who led an incredibly interesting life. Bradlee Jr details his difficult childhood, with mainly absentee parents. At one point his father just deserted the family and moved several hours away. His mother was a fanatic for the Salvation Army and spent almost all of her time and efforts towards that cause, all but ignoring Ted and his younger brother Danny (who had his own issues and died young). Williams was also half-Hispanic, on his mother's side. He took pains to hide this fact, and generally - although not completely - kept his distance from that side of the family.
Williams was an obsessive man, with a singular focus on a particular subject to where he could perform it at a level of excellence almost unmatched. He was this way with hitting and later on with fishing, then also photography. Growing up, Williams hit. And hit. And hit. And hit. And hit some more. After spending a few years in the minors, he debuted with the Red Sox in 1939. Williams was incredible immediately at the plate, seemingly able to hit at will. Williams is still the last player to bat over ,400 (.406 in 1941) and with the way the game is going I do not see anyone even remotely approaching that lofty level now. When I was a kid, plenty of guys still hit over .300, and you had some great hitters such as Tony Gwynn who occasionally tried to venture into Williams territory. But now, .250 is considered a good average, and not too many guys bat .300 anymore. Despite losing almost five full years of his prime to military service in WWII and Korea (Williams was a Marine fighter pilot, and was actually show down over Korea and was lucky to survive his crash landing), Williams batted under .300 only one time (1959). He came back the next year (1960), his last, and batted .316, including hitting a home run on his very last at-bat.
Bradlee Jr. details Williams' career with the Boston Red Sox, including his All-Star game heroics and his lone World Series experience. He won the 1941 All-Star Game in Detroit with a dramatic home run. Back in the days of no playoffs, the only way you got to the World Series was if you won your league pennant, which the Red Sox did one time (1946) despite Williams' long career. He actually did not play well in the Series, nor in a one-game playoff with Cleveland two years later to decide the AL pennant. This helped fan the flames of the Boston press, with whom Williams had a mutual hate-filled relationship. In fact, Williams' negative press coverage is examined in detail (not surprising given who Bradlee Jr's father was), with an entire chapter devoted to just that dysfunctional relationship. Williams was often unnecessarily churlish with the sportswriters and seemed to go out of his way to be mean, crude, rude, and provocative. He seemed to enjoy having that reputation, and even spit towards the press box one time when crossing home plate after a home run.
But Williams had an incredibly kind and compassionate side too. He devoted many hours to charities, especially the Jimmy Fund. He also was beyond generous with his time and money to sick children. And he wanted zero publicity. The book is filled with countless occurrences where Williams went way out of his way to comfort a sick child, often flying last-minute to see a kid, then returning to the Red Sox for a game. He paid medical and funeral expenses, and was accessible to everyday people, something you do not see from ballplayers today.
Williams was also extremely pro-integration, even speaking out for the inclusion of Negro League players into the Hall of Fame at his induction speech in 1966. The Red Sox, with South Carolinian Tom Yawkey as the owner, was the very last team to integrate in MLB. They could have signed Jackie Robinson, but only gave him a perfunctory workout and then never contacted him again. They also passed on Willie Mays. My goodness, no wonder they stunk throughout the 1950s and most of the 60s. Williams was really the only star on that team for a LONG time.
Bradlee Jr does an excellent job of examining Williams without constantly judging him. The bad is here. So is the good. So is the odd. Williams was married and divorced three times, was a serial womanizer, and a bad parent to all three children as his focus was elsewhere. There are good chapters on his fishing exploits, and his time as a manager of the Washington Senators and Texas Rangers, a comparison of him and Joe DiMaggio (talk about another man with a turbulent personal life). Once in awhile I wish that Bradlee Jr had explored something just a bit more, such as the Red Sox's tardiness on integration possibly being due to Yawkey's upbringing, or why exactly the Red Sox never wanted to hire Williams as a manager once he retired. But in an almost 800 page book before notes, he certainly was thorough.
Whenever you finish a long book, but wish it had been even longer, then you know it was a good book. I felt I got to know Williams, his struggles, his sometimes childish behavior, his generosity, his profanity, his great skill as a ballplayer, his marital and parental failures, and the sad and tortured ending to his life. This is a great book and a superb biography of a larger-than-life figure.
Grade: A
Brilliantly, Bradlee Jr begins the book on the day that Williams died, July 5, 2002. He was 83 and in abysmal health, having suffered one health problem after another for the prior decade of his life. But his death was no ordinary death - partially due to who he was, but also due to what happened leading up to that event and immediately afterwards. That is because Williams' son, John-Henry, who had power of attorney over Williams' affairs (and seemingly Williams himself), had made arrangements with Alcor to fly Williams' body across the country from Florida to Arizona so that it could be cryogenically frozen and then kept that way until - so cryogenics and its adherents believe - medicine and science have advanced enough to be able to bring someone back to life and cure them of whatever illness/disease they had that killed them. It sounds like something from Star Trek, yet people spend lots of money to have themselves or their family members frozen and stored at Alcor's facility outside of Phoenix. Jarringly, Bradlee Jr. begins with explaining the process to cryogenically freeze a body, including detailing how the staff at Alcor cut Williams' head off. And yes, if you are thinking "Like with a saw?", you would be correct. So that is how we are introduced to Williams: headless and frozen.
Yet, as quickly becomes apparent with Williams: not even this was as straightforward as it would seem, regardless of whether you might believe this process could one day come to fruition. That is because - and here Bradlee Jr makes you wait all the way until the end of the book before detailing this part - there was confusion over whether Williams actually wanted this to happen or not. John-Henry was the one who was pushing this, and pushing this hard. He himself signed up to be frozen, just like his dad (he only outlived Williams by less than two years, dying of leukemia in 2004). Williams had never filled out an application with Alcor, and had never told anyone that he believed in cryonics. On the contrary, he thought it was a joke, and repeatedly stated that he wished to be cremated and have his ashes scattered amongst the sea in Islamorada, FL, where he lived for many years and spent countless hours out on the water, fishing for bonefish. He had stated this in his will as well. But by the time of his death, John-Henry had taken complete control over Williams' affairs, and made secret arrangements to place Williams inside Alcor. John-Henry's sister, Claudia, agreed with him, but his older half-sister, Bobby-Jo, was adamantly opposed. Unfortunately for Bobby-Jo, she had several things working against her: she was outnumbered, Ted had years earlier disinherited her from his will, she was estranged from Ted and rarely saw him (this was part her doing, but John-Henry certainly contributed), and she didn't have any money whereas John-Henry had control of Williams' money. She also had a blemished past, which included alcohol and substance abuse (she too would not outlive Ted by too long, dying in 2010), and failed marriages. So despite facts not really supporting John-Henry (he produced a "Pact" that was signed by himself, Ted, and Claudia, saying that all three wanted to be cryogenically frozen - yet the piece of paper that this "Pact" was written on was only found by him after the fact, it had stains on it, had never been notarized or witnessed, and the date was in dispute), Bobby-Jo was not going to win this fight. And she didn't.
The last quarter of the book revolves around Williams' failing health and John-Henry slowly taking over. Williams, who gained a lot of weight after his playing days were over, suffered several strokes. Ironically, they eventually robbed him of most of his eyesight. I say ironically because he had 20/15 eyesight as a player - which is one of the reasons why he was such an amazing hitter. John-Henry comes across as an absolute jerk. I am not sure what other word to use to sum him up. He was the poster child of the entitled kid of a famous person: throwing his dad's name around, spending extravagantly and recklessly on luxury items, not studying in school, manipulating Williams and playing on his regret at not being a good father when John-Henry was young, exploiting Williams' signature in the memorabilia market and his name for favors. Bradlee Jr interviewed over 600 people for this book, and pretty much anyone that he spoke to about John-Henry had negative things to say about him.
But enough about Williams' death and John-Henry! Williams was a complicated man, who led an incredibly interesting life. Bradlee Jr details his difficult childhood, with mainly absentee parents. At one point his father just deserted the family and moved several hours away. His mother was a fanatic for the Salvation Army and spent almost all of her time and efforts towards that cause, all but ignoring Ted and his younger brother Danny (who had his own issues and died young). Williams was also half-Hispanic, on his mother's side. He took pains to hide this fact, and generally - although not completely - kept his distance from that side of the family.
Williams was an obsessive man, with a singular focus on a particular subject to where he could perform it at a level of excellence almost unmatched. He was this way with hitting and later on with fishing, then also photography. Growing up, Williams hit. And hit. And hit. And hit. And hit some more. After spending a few years in the minors, he debuted with the Red Sox in 1939. Williams was incredible immediately at the plate, seemingly able to hit at will. Williams is still the last player to bat over ,400 (.406 in 1941) and with the way the game is going I do not see anyone even remotely approaching that lofty level now. When I was a kid, plenty of guys still hit over .300, and you had some great hitters such as Tony Gwynn who occasionally tried to venture into Williams territory. But now, .250 is considered a good average, and not too many guys bat .300 anymore. Despite losing almost five full years of his prime to military service in WWII and Korea (Williams was a Marine fighter pilot, and was actually show down over Korea and was lucky to survive his crash landing), Williams batted under .300 only one time (1959). He came back the next year (1960), his last, and batted .316, including hitting a home run on his very last at-bat.
Bradlee Jr. details Williams' career with the Boston Red Sox, including his All-Star game heroics and his lone World Series experience. He won the 1941 All-Star Game in Detroit with a dramatic home run. Back in the days of no playoffs, the only way you got to the World Series was if you won your league pennant, which the Red Sox did one time (1946) despite Williams' long career. He actually did not play well in the Series, nor in a one-game playoff with Cleveland two years later to decide the AL pennant. This helped fan the flames of the Boston press, with whom Williams had a mutual hate-filled relationship. In fact, Williams' negative press coverage is examined in detail (not surprising given who Bradlee Jr's father was), with an entire chapter devoted to just that dysfunctional relationship. Williams was often unnecessarily churlish with the sportswriters and seemed to go out of his way to be mean, crude, rude, and provocative. He seemed to enjoy having that reputation, and even spit towards the press box one time when crossing home plate after a home run.
But Williams had an incredibly kind and compassionate side too. He devoted many hours to charities, especially the Jimmy Fund. He also was beyond generous with his time and money to sick children. And he wanted zero publicity. The book is filled with countless occurrences where Williams went way out of his way to comfort a sick child, often flying last-minute to see a kid, then returning to the Red Sox for a game. He paid medical and funeral expenses, and was accessible to everyday people, something you do not see from ballplayers today.
Williams was also extremely pro-integration, even speaking out for the inclusion of Negro League players into the Hall of Fame at his induction speech in 1966. The Red Sox, with South Carolinian Tom Yawkey as the owner, was the very last team to integrate in MLB. They could have signed Jackie Robinson, but only gave him a perfunctory workout and then never contacted him again. They also passed on Willie Mays. My goodness, no wonder they stunk throughout the 1950s and most of the 60s. Williams was really the only star on that team for a LONG time.
Bradlee Jr does an excellent job of examining Williams without constantly judging him. The bad is here. So is the good. So is the odd. Williams was married and divorced three times, was a serial womanizer, and a bad parent to all three children as his focus was elsewhere. There are good chapters on his fishing exploits, and his time as a manager of the Washington Senators and Texas Rangers, a comparison of him and Joe DiMaggio (talk about another man with a turbulent personal life). Once in awhile I wish that Bradlee Jr had explored something just a bit more, such as the Red Sox's tardiness on integration possibly being due to Yawkey's upbringing, or why exactly the Red Sox never wanted to hire Williams as a manager once he retired. But in an almost 800 page book before notes, he certainly was thorough.
Whenever you finish a long book, but wish it had been even longer, then you know it was a good book. I felt I got to know Williams, his struggles, his sometimes childish behavior, his generosity, his profanity, his great skill as a ballplayer, his marital and parental failures, and the sad and tortured ending to his life. This is a great book and a superb biography of a larger-than-life figure.
Grade: A
May 17, 2019
I love biographies. When Ted Williams played his last game I was approaching 8 year’s old living in a northern Boston suburb. I knew he was a gifted baseball player and the last player to bat over .400 in a season achieving success and fame. Additionally I knew that he became a Marine Corps aviator, was an accomplished fisherman and that a major controversy followed his death.
Wanting to know more than his basic statistics I dug into this 700 plus page book. The author Ben Bradlee Jr. did a fabulous job in chronicling an unbiased history of Williams’s life. Talented and self-absorbed he was prone to temper tantrums. With an open lifestyle and multiple marriages he was an absent father to his children, as he pursued his personal interests. Even his military service was a bit clouded. Sadly with additional knowledge I do not admire Williams as a man.
Still I’m glad I read this book. I find a bit of satisfaction knowing many common individuals, who are better role models than Mr. Williams.
Wanting to know more than his basic statistics I dug into this 700 plus page book. The author Ben Bradlee Jr. did a fabulous job in chronicling an unbiased history of Williams’s life. Talented and self-absorbed he was prone to temper tantrums. With an open lifestyle and multiple marriages he was an absent father to his children, as he pursued his personal interests. Even his military service was a bit clouded. Sadly with additional knowledge I do not admire Williams as a man.
Still I’m glad I read this book. I find a bit of satisfaction knowing many common individuals, who are better role models than Mr. Williams.
December 17, 2015
OK Goodreads folks! I got this book from the author so that I could help with some of the promotion. Then I actually read all 850-plus pages. Amazing detail. I'm so glad that Little, Brown and Company released this after baseball season. This is so much more than a baseball book. This is a book about a city. This is a book about loyal Boston Red Sox fans who loved their flawed slugger. This is a book about a hero who fought in two wars. This is a book about man who hid his Mexican heritage. Ultimately, it's a about man who won over stadiums full of people, but could never get things right in his personal life. That Ben Bradlee, Jr. took ten years to interview hundreds of people shows in the detail found on these pages. It is organized so that you can follow through on the parts of "The Kid" that interest you most.
April 16, 2021
This is the best baseball biography I have ever read.(With due respect to Mr. Pennington on Billy Martin and the Ty Cobb biography which turned out to be fabrications and hyperbole). Maybe it is because of the subject Ted Williams himself that kept me so intrigued for 775 pages. Maybe it is the mastery of his subject by the author Ben Bradlee Jr. who meticulously worked on this account for a full decade. Or, it is likely a combination of both reasons that lead me to call this the finest work of its kind. The author literally interviewed every important living person in "The Kid's" life: two former wives, multiple significant other love interests, close relatives, caretakers, security personnel, bartenders, state troopers, Fenway Park personnel, baseball players, lawyers, business agents, ordinary middle class friends, sports writers, etc. That is what sets this book apart from the biographies that simply reproduce game statistics or portions of newspaper columns or magazine articles. There is nothing missing from this biography, not from his childhood-a lonely unloved son of distant(mother or absent parents(father)- through and after death that is excluded. And yet, it is not bogged down with needless trivia or irrelevancies. I believe I know Ted Williams after reading this book. I have never felt that way before in any other biography. I believe I understand what made him tick, what drove him to perfection, and why he was the man he became. Bradlee does not shield the reader from Williams' undisputed foul temper, his abusiveness towards wives or lovers(mostly verbal but occasionally physical as well), his thin skin and hatred for writers, his need for public acclaim coupled with his demands for privacy. Williams has always intrigued me, despite the fact that I only saw him play a few times and in the twilight of his career. He was bigger than life. Some have called him the real John Wayne, but you may be surprised to read just how reluctant and resentful a war hero he really was. He was an egotist, but a heart of gold for strangers and children with illness. He was competitive, a perfectionist in everything especially fishing and baseball, but he would willingly defer to an even bigger egotist Joe DiMaggio. (The author's insightful contrast of their personalities and relationship throughout their lives is a running theme throughout the book.) The disheartening last few years of his life and the ghoulish fight over cryonics among the three children are also a fascinating look into the life of a man who demanded and treasured his privacy. The author provides plenty of proof to judge his son John-Henry, but I'll leave the conclusion for you to decide. If I could rate this book higher, I would. This is a must-read, and not just for fans of baseball. Ted Williams was an American icon, and Ben Bradlee Jr. has earned the right to immortalize him.
March 30, 2023
Extremely detailed biography of Ted Williams. It covers his baseball and managing career, personality traits, relationship with the fans and sportswriters, upbringing, military service, marriages, children, hobbies, charities, politics, awards, controversy upon his death, legacy, and more. He was certainly one of the best hitters in baseball history, but he was not much interested in defense. His personality was often abrasive. This book follows his life, mostly in chronological order. It is based on the author’s extensive research and interviews.
At over 800 pages, this book could easily have been half as long. The author seems to have included every incident he uncovered. It regularly goes beyond detail into minutiae. He also seems unnecessarily preoccupied with the more sensational aspects of Williams’s life. For example, the initial chapter covers the controversial cryonic treatment of his body after death. The segments about his adult children’s personal lives could have been summarized succinctly, but instead, they go on for many chapters.
I am a lifelong baseball fan and did not know a great deal about Ted Wiliams beforehand (other than hitting .406 and his military service during WWII). I was unaware of his involvement in The Jimmy Fund, a charity for children with cancer. Ted Williams disliked reporters digging into his personal life, so he would have hated this book. I met the objective of learning more about Williams as a ballplayer and a person, but this book provides way more information than I needed.
At over 800 pages, this book could easily have been half as long. The author seems to have included every incident he uncovered. It regularly goes beyond detail into minutiae. He also seems unnecessarily preoccupied with the more sensational aspects of Williams’s life. For example, the initial chapter covers the controversial cryonic treatment of his body after death. The segments about his adult children’s personal lives could have been summarized succinctly, but instead, they go on for many chapters.
I am a lifelong baseball fan and did not know a great deal about Ted Wiliams beforehand (other than hitting .406 and his military service during WWII). I was unaware of his involvement in The Jimmy Fund, a charity for children with cancer. Ted Williams disliked reporters digging into his personal life, so he would have hated this book. I met the objective of learning more about Williams as a ballplayer and a person, but this book provides way more information than I needed.
February 13, 2014
Ted Williams was a tortured person, as this lengthy biography makes clear. But, oh my, what a hitter he was! The last player to hit .400. With a major league career that began in 1939, in 1957--at an advanced age for a player--he hit .388. If he had any legs left, he may well have hit .400 if he would have been able to get some "leg hits."
The book accomplishes several worthy goals. First, it provides a big picture description and analysis of his baseball career--from the time when he first started playing until his retirement. It shows a growth as a player--from indifferent to playing defense to becoming a pretty decent outfielder. The book depicts his approach to hitting very nicely. It also shows the volatile side of him, when he would lose his temper, publicly get into painful disputes with reporters, sometimes not hustling when he would become angry with someone, and so on. And the ways he would "psyche" himself for a game. For instance, taking swings in the locker room, he would say: "I'm Teddy [expletive deleted] Ballgame of the Major [expletive deleted] Leagues. How can this pitcher get me out with his [expletive deleted] pitching" (I could not retrieve the exact quotation, but this is close]. The book has his batting statistics at the end (page 785), and that is helpful, to get a sense of the trajectory of his career.
Second, it gives a glimpse of Williams as a person. Not always pretty. He was married a number of times and the end result was often unpleasant. He had numerous affairs, had a wicked temper. In short, he tended to treat his wives badly. While his children would say that he was a good father, he was often away. And his personality. . . . He was obviously someone with some emotional/mental problems. He would sometimes get discouraged easily; he would lash out at people; and so on.
Third, it portrays his distressing state near the end of his life. Health problems came up. His son was manipulative and tried to develop a career and lots of income, and he was not above misusing his father. Perhaps most distressing, he wanted to "freeze" his father after death, rather than allowing Williams to be cremated as he had requested. The story is that Williams finally agreed, but the book certainly makes it appear that his son and a daughter manipulated him into the decision.
A richly told tale of a larger than life figure, with larger than life problems, who was a larger than life baseball player.
The book accomplishes several worthy goals. First, it provides a big picture description and analysis of his baseball career--from the time when he first started playing until his retirement. It shows a growth as a player--from indifferent to playing defense to becoming a pretty decent outfielder. The book depicts his approach to hitting very nicely. It also shows the volatile side of him, when he would lose his temper, publicly get into painful disputes with reporters, sometimes not hustling when he would become angry with someone, and so on. And the ways he would "psyche" himself for a game. For instance, taking swings in the locker room, he would say: "I'm Teddy [expletive deleted] Ballgame of the Major [expletive deleted] Leagues. How can this pitcher get me out with his [expletive deleted] pitching" (I could not retrieve the exact quotation, but this is close]. The book has his batting statistics at the end (page 785), and that is helpful, to get a sense of the trajectory of his career.
Second, it gives a glimpse of Williams as a person. Not always pretty. He was married a number of times and the end result was often unpleasant. He had numerous affairs, had a wicked temper. In short, he tended to treat his wives badly. While his children would say that he was a good father, he was often away. And his personality. . . . He was obviously someone with some emotional/mental problems. He would sometimes get discouraged easily; he would lash out at people; and so on.
Third, it portrays his distressing state near the end of his life. Health problems came up. His son was manipulative and tried to develop a career and lots of income, and he was not above misusing his father. Perhaps most distressing, he wanted to "freeze" his father after death, rather than allowing Williams to be cremated as he had requested. The story is that Williams finally agreed, but the book certainly makes it appear that his son and a daughter manipulated him into the decision.
A richly told tale of a larger than life figure, with larger than life problems, who was a larger than life baseball player.
April 27, 2014
In this extremely well researched biography, Mr. Bradlee gives us a warts and all look at one of Baseball’s iconic figures. This is not just a baseball book; the author gives a complete look at his life starting with Williams' childhood, growing up in San Diego and for all practical purposes abandoned by his parents. His mother was a Salvation Army worker and all her time and effort was spent saving souls, not raising her two children and his father was a drunk and often worked out of town. Bradlee continues the story through his death and the controversy surrounding the disposition of his remains looking at the good in the man as well as the bad.
In telling the story of Williams life Bradlee shows how he grew as a ball player and in many ways did not grow as a person. All his life Ted had an explosive temper that he really never learned to control. Bradlee gives countless examples of this. It fueled his legendary feuds with the Boston sports writers and his at times rocky relationship with the Red Sox fans. His temper also greatly affected his relationships in his personal life, both friends and family. Bradlee quotes Williams in his late life admitting to his temper and saying he didn’t know what to do about it.
The author also looks at the extensive charity work that Williams did, demanding that his role remain anonymous. He was always available to visit dying children in the various hospitals around Boston, always coming at night when he would not be noticed. He was also very generous with his money. Bradlee sites several instances where Williams picked up or offered to pick up the Hospital Bill for people in his life. He is depicted as very upset when his offer was turned down, because it was covered by insurance or the people had money to pay. Williams’ always kept this very low key.
In looking at his military service, Bradlee tells the story of Williams’ attempts to stay out of the military, both in WW II and Korea. When Williams was first evaluated for the draft before WW II, he was rate 3A (Sole support of this family). When he was rating was changed to 1A he appealed it to the highest authority. When all his appeals were exhausted, he did accept his induction and became a fighter pilot and was on his way to a combat assignment when the war ended. When he was discharged after WW II, he thought he had a deal with the Marines that he would not be recalled if he stayed in the Reserves. When he was recalled in 1951 he exploded and again tried to get out of it. He was not successful and this time actually flew combat. He was such a tall man that he barely fit in the cockpit of the plane he was flying (F-9 Panther). The story is that his crew chief has push down on his shoulders so that his canopy would close. This affected his decision to eject when his aircraft suffered battle damage. He was afraid that if he ejected he would break both knees and ruin his baseball career. All that said he became very proud of his service.
In looking at his personal life, his temper greatly affected his relationship with his wives and children. While his children claimed he was a good father, he was not around, both during his baseball career and after and all three of them are quoted as to his temper and how they didn’t know which Ted would show up. He was also very hesitant about revealing his Mexican heritage, his mother was Mexican American. For many years he denied it and it seems he was never really comfortable discussing it.
The story of the last years of his life is especially tragic. His son seemed to be the stereotypical rich kid. Daddy will get me out of any trouble I get into (Williams did) and eventually his son used his father’s name to try and get rich with various schemes, often with disastrous results financially. In Williams’ will it was stated he wanted to cremated and have his ashes strewn over his favorite fishing spot in the Florida Keys. His son became fascinated with the cryonics movement and decided that is what he wanted to do with Ted’s remains. He seems to have gotten Williams to agree to the plan just before he passed away. This caused a rift between his three children and a court case. The case was decided in favor of the son and Teddy Baseball is resting in a Cryonics vault in Arizona
In summary this is a complete look at Williams tumultuous life, both good and bad and is a must read for any baseball fan.
In telling the story of Williams life Bradlee shows how he grew as a ball player and in many ways did not grow as a person. All his life Ted had an explosive temper that he really never learned to control. Bradlee gives countless examples of this. It fueled his legendary feuds with the Boston sports writers and his at times rocky relationship with the Red Sox fans. His temper also greatly affected his relationships in his personal life, both friends and family. Bradlee quotes Williams in his late life admitting to his temper and saying he didn’t know what to do about it.
The author also looks at the extensive charity work that Williams did, demanding that his role remain anonymous. He was always available to visit dying children in the various hospitals around Boston, always coming at night when he would not be noticed. He was also very generous with his money. Bradlee sites several instances where Williams picked up or offered to pick up the Hospital Bill for people in his life. He is depicted as very upset when his offer was turned down, because it was covered by insurance or the people had money to pay. Williams’ always kept this very low key.
In looking at his military service, Bradlee tells the story of Williams’ attempts to stay out of the military, both in WW II and Korea. When Williams was first evaluated for the draft before WW II, he was rate 3A (Sole support of this family). When he was rating was changed to 1A he appealed it to the highest authority. When all his appeals were exhausted, he did accept his induction and became a fighter pilot and was on his way to a combat assignment when the war ended. When he was discharged after WW II, he thought he had a deal with the Marines that he would not be recalled if he stayed in the Reserves. When he was recalled in 1951 he exploded and again tried to get out of it. He was not successful and this time actually flew combat. He was such a tall man that he barely fit in the cockpit of the plane he was flying (F-9 Panther). The story is that his crew chief has push down on his shoulders so that his canopy would close. This affected his decision to eject when his aircraft suffered battle damage. He was afraid that if he ejected he would break both knees and ruin his baseball career. All that said he became very proud of his service.
In looking at his personal life, his temper greatly affected his relationship with his wives and children. While his children claimed he was a good father, he was not around, both during his baseball career and after and all three of them are quoted as to his temper and how they didn’t know which Ted would show up. He was also very hesitant about revealing his Mexican heritage, his mother was Mexican American. For many years he denied it and it seems he was never really comfortable discussing it.
The story of the last years of his life is especially tragic. His son seemed to be the stereotypical rich kid. Daddy will get me out of any trouble I get into (Williams did) and eventually his son used his father’s name to try and get rich with various schemes, often with disastrous results financially. In Williams’ will it was stated he wanted to cremated and have his ashes strewn over his favorite fishing spot in the Florida Keys. His son became fascinated with the cryonics movement and decided that is what he wanted to do with Ted’s remains. He seems to have gotten Williams to agree to the plan just before he passed away. This caused a rift between his three children and a court case. The case was decided in favor of the son and Teddy Baseball is resting in a Cryonics vault in Arizona
In summary this is a complete look at Williams tumultuous life, both good and bad and is a must read for any baseball fan.
October 29, 2015
http://www.themaineedge.com/sports/th...
Living in the Internet age, it’s easy to forget that we didn’t always live in a world where the foibles of our heroes were readily reported in full. There was a lot about the legends of yesteryear that never made its way past the myriad media filters and out into the world.
In Ben Bradlee Jr.’s massive “The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams”, we learn just how complex one of the most iconic figures in sports history really was behind the agate type of the 1940s and 1950s. It is an attempt to create a comprehensive look at one of the most fiercely beloved figures in the history of one of baseball’s most fiercely beloved franchises.
And it is a very successful one.
From his tumultuous childhood in San Diego, with his Salvation Army zealot mother and his absentee alcoholic of a father, through his meteoric rise to the majors and obsessive pursuit of hitting greatness and on into his complicated and often weird post-retirement life, Bradlee touches all of the bases of Williams’ 83 years – and beyond - with a thoroughness that will satisfy even the most devoted fan.
The level of no-stone-unturned detail is astonishing; “The Kid” was over a decade in the making and it’s clear that Bradlee let none of those ten years go to waste. Interview after interview with scores of the people who were closest to Ted and an in-depth researching of seemingly every word ever written about the Red Sox legend (including unprecedented access to Williams’ personal papers) combine to invoke a tale that offers a warts-and-all look at a great ballplayer who struggled to be a great man.
There is no whitewashing here. Bradlee presents the man as he was – and he wasn’t always so nice. The anger that Williams carried throughout his life is a central theme to his story; while that simmering rage undoubtedly fueled his greatness on the field, it just as certainly contributed to his tumultuous life off of it.
There was shame with regards to his family and his heritage – Williams long concealed his half-Mexican background. There seemed to be an underlying misogyny in his relationships with women, though his charisma unfailingly drew them into his orbit. These women – as well as his children – often bore the brunt of his unpredictable temper. And of course, there was his openly antagonistic relationship with the sportswriters of Boston.
But nor is this book a hatchet job. Bradlee offers up story after story of Williams doing his best to help those in need. The anecdotes about Williams visiting sick children and paying hospital bills – all while avoiding credit – are legion. So too are tales of Williams’ inclusiveness with regards to black players, a rarity in that era; his Hall of Fame induction speech, asking for the inclusion of Negro League greats, has become the stuff of legend.
But then, almost everything about Ted Williams was the stuff of legend, wasn’t it?
He hit .344 for his career with 521 home runs and 1,839 RBI – this despite losing nearly five full years of his career to military service. He was a Marine flyer in both World War II and the Korean War. After baseball, he became one of the most prominent figures in the world of sport fishing. Even in death, he remained fascinating, thanks to his bizarre final resting place at the Alcor cryonics lab (another aspect of the Ted Williams story meticulously detailed by Bradlee).
Ted Williams was a truly complicated individual, one who defied categorization. He was many things to many people – hero and adversary all rolled into one. Ben Bradlee Jr. has given us a comprehensive exploration of Williams, a glimpse at all facets – the man the world saw, the man he wanted to be and the man that he truly was.
“The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams” is a dense, lengthy read…and worth the time spent reading every single well-chosen word.
Living in the Internet age, it’s easy to forget that we didn’t always live in a world where the foibles of our heroes were readily reported in full. There was a lot about the legends of yesteryear that never made its way past the myriad media filters and out into the world.
In Ben Bradlee Jr.’s massive “The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams”, we learn just how complex one of the most iconic figures in sports history really was behind the agate type of the 1940s and 1950s. It is an attempt to create a comprehensive look at one of the most fiercely beloved figures in the history of one of baseball’s most fiercely beloved franchises.
And it is a very successful one.
From his tumultuous childhood in San Diego, with his Salvation Army zealot mother and his absentee alcoholic of a father, through his meteoric rise to the majors and obsessive pursuit of hitting greatness and on into his complicated and often weird post-retirement life, Bradlee touches all of the bases of Williams’ 83 years – and beyond - with a thoroughness that will satisfy even the most devoted fan.
The level of no-stone-unturned detail is astonishing; “The Kid” was over a decade in the making and it’s clear that Bradlee let none of those ten years go to waste. Interview after interview with scores of the people who were closest to Ted and an in-depth researching of seemingly every word ever written about the Red Sox legend (including unprecedented access to Williams’ personal papers) combine to invoke a tale that offers a warts-and-all look at a great ballplayer who struggled to be a great man.
There is no whitewashing here. Bradlee presents the man as he was – and he wasn’t always so nice. The anger that Williams carried throughout his life is a central theme to his story; while that simmering rage undoubtedly fueled his greatness on the field, it just as certainly contributed to his tumultuous life off of it.
There was shame with regards to his family and his heritage – Williams long concealed his half-Mexican background. There seemed to be an underlying misogyny in his relationships with women, though his charisma unfailingly drew them into his orbit. These women – as well as his children – often bore the brunt of his unpredictable temper. And of course, there was his openly antagonistic relationship with the sportswriters of Boston.
But nor is this book a hatchet job. Bradlee offers up story after story of Williams doing his best to help those in need. The anecdotes about Williams visiting sick children and paying hospital bills – all while avoiding credit – are legion. So too are tales of Williams’ inclusiveness with regards to black players, a rarity in that era; his Hall of Fame induction speech, asking for the inclusion of Negro League greats, has become the stuff of legend.
But then, almost everything about Ted Williams was the stuff of legend, wasn’t it?
He hit .344 for his career with 521 home runs and 1,839 RBI – this despite losing nearly five full years of his career to military service. He was a Marine flyer in both World War II and the Korean War. After baseball, he became one of the most prominent figures in the world of sport fishing. Even in death, he remained fascinating, thanks to his bizarre final resting place at the Alcor cryonics lab (another aspect of the Ted Williams story meticulously detailed by Bradlee).
Ted Williams was a truly complicated individual, one who defied categorization. He was many things to many people – hero and adversary all rolled into one. Ben Bradlee Jr. has given us a comprehensive exploration of Williams, a glimpse at all facets – the man the world saw, the man he wanted to be and the man that he truly was.
“The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams” is a dense, lengthy read…and worth the time spent reading every single well-chosen word.
May 14, 2019
This book was epic and very well researched on the greatest hitter that ever lived - Ted Williams. His numbers are mind blowing. He's still the last person to hit .400 and it would have been .411 the author notes if sac flies didn't count as at bats as they do now. He also didn't get too many infield hits, if ever. The author, Ben Bradlee Jr., who I really respect, does a great job of research and the writing is pretty decent too. But the author, who worked at the Boston Globe during the "Spotlight" period and is the son of the former Washington Post editor, kind of empties his notebook in this one. This book would have been one of the best biographies ever...if it had ended about 200- to 250 pages earlier. Yes you read that right. A whole book earlier. In this book the author describes Williams' last season (1960), and his famous last at bat (also read John Updike's magazine article, one of the very best ever written). But that takes place around page 500 and then you realize, shit, there is still 250 pages left. 250 pages...for his retirement. That and the weird saga of his f-d-up son John Henry, who used his dad like nobody past or present. That and the weird story of Williams' body being frozen like something out of the movie Demolition Man. That's what I thought this book was...500 great researched pages of Ted Williams and his baseball career...followed by Demolition Man. I almost felt I had to go to Taco Bell while reading the last 100 pages (someone will get that). After reading this book I watched the documentary on Williams that is on Netflix. Good stuff and edited to an hour. That's what the book should have been, edited a little better as far as volume, because the first 500 pages are awesome, each and every year of Williams (who was far from a great person, but still a good one) career plus his time in the military and helping out kids for the Jimmy Fund is all here. Last 250 pages was interesting, but would have been better if cut down to about 50 pages.
October 4, 2024
Well done. Williams half breed Mexican background, his proselytizing Salvation Army mom, his not good for much Dad…
His love of hitting…and hitting…and hitting
His crass behavior with fans and the press but his massive unpublicized assistance to so many sick children…his great individual accomplishments on the Diamond—the 406 average, hitting 340 after being a foster pilot in Korea for two years..his last year hitting 340 at 42 years old…
His serving in WW2 and his 39 combat missions over Korea…
And his abject failure as a husband, three marriages, myriad affairs, an inability to control an awful temper, his absence or even the poison he brought to raising his three kids…
And then there’s his son, Ted’s head, and the deep freeze both sit in right now…
His love of hitting…and hitting…and hitting
His crass behavior with fans and the press but his massive unpublicized assistance to so many sick children…his great individual accomplishments on the Diamond—the 406 average, hitting 340 after being a foster pilot in Korea for two years..his last year hitting 340 at 42 years old…
His serving in WW2 and his 39 combat missions over Korea…
And his abject failure as a husband, three marriages, myriad affairs, an inability to control an awful temper, his absence or even the poison he brought to raising his three kids…
And then there’s his son, Ted’s head, and the deep freeze both sit in right now…
October 1, 2022
When I read Leigh Montville’s Ted Williams: The Biography of An American Hero about ten years ago, I figured that would be the end of my journey with the life of the Splendid Splinter. I liked reading about Williams, I find him interesting, but I didn’t need more than one 500+ page work on his life. When Ben Bradlee, Jr. dropped this 775 page tome two years ago, I gave it a hard pass.
And yet, there I was in a bookstore a few weeks ago with a yen for baseball and money in my pocket. I saw nothing else other than the Williams bio that looked appealing. Figuring that I could stretch out reading it over a longer period of time, listening to most of it on audio and finishing it when it was convenient, I decided to grab it.
And I’m so glad I did. Both are excellent works. I don’t remember enough of the subtleties of Montville’s to distinguish one from the other; I remember Montville goes longer on Ted’s relationships with his teammates, especially near the end of his life. But Bradlee seems to have access to a broader scope of information so he’s able to present his in better detail, albeit written in a way that makes for compelling reading.
Ted Williams is an interesting character. Bradlee’s portrait is sympathetic but not uncritical. He seemed to be abusive towards women and there’s at least one claim of physical assault on his first wife that has the veracity of truth. He was loud and obnoxious and rude and an absolutely terrible father (which came back to haunt him in his later years). But he also had a deeply humane side. The Jimmy Fund visits, the constant picking up of checks, the real advocacy for Black players and recognition for those who played in the Negro Leagues. You get the full picture of a person who was genuinely complicated.
I don’t know if I needed Bradlee to go as long as he did on the end of Williams’ life, given the embarrassing way his children started feuding over his estate and body before and after he died. Not that it all needed to be private but it’s covered in extraneous detail that felt perverse. Others may differ.
All that to say, this is an excellent book worthy of a complicated man who loved just a few things in his life and struggled to express love for others, finding it near the end.
And yet, there I was in a bookstore a few weeks ago with a yen for baseball and money in my pocket. I saw nothing else other than the Williams bio that looked appealing. Figuring that I could stretch out reading it over a longer period of time, listening to most of it on audio and finishing it when it was convenient, I decided to grab it.
And I’m so glad I did. Both are excellent works. I don’t remember enough of the subtleties of Montville’s to distinguish one from the other; I remember Montville goes longer on Ted’s relationships with his teammates, especially near the end of his life. But Bradlee seems to have access to a broader scope of information so he’s able to present his in better detail, albeit written in a way that makes for compelling reading.
Ted Williams is an interesting character. Bradlee’s portrait is sympathetic but not uncritical. He seemed to be abusive towards women and there’s at least one claim of physical assault on his first wife that has the veracity of truth. He was loud and obnoxious and rude and an absolutely terrible father (which came back to haunt him in his later years). But he also had a deeply humane side. The Jimmy Fund visits, the constant picking up of checks, the real advocacy for Black players and recognition for those who played in the Negro Leagues. You get the full picture of a person who was genuinely complicated.
I don’t know if I needed Bradlee to go as long as he did on the end of Williams’ life, given the embarrassing way his children started feuding over his estate and body before and after he died. Not that it all needed to be private but it’s covered in extraneous detail that felt perverse. Others may differ.
All that to say, this is an excellent book worthy of a complicated man who loved just a few things in his life and struggled to express love for others, finding it near the end.
November 1, 2017
While Bradlee's depth of research and command of the material is impressive, I did not find this book as engaging as many readers, or felt it was truly revealing of the man behind the legend. Certainly not for a book that stretches nearly 800 pages of reading and 1,000 pages overall. I feel it was an error of excess, and could have used about 150-200 pages of trimmed out anecdotes. There is a real interesting look into a genius of the game of baseball to be found here, a true "warts and all" approach I appreciate. But in the end I feel an overabundance of information drowns out the parent/child dynamics at play in Williams' life (where the real drama lies), as well as the true genius of his approach to baseball (essentially 30 years ahead of his time). Perhaps there was too much of an adherence to the ENTIRE timeline of his life, a sort of need to tell every little thing.
I almost gave this 4 stars simply out of respect for the incredible effort and achievement in creating this biography. But in the end, I just wasn't very happy with the effort by the time I was done with it.
I almost gave this 4 stars simply out of respect for the incredible effort and achievement in creating this biography. But in the end, I just wasn't very happy with the effort by the time I was done with it.
February 6, 2014
This book is very well researched and attempts to balance the often contradictory sides of Ted Williams' personality. What is not in dispute is that Ted was the greatest pure hitter and greatest student of the art of hitting in baseball, something that is acknowledged as one of the most, not the most, difficult skills in sports.
Ted was also profane, abusive, and a total wreck as a husband and, until the very last years of his life, as a father. Even then he enabled a rather worthless son who exploited and tarnished Ted's legacy.
Williams was also a kind benefactor to many, particularly sick children through his support of the "Jimmy Fund" for sick kids, and out of his own time and money for which he demanded that no publicity be given.
Ben Bradlee's massive 850 page tome on Williams is very detailed, almost of the point of tedium, but still full of information and insight that make it indispensable in understanding Williams and obsessive sports psychology.
Ted was also profane, abusive, and a total wreck as a husband and, until the very last years of his life, as a father. Even then he enabled a rather worthless son who exploited and tarnished Ted's legacy.
Williams was also a kind benefactor to many, particularly sick children through his support of the "Jimmy Fund" for sick kids, and out of his own time and money for which he demanded that no publicity be given.
Ben Bradlee's massive 850 page tome on Williams is very detailed, almost of the point of tedium, but still full of information and insight that make it indispensable in understanding Williams and obsessive sports psychology.
December 30, 2015
The kid: the immortal life of Ted Williams by Ben Bradleel jr is a terrific story of the history of baseball. It's about Ted Williams, the Red sod homerun hitter. He helped the down trodden, especially kids. He had an explosive temper. Had a running feud with newspapers and the press. Refused to allow them entry into the club house for interviews after a game. This is a first read win and I have given my honest opinion.
Want to read
December 5, 2013(Received as a Goodreads giveaway)
Looking forward to reading The Kid. I will update my review once it arrives and I finish reading.
Looking forward to reading The Kid. I will update my review once it arrives and I finish reading.
October 29, 2023
Won this Book on Goodreads first-reads. The very detailed book of the Incredible (Almost myth sounding) life of the Legend Teddy Ballgame.
September 22, 2019
Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived and my childhood idol will always have a tremendous influence in my life. I didn't select this book by myself, it was given to me by my grandparents; for my birthday around four years ago. In my younger years I lacked the focus to read a book of this length (800 or so pages) but, after struggling with injuries and mental confidence I found myself back where I started, looking for a fresh start. This refresher came in the form of this book, The Kid- The Immortal Life of Ted Williams, by Ben Bradlee Jr. By making the conscience decision to commit to this book and read it thoroughly, my expectations were fulfilled completely. The extreme detail and width paint the entire story of Teds’ life in seemingly full color. Being born in 2002 I was not able to witness the legendary status of Ted Williams with my own eyes, making this the next best thing I assure. It was easy to “see” Williams and put myself in his shoes where I thought right, and above all this book restored my drive and passion for the game I so deeply cherish.
The expectations mentioned above were met with ease. I was able to read about Teds’ life as a player, giving me specific insight on how strong his mental game was and the work ethic needed to succeed at such a high level. The biography did not just relay statistical data, it went deeper into struggles both of baseball and his life outside of it. Portions of personal interviews were used throughout the novel showing the extent in which Bradlee did his research. Bradlee also provides very little bias when he writes on Williams character and his interactions with people. This account of Ted Williams is raw and real, giving this piece five out of five stars. The ability to portray a real person and not just the legendary status they are known for is imperative to a thorough and cohesive biography.
Let it be heard, however; that this novel is not for everyone. The sheer amount of pages should be taken into consideration when thinking about toppling this alleged daunting task. The focus of this biography is so finite on specifically Ted Williams life and the interactions with others throughout-one must be a baseball fan or an even bigger fan of Williams himself. Although few people will read this book, I believe those who do take the time to read and understand will take away an experience not offered in many biographies about baseball greats. That reason alone should demonstrate the emotional weight this book carries as it coincides with carrying the life of Williams to a full extent.
Prior to reading I knew little about Teds’ life after his baseball career was over. The novel taught me of Williams lifelong battle with his temper and his inability to form meaningful, and lasting relationships because of it. Williams personal life was unstable nearly from birth; his upbringing alone should allude to his failure to hold onto things that could have made a positive impact in his life. Instead of accepting things, such as marriage or kids, he often found himself turning away. Williams was a loner at heart showing the public that he wasn't such a “natural” at all, making him just as human as you and I. It wasn't until his later years that Ted made an effort to reconcile with his kids and amend past relationships with friends and family he left behind. He wanted all guilt from his conscience to be removed prior to his death. It was said despite his kiddish attitude he always had a sad persona about him, this novel portrays the contrast well.
Despite Williams being hot and cold with not only the fans of boston and the writers, but with his friends and family as well; he meant well in almost everything he did. Williams was not only a product of his environment but he carried a complex within him as well. Ted wanted to do good but most of what he attempted to do usually were shadowed by his moments of rage and quick tempered actions. A quotation from the novel itself can support this statement, "When Williams finished his playing career, his excellence as a hitter were firmly established...He also established another legacy, which would nurture and develop the rest of his life- his work with the Jimmy Fund to help children with cancer...Ted's most redeeming quality- the quiet counterbalance to all the moments he had boiled with rage or became unhinged." (pg 460) This counterbalance is virtually unknown to most people who know OF Ted Williams, but by reading this biography it is easier to understand his reasoning regarding his personal decisions.
If Ted and I were sitting on a bench today, most likely watching a ballgame I’d want to ask him countless questions pertaining all walks of his life. However; after reading this, I feel as though I know him even more. Ted has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. He motivates me and teaches me still to this day even though he passed more than a decade ago. Me “knowing” Ted, I know he wouldn't want to talk about his tough times or any of his own personal feats. The only topic of discussion that would occur would be baseball and his approach to hitting. A life as intense as Teds’ should harbor more questions and intrigue from myself but it doesn't and I think that is what makes this so special .Williams just wanted to be “the best damn hitter who ever lived” so why talk about anything more than that, just the Kid himself talking to me, a kid; who wishes he could be the one and only “Kid”, “splendid splinter” and, the best damn hitter who ever lived.
The expectations mentioned above were met with ease. I was able to read about Teds’ life as a player, giving me specific insight on how strong his mental game was and the work ethic needed to succeed at such a high level. The biography did not just relay statistical data, it went deeper into struggles both of baseball and his life outside of it. Portions of personal interviews were used throughout the novel showing the extent in which Bradlee did his research. Bradlee also provides very little bias when he writes on Williams character and his interactions with people. This account of Ted Williams is raw and real, giving this piece five out of five stars. The ability to portray a real person and not just the legendary status they are known for is imperative to a thorough and cohesive biography.
Let it be heard, however; that this novel is not for everyone. The sheer amount of pages should be taken into consideration when thinking about toppling this alleged daunting task. The focus of this biography is so finite on specifically Ted Williams life and the interactions with others throughout-one must be a baseball fan or an even bigger fan of Williams himself. Although few people will read this book, I believe those who do take the time to read and understand will take away an experience not offered in many biographies about baseball greats. That reason alone should demonstrate the emotional weight this book carries as it coincides with carrying the life of Williams to a full extent.
Prior to reading I knew little about Teds’ life after his baseball career was over. The novel taught me of Williams lifelong battle with his temper and his inability to form meaningful, and lasting relationships because of it. Williams personal life was unstable nearly from birth; his upbringing alone should allude to his failure to hold onto things that could have made a positive impact in his life. Instead of accepting things, such as marriage or kids, he often found himself turning away. Williams was a loner at heart showing the public that he wasn't such a “natural” at all, making him just as human as you and I. It wasn't until his later years that Ted made an effort to reconcile with his kids and amend past relationships with friends and family he left behind. He wanted all guilt from his conscience to be removed prior to his death. It was said despite his kiddish attitude he always had a sad persona about him, this novel portrays the contrast well.
Despite Williams being hot and cold with not only the fans of boston and the writers, but with his friends and family as well; he meant well in almost everything he did. Williams was not only a product of his environment but he carried a complex within him as well. Ted wanted to do good but most of what he attempted to do usually were shadowed by his moments of rage and quick tempered actions. A quotation from the novel itself can support this statement, "When Williams finished his playing career, his excellence as a hitter were firmly established...He also established another legacy, which would nurture and develop the rest of his life- his work with the Jimmy Fund to help children with cancer...Ted's most redeeming quality- the quiet counterbalance to all the moments he had boiled with rage or became unhinged." (pg 460) This counterbalance is virtually unknown to most people who know OF Ted Williams, but by reading this biography it is easier to understand his reasoning regarding his personal decisions.
If Ted and I were sitting on a bench today, most likely watching a ballgame I’d want to ask him countless questions pertaining all walks of his life. However; after reading this, I feel as though I know him even more. Ted has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. He motivates me and teaches me still to this day even though he passed more than a decade ago. Me “knowing” Ted, I know he wouldn't want to talk about his tough times or any of his own personal feats. The only topic of discussion that would occur would be baseball and his approach to hitting. A life as intense as Teds’ should harbor more questions and intrigue from myself but it doesn't and I think that is what makes this so special .Williams just wanted to be “the best damn hitter who ever lived” so why talk about anything more than that, just the Kid himself talking to me, a kid; who wishes he could be the one and only “Kid”, “splendid splinter” and, the best damn hitter who ever lived.
July 6, 2024
I'd read terrific biographies of Ted Williams by Leigh Montville and Ed Linn and really enjoyed them. I'd read a remembrance by John Underwood of his friendship with Williams that is truly superb, as well as Ted's voice-driven autobiography, My Turn at Bat, that Underwood co-wrote. I am thankful to have read Ben Bradlee Jr.'s biography, The Kid, which is a culmination and an extension of all three of those previous books, and is filled with the most extensive and comprehensive information on Williams' life available. The book begins with Ted Williams' head being sawed off in a cryonics lab, and from there proceeds to cover his life warts and all, in an unblinking and unvarnished way that does not always leave ted Williams looking like a hero. There are moments of grace and glory, moments of generosity and kindness, and moments of cruelty and pettiness. The Kid is an impossible book to set down. Williams' life unspools in these pages like a great American saga and triumph and tragedy. Well worth the read and highly recommended.
July 28, 2021
Exhaustively researched and exhausting to read- there were large swaths of this that took forever to get through, and I think I know why.
Ted Williams is a difficult figure to like, and Bradlee doesn't really pull any punches. Part of this is because Williams was essentially a feral child, and the anger he had at his childhood carried through a celebrated baseball and military career. While he could be super sweet and kind, he was, it seems, an absolutely raging asshole who was acerbic in response to the slightest peccadillos. Williams just comes off as petulant, petty, and narcissistic throughout the majority of this- and that is in spite of some of the truly magnificent things he did, especially for kids with cancer and in recognizing the skills of Negro League ballplayers.
However, it's Teddy Ballgame's son, John-Henry, who outplayed his father in virtually every aspect of assholishness, who comes across as a truly villainous character. Bradlee is unforgiving in his portrayal of John-Henry as a manipulative, self-serving, egotistical shitheel. In all, I feel an overriding ambivalence toward The Splendid Splinter- not exactly what I had in mind when I started this well-researched, though slightly boring tome.
Ted Williams is a difficult figure to like, and Bradlee doesn't really pull any punches. Part of this is because Williams was essentially a feral child, and the anger he had at his childhood carried through a celebrated baseball and military career. While he could be super sweet and kind, he was, it seems, an absolutely raging asshole who was acerbic in response to the slightest peccadillos. Williams just comes off as petulant, petty, and narcissistic throughout the majority of this- and that is in spite of some of the truly magnificent things he did, especially for kids with cancer and in recognizing the skills of Negro League ballplayers.
However, it's Teddy Ballgame's son, John-Henry, who outplayed his father in virtually every aspect of assholishness, who comes across as a truly villainous character. Bradlee is unforgiving in his portrayal of John-Henry as a manipulative, self-serving, egotistical shitheel. In all, I feel an overriding ambivalence toward The Splendid Splinter- not exactly what I had in mind when I started this well-researched, though slightly boring tome.
December 24, 2022
This was a very long and in-depth biography of Ted Williams. I didn't know anything about Williams going into this, and I know very little about baseball, but it was still interesting and engaging. This biography seems like a decent way to learn something about the history of baseball, and about some of the various trends in US society over Williams' lifespan.
I will take at least some issue with the way that Bradlee dealt with the cryonics issue. Williams' son comes off as a bit of a villain in the final chapters of the book for various reasons, and I think his dedication to cryonics was a big part of it. From the various lines of evidence it seems reasonable to characterize John Henry as a sort of sketchy guy, but I think cryonics comes off as some sort of an immortality cult, when the arguments for cryonics are much more of the flavor of "This is not likely to work, but even with a small probability of working, it's still positive expected value since if it did work the benefits are huge." In the end, I don't think it cost the Williams estate too much, and also it doesn't matter that much what we do with bodies when they are dead. It's not super cool if Williams was very explicit about wanting to be cremated, but at the end of the day he was dead so it's not like he suffered from it.
I will take at least some issue with the way that Bradlee dealt with the cryonics issue. Williams' son comes off as a bit of a villain in the final chapters of the book for various reasons, and I think his dedication to cryonics was a big part of it. From the various lines of evidence it seems reasonable to characterize John Henry as a sort of sketchy guy, but I think cryonics comes off as some sort of an immortality cult, when the arguments for cryonics are much more of the flavor of "This is not likely to work, but even with a small probability of working, it's still positive expected value since if it did work the benefits are huge." In the end, I don't think it cost the Williams estate too much, and also it doesn't matter that much what we do with bodies when they are dead. It's not super cool if Williams was very explicit about wanting to be cremated, but at the end of the day he was dead so it's not like he suffered from it.
May 20, 2017
This was masterful piece of reporting and a very cleverly-written biography. Bradlee overturned every stone when developing the story of Ted Williams--the hitter, the man, the angler, the father, the pilot--and the end-result is fascinating. He builds the case for Ted's controversial end-of-life wishes (he wanted to be cremated, his kids ultimately had him frozen) slowly with hints and scraps and then spends the last few chapters reporting the hell out of it. At that point you appreciate how he built his case; particularly in a heated exchange with Ted's daughter Claudia at the end. That's not to shortchange the meat of the book--if you're lookong for good baseball talk, it's here. My only minor complaint is that I wish he would have talked about Ted's philosophy on playing the Green Monster as a left fielder.
August 20, 2018
Well, let’s see what we have here. A book about a baseball player who was born in 1918 and played for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960. This book came highly recommended which is why I started reading it. At first I thought “who cares about some guy who played baseball so long ago”. Then, as I got going, I realized this is something truly extraordinary. The author does an excellent job of describing baseball and the country during these years along with making the subject come alive. And what a life it was. Right down to the last page, this book is so interesting. And there are a lot of pages here - 775 of them. I wish I could give this book a ten because it certainly is. Bottom line: the life of one of the greatest baseball players of all time - and more.
September 13, 2018
In THE longest, most-well researched and organized biography on any sports legend I have ever read, Ben Bradlee Jr.’s “The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams” will forever be cherished as the be-all, end-all book on The Splendid Splinter. The entirety of the book which focused on the first 80 years on Williams’ life were very enjoyable to read, as every nook, cranny, and emotion surrounding Ted were explored like no other person has explored before. However, the last 3 years of his life seemed to be a large focus and driving motive of the author’s biography, as this theme opens and closes the book and the reader’s experience in grim fashion. This may be the first biography that began and ended by putting a bad taste in my mouth yet still manages to find itself on my all-time favorites shelf. If you read this book, you’ll never have to read another on The Kid!
May 1, 2018
There are certain numbers that stand out in the history of baseball and one of them is 406. Ted’s batting average for the 1941 season.
I picked this up because I always enjoy a baseball biography and this one was no exception. There seemed to be three people living inside of Ted. The ballplayer, the kind and generous man, and the horrible husband and father. He could switch on a dime and I found myself laughing, crying and staring in disbelief as to what was written throughout this book. It’s well written and the author has spoken to the key people in Ted’s life.
Highly recommend even if you are not a baseball fan or a ted Williams fan.
I picked this up because I always enjoy a baseball biography and this one was no exception. There seemed to be three people living inside of Ted. The ballplayer, the kind and generous man, and the horrible husband and father. He could switch on a dime and I found myself laughing, crying and staring in disbelief as to what was written throughout this book. It’s well written and the author has spoken to the key people in Ted’s life.
Highly recommend even if you are not a baseball fan or a ted Williams fan.
October 23, 2019
29 discs, 30 + hours... Thankfully a couple of long car trips made this possible without more than 1 renewal. Well worth it, however.
Bradlee draws you in by leading off with the bizarre chain of events immediately following Ted's death and the process of saving his remains via cryonics. I remember the story at the time, but did not pay much attention. Wow.
Ted was not an easy man to have as a father or husband, and for many years, you could say the same as an employee. He could be startlingly petulant with the press, creatively vulgar, and with a hair-trigger temper to boot. But when it came to giving his time and heart to the sick, most specifically children with cancer, he went above and beyond, all the while insisting it never be publicized.
There's so much more: a difficult childhood, the .406 average in 1941, a marine pilot in 2 wars, leading to 5 lost baseball career years, homering in his final major league at bat (inspiring one of John Updike's most cited works). And when he pursued an interest outside of baseball (fly fishing and photography being two primary examples), it was with the same passion that drove him to be the best pure hitter that ever put on a major league uniform.
Bradlee draws you in by leading off with the bizarre chain of events immediately following Ted's death and the process of saving his remains via cryonics. I remember the story at the time, but did not pay much attention. Wow.
Ted was not an easy man to have as a father or husband, and for many years, you could say the same as an employee. He could be startlingly petulant with the press, creatively vulgar, and with a hair-trigger temper to boot. But when it came to giving his time and heart to the sick, most specifically children with cancer, he went above and beyond, all the while insisting it never be publicized.
There's so much more: a difficult childhood, the .406 average in 1941, a marine pilot in 2 wars, leading to 5 lost baseball career years, homering in his final major league at bat (inspiring one of John Updike's most cited works). And when he pursued an interest outside of baseball (fly fishing and photography being two primary examples), it was with the same passion that drove him to be the best pure hitter that ever put on a major league uniform.
May 29, 2020
I found this book interesting & well researched. I always look to learn more about the subjects of biographies than I knew before reading. I thought I knew a lot about Ted Williams prior to reading The Kid and I definitely learned new things. Took awhile to get through this due to its length, going back and forth between print & audio. This is the only criticism and the sole reason for the 3 star rating. It could have easily been significantly shorter than its 800+ pages and still provided the same content.
April 10, 2021
What a way to honor the first week of the 2021 baseball season by reading this biography over the Splendid Splinter. Bradlee took 10 years to research for this book, and I still felt like it wasn’t big enough to include everything...case in point...3 pages are dedicated to Williams’s only season as the first manager of the Texas Rangers. My only bad thing to say about this one.
Sometimes you read large biographies like this and get bored with them. Sports biographies are especially tiresome due to the lack of depth in most books about athletes. Bradlee somehow manages to engage the reader with anecdotes and facts about all aspects of Ted Williams’s life, through all 850+ pages. I found myself fascinated with the Williams and his life’s journey.
Sometimes you read large biographies like this and get bored with them. Sports biographies are especially tiresome due to the lack of depth in most books about athletes. Bradlee somehow manages to engage the reader with anecdotes and facts about all aspects of Ted Williams’s life, through all 850+ pages. I found myself fascinated with the Williams and his life’s journey.
September 10, 2023
Really good, seemingly honest and quite in depth examination look at a complex human life.
December 7, 2013
ARC provided by NetGalley
I was born long after Ted Williams stopped playing baseball and didn't get into baseball until after he stopped signing and doing appearances. And yet....I remember hearing his name spoken with reverence and honor. The last player to ever hit .400 in a season. The player who spent 5 years of his baseball career, during his prime playing periods, serving as a pilot for the Marines in WWII and in Korea. The player that meant more to his team, his fans, and the world as just a ball player...but as a hero. Someone that we could admire and look up to. And in this book Ben Bradlee lays out the life of The Kid and holds nothing back.
Bradlee tells a compelling story of one of baseball's all time greats. A man that was feared in the batting box til his final days and a man that was troubled in his personal life, with multiple marriages, bickering children, and a legacy that others tried to define for him. But in this book Bradlee tries to do Williams justice. He spent 10 years interviewing friends, family (including his daughters), former players, and any other primary source material he could get his hands on to share the full tale of Williams life. Even though this is a long book (over 800 pages!), Bradlee creates a compelling and well written story about Williams life. He shares the good, the bad, and the in between, so we get a full picture of who The Kid really was. And so that perhaps we might also understand that era a bit better as well.
Despite it's length, this is a biography that is perfect for any fan of Ted Williams, baseball, sports biographies, or even just someone that likes biographies. It's well written, and while long, is well worth the read. I give the book 5 out of 5 stars.
I was born long after Ted Williams stopped playing baseball and didn't get into baseball until after he stopped signing and doing appearances. And yet....I remember hearing his name spoken with reverence and honor. The last player to ever hit .400 in a season. The player who spent 5 years of his baseball career, during his prime playing periods, serving as a pilot for the Marines in WWII and in Korea. The player that meant more to his team, his fans, and the world as just a ball player...but as a hero. Someone that we could admire and look up to. And in this book Ben Bradlee lays out the life of The Kid and holds nothing back.
Bradlee tells a compelling story of one of baseball's all time greats. A man that was feared in the batting box til his final days and a man that was troubled in his personal life, with multiple marriages, bickering children, and a legacy that others tried to define for him. But in this book Bradlee tries to do Williams justice. He spent 10 years interviewing friends, family (including his daughters), former players, and any other primary source material he could get his hands on to share the full tale of Williams life. Even though this is a long book (over 800 pages!), Bradlee creates a compelling and well written story about Williams life. He shares the good, the bad, and the in between, so we get a full picture of who The Kid really was. And so that perhaps we might also understand that era a bit better as well.
Despite it's length, this is a biography that is perfect for any fan of Ted Williams, baseball, sports biographies, or even just someone that likes biographies. It's well written, and while long, is well worth the read. I give the book 5 out of 5 stars.
January 15, 2015
If you love baseball (I do); if you admire William's hitting (I do); if you are a Red Socks fan (I am not but it doesn't matter); this is a fascinating book.
Williams was self-centered, but his growing up with very self-centered parents certainly showed him no other way of living. He denied his Mexican heritage, but it was a different time and his heritage could made his dreams impossible. He did serve with honor and courage during the Korean war. His service during WWII was as a flight instructor in the US. Both took years from his playing days. He was not a nice man. He did give to others with no publicity, but he was not nice. His treatment of women, even for that time, was horiffic. When speaking of women, he stated that one hole was as good as another. He was a lousy father. His ending and subsequent handling was something no one, even the worse of human beings (which he was not) should have to have happen to them. This book was not one sided. It told his good parts and his bad. Ted Williams was the greatest hitter, not the greatest baseball player, but he was human. Too many books about our idols forget that important fact.
There is an immense amount of detail in this book. For those in love with baseball that is great. You must play to win down to this last out as there is no clock to use in baseball. That is why it is still the greatest game. (Oh, I am a Yankee fan first and a Nats fan second.)
Williams was self-centered, but his growing up with very self-centered parents certainly showed him no other way of living. He denied his Mexican heritage, but it was a different time and his heritage could made his dreams impossible. He did serve with honor and courage during the Korean war. His service during WWII was as a flight instructor in the US. Both took years from his playing days. He was not a nice man. He did give to others with no publicity, but he was not nice. His treatment of women, even for that time, was horiffic. When speaking of women, he stated that one hole was as good as another. He was a lousy father. His ending and subsequent handling was something no one, even the worse of human beings (which he was not) should have to have happen to them. This book was not one sided. It told his good parts and his bad. Ted Williams was the greatest hitter, not the greatest baseball player, but he was human. Too many books about our idols forget that important fact.
There is an immense amount of detail in this book. For those in love with baseball that is great. You must play to win down to this last out as there is no clock to use in baseball. That is why it is still the greatest game. (Oh, I am a Yankee fan first and a Nats fan second.)
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