Rare Photos of Ted Williams

Ted Williams, "The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived," was born on Aug. 30, 1918. A two-time MVP who twice won the Triple Crown, Williams hit .344 lifetime with 521 home runs — despite twice interrupting his career to serve as a Navy and Marine Corps pilot in World War II and the Korean War. Baseball's last .400 hitter, Ted Williams was always colorful and almost always controversial during the 22 years he played big league baseball.

SI Staff | Apr 24, 2014

Rare Photos of Ted Williams /

Rare Photos of Ted Williams

Paul J. Connell/Sporting News via Getty Images

A 6-year-old Ted Williams poses for a photo in 1924.

Ted Williams takes a hunting trip at age 20 in 1939.

Ted Williams poses for a portrait at Yankee Stadium in 1941.

A young fan sits down for a chat with Ted Williams at Fenway Park in 1941, after hitchhiking 250 miles to Boston to meet his hero.

Gjon Mili/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

Ted Williams demonstrates his swing technique during a photo shoot in 1941.

After hitting a three-run homer on Opening Day 1942, Ted Williams is greeted by Jimmie Foxx.

The legendary Babe Ruth and Ted Williams choose sides schoolyard style before a hitting contest at a Field Day in Boston in 1942.

Ted Williams chats with Yankees star Joe DiMaggio before a game in 1942.

Ted Williams covers his ears, joking around on a fishing trip in 1942.

Ted Williams, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, reenacts the oath-taking ceremony with Lt. Frank S. Donahue in 1942.

Fresh off his first Triple Crown, Ted Williams climbs into a plane in Amherst, Ma., as part of his Civilian Pilot training course in Dec. 1942.

Ted Williams trades punches with boxing coach Lt. Alfred Woff at the Navy Pre-Flight school in 1943.

Ted Williams and Babe Ruth circa 1945.

St. Louis Cardinals star Stan Musial and Ted Williams, the reigning NL and AL MVPs, joke around before an exhibition game in 1946.

1946-john-f-kennedy-ted-williams-eddie-pellagrini-hank-greenberg-080089161.jpg — AP

Ted Williams, Eddie Pellagrini, congressional candidate John F. Kennedy, and Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers in the dugout before a game in 1946.

Ted Williams soaks his injured elbow in a hydrotherapy tank in 1946.

Ted Williams shows his wife Doris the home-made bait he used to catch a five-pound Tarpon in Miami in 1947.

Ted Williams weighs one of his new 36-ounce Hickory baseball bats in the clubhouse after morning workout at spring training in 1948.

Ted Williams with Babe Ruth in 1948.

Ralph Kiner of the Pittsburgh Pirates chats with Ted Williams prior to the 1950 All-Star game at Chicago's Comiskey Park.

Post-surgery, Ted Williams relaxes in his hospital bed. He had bone fragments removed from his left elbow after crashing into a wall to make a catch in the 1950 All-Star game.

Ted Williams, who possessed near-perfect vision, takes an eye exam in 1950.

Jim Thorpe and Ted Williams engage in an arm-wrestling match in New York City in 1952.

Ted Williams poses next to a U.S. Marines recruitment poster in 1952. Williams was called back into active service that year.

Ted Williams, now a Captain, climbs into a Corsair fighter plane in 1952.

Ted Williams is awarded the Air Medal with Two Gold Stars in 1953.

Ted Williams checks out with the guard at the Marine barracks in Washington D.C. after being released from active duty in 1953.

Ted Williams and New York Yankees Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle pose for a shot at 1953 spring training.

Ted Williams waves from one of his cars in 1955.

Posing for the camera, Ted Williams displays a bonefish he caught in Florida, 1955.

George Silk/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

Clubhouse man Johnny Orlando looks on as Ted Williams stretches his back muscles during spring training in 1956.

Ted Williams talks hitting during spring training in 1956.

Ted Williams laughes during spring training in 1956.

Ted Williams looks back at Yankees catcher Yogi Berra during an at-bat in 1956.

Ted Williams slides into first against Kansas City in 1957.

Yale Joel/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Mickey Mantle appear on TV Salute to Baseball in 1957.

Stan Musial crowns Ted Williams with the Babe Ruth "Sultan of Swat" Award after Williams won the 1957 batting title.

Ted Williams sits atop a miniature car before a game in 1958.

Proclaimed a modern-day Paul Bunyan, Ted Williams poses with an eight-foot bat in front of a picture of the legendary logger in 1958.

A portrait of Ted Williams taken before a game with the Baltimore Orioles in 1958.

Ted Williams receives treatment for his neck and shoulder pain from nurses at New England Baptist hospital in Boston, 1959.

Elijah "Pumpsie" Green, the first African-American to ever play for the Red Sox, gets some pointers from Ted Williams in 1959.

A 26-year-old Roger Maris and 42-year-old Ted Williams pose before a game in 1960.

Ed Peters/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

A recently-retired Ted Williams throws out the first ball of Game Three of the 1960 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees.

Ted Williams and wife Lee Howard in 1961.

Now retired, Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski have a laugh at spring training, 1963.

Ted Williams, now Red Sox Vice President, offers hitting tips to Tony Conigliaro before a game in 1966.

An aerial shot of Ted Williams at the plate during spring training in 1968.

Ted Williams, now manager of the Washington Senators, gestures during a post game conversation in his office, 1970.

Bing Crosby and Ted Williams hold signs on behalf of saving the Atlantic salmon in 1971.

Rod Carew and Ted Williams pose together in 1977.

An expert fisherman, Ted Williams holds a 10 lb. bonefish in 1980.

1986-ted-williams-wade-boggs-don-mattingly-001074234Final.jpg — Ronald C. Modra

Ted Williams talks hitting with Wade Boggs and Don Mattingly at spring training, 1986.

Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio share a laugh in 1988.

Old pals Stan Musial and Ted Williams catch up in 1991.

Talk show host David Letterman receives some hitting tips from Ted Williams prior to the taping of "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1993.

Ted Williams and his dog at home, 1996.

A portrait of Ted Williams in 1996.

Ted Williams and Ernie Banks pose for a photo at the 500 Home Run Hitters Reunion in 1996.

Ted Williams visits with longtime friends and Red Sox teammates Dominic DiMaggio and Johnny Pesky in 2001.

Published Apr 24, 2014

SI STAFF