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The greatest hitter there never was

Ted Williams' son abandons dream of playing baseball

Posted: Saturday August 10, 2002 3:33 PM
Updated: Saturday August 10, 2002 3:34 PM

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On Base Pct. .482 1st
Slugging Pct. .634 2nd
Walks 2,019 3rd
Batting Avg. .344 6th
Home runs 521 t-12th
RBIs 1,839 12th
Runs 1,589 14th
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BOSTON (AP) -- John Henry Williams, the son of late Hall of Famer Ted Williams, is giving up pursuit of his own fledgling baseball career.

The 33-year-old Williams, signed by the Red Sox two weeks before his father's death, has told the Red Sox he won't return to the organization's Gulf Coast League rookie team in Fort Myers, Fla., as first reported by the Boston Herald on Saturday.

"In light of all the circumstances surrounding his father's passing, he just felt that it would not be appropriate to return to the Red Sox organization," said Chip Tuttle, a spokesman for John Henry Williams.

Williams went 0-for-6 in his first two games with Sarasota, then broke a rib June 27 when he ran into the railing of a camera pit while chasing a foul ball. The injury was expected to take 5-to-6 weeks to heal.

The Red Sox were not aware of Williams' decision, according to spokesman Kevin Shea.

"He's still on the disabled list, but we're under the impression that he's having second thoughts about his baseball involvement," Shea said.

Ted Williams, the last major leaguer to hit .400, died July 5 of heart failure at a hospital in Inverness, Fla. He was 83. An 18-time All-Star, Williams hit .406 in 1941.

John Henry Williams, who had assumed control of his father's personal affairs during the last few years, has been vilified by fans for having his father's body frozen at an Arizona cryonics lab. John Henry has been in seclusion since his father died.

He wants his father's body kept at the cryonics lab, but his half-sister wants to have Ted Williams' remains cremated, as he directed in his will.


 
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