Ted Williams, My Father

Candid and unforgettable, a daughter's story of family, devotion, and growing up with the greatest hitter who ever lived

The world knew him as Ted Williams, The Kid, and Teddy Ballgame, but at age ten, his daughter, Claudia, knew him only as Dad. Their life together had little to do with Triple Crowns and batting titles. Their world consisted of casting fishing lines in New Brunswick, cross-country road trips, and squabbling at "feeding time."

Now, in this tender and surprising memoir, Ted Williams's last surviving child recounts her time with one of baseball's brightest stars, offering a rare glimpse inside the Hall of Famer's life after he hung up his spikes. With a fresh insight, Claudia presents an unexpected portrait of Ted Williams as more than the greatest hitter to ever live, but also as a flawed man with a kind heart—a larger-than-life, often intimidating figure with whom life was tumultuous, yet never boring. Throughout her life, their relationship evolved, ultimately forming a bond built on love, respect, and loyalty, and here she opens up for the first time about the rumors that her family faced during his final years, detailing the full story behind his controversial choice to be cryogenically preserved after his death. Filled with personal stories of his strengths and weaknesses, accomplishments and regrets, Claudia's poignant account tells the story of a complicated man and the family he loved.