“If I was paid $32,000 a year, the very least I could do was hit .400.” – Ted Williams

Summer – Lemonade stands, beach, and baseball. What many of you don’t know about Stargazer is that I love to watch old baseball documentaries, and the movie Field of Dreams, at least once during the summer. I was channel surfing on Sunday night and I caught the end of a documentary about Gil Hodges and the 1969 Mets, which was followed by one on Ted Williams, the legendary Boston Red Sox’ left fielder.

Ted Williams, “The Kid”

Ted Williams, also known as “The Kid” and “Splendid Splinter,” played for the Boston Red Sox for 21 years. He was known to his fans and to fellow players, old and new, as the greatest hitter of all time. The Kid had his extraordinary career interrupted by stints in two wars, World War II and the Korean War, as a fighter pilot for the Marines. Despite these lost years, he still managed to lead the American League in batting six times, was the American League MVP twice, was a two time winner of the Triple Crown, had a career batting average of .344, and had 521 home runs. Williams was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966; his career stats have made him a legend in baseball history.

Williams was a philanthropist and a spitfire rolled into one. He always had time for children stricken with cancer, yet allotted little family time to his children while they were young. He had a love/hate relationship with the press and fans, and was really bothered when the crowd booed players who made a bad play. Despite all this, he insisted on quietly giving some of his free time to visiting Children’s Hospital and fundraising for the cancer research organization called the Jimmy Fund.

Williams had a Keen Eye

One of the most amazing stories I uncovered about Ted Williams was that he had such keen eyesight that he could read a record album label while it was spinning. If you do believe this story, Williams’ last visit to Fenway Park becomes more poignant.

During that emotional July 13, 1999 All-Star Game, the feeble Williams came onto the field in a cart to the cheers of fans and players, such as Joe Torre, Ken Griffey, Jr., Cal Ripken, Jr., and long-time friend Tony Gwynn. He slowly walked to the pitcher’s mound to throw the opening pitch, worried because he couldn’t see home plate. With Tony Gwynn coaching him, he was able to throw a pitch down the plate amidst a standing ovation and cheers from the crowd. If you get to watch some of the old footage of this game, you can spot the looks of admiration given to Williams from the young players. It was a day to remember for Williams, the players on the field, and the massive crowd at Fenway.

Ted Williams Legal Issues

Described as controversial, opinionated, and stubborn, Ted Williams was still quite the lady’s man. He married three times and had three children. He lived with his long-time love, Louise Kaufman, until her death in 1993. When Louise died, her children sued Williams for a half interest in a condominium Williams gave Louise, as well as the furniture in the condo.

Family Feud – Ted Williams Contested Will

Williams’ death in July 2002 led to much controversy regarding his last wishes for his remains, and his estate. Unfortunately, this controversy tarnished his memory and made a mockery of his last wishes.

Cremation or cryopreservation?

Williams had a will which said he was to be cremated with his ashes scattered over the Florida gulf where he enjoyed sports fishing. However, a later codicil recorded on a napkin and signed by Williams, his son John-Henry, and daughter Claudia, was produced after he died. It said that Williams wanted his remains to be sent to a facility in Arizona called Alcor Life Extension for cryopreservation. Cryopreservation is a method of freezing human remains with the hope to be resuscitated in the future when a cure for the cause of death has been found. The hope was that in future years the three – John-Henry, Claudia, and Williams, would be reunited. William’s oldest daughter, Bobby-Jo, fervently contested this notion saying the note was forged and that Williams wanted to be cremated.

However, the codicil was enforced and Williams’ body was sent to Alcor. A CBS report in 2003 said that Williams was decapitated during the cryogenic process called neuroseparation, and his head and body were suspended separately in liquid nitrogen. A former employee of Alcor said the facility was missing some of Williams’ DNA. A theory at the time was that John-Henry wanted to sell his father’s DNA.

John-Henry died unexpectedly of leukemia three years after Williams’ death and was sent to the same facility for cryopreservation.

JFK, Jr., the Sexiest Man

While most headlines are spouting stories of Michael Jackson, the tenth year anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy, Jr. (JFK, Jr.) is not getting too much notice. JFK, Jr. was elected the Most Sexiest Man in 1988 at the age of 27 by People Magazine. Read some forgotten facts about JFK’s life and death, and why he gets my vote as the Sexiest Man alive or dead.

JFK, Jr., the Man with Many Talents

Born in November 1960, John F. Kennedy, Jr. was one of the most revered members of the Kennedy clan. John-John, as the press nicknamed him, was only three years old when his father, John F. Kennedy, died from the criminal act of murder at the hands of an assassin.

The values instilled in JFK, Jr. by his mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, became apparent as John grew up to be a conscientious lawyer, journalist, philanthropist, pilot, and elite member of NY society. JFK, Jr. was frequently seen on the streets of Manhattan riding his bike, rollerblading, or hailing a cab. In fact, he replaced his bike every few months because they were stolen so often. It may be a surprise to you that when JFK, Jr. was 13, he was mugged in Central Park and his bike was stolen.

JFK, Jr. was a law-abiding citizen, except for his pranks during his college days. His only arrest was for speeding in Connecticut (driving over 80 mph in a 55 mph speed zone).

JFK, Jr. Death – Did he cause his own wrongful death?

If John, Jr. was alive today, he would be 48 years old. His death on July 16, 1999 at a modest 38 was one of the most horrific and notable deaths in 1999, which is the same year Joe DiMaggio of the NY Yankees died.

On that fateful July 16, 1999 day, JFK, Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, 33, and her sister Lauren Gail Bessette, 35, took off from Essex County Airport in New Jersey. John and Carolyn were on their way to a wedding in Hyannis, MA, with a pit stop in Martha’s Vineyard to drop off Lauren Bessette. Stories circulating at the time reported that John, Jr. said he did not need help flying his Piper Saratoga II in the early evening hours. The plane crashed over the Atlantic Ocean, about seven and a half miles from Martha’s Vineyard. At first, people assumed JFK, Jr. died from foul play or a conspiracy. However, it was later stated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in a well-detailed report that the crash was determined to be due from spatial disorientation, a condition pilots may get which creates a sensory conflict and illusion when flying. According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s brochure on spatial disorientation in 2005, 5-10% of aviation accidents are due to spatial disorientation with 90% of these accidents resulting in fatalities.

Also noted in the NTSB report was the ankle injury and subsequent surgery JFK, Jr. sustained on June 1, 1999 while hang-gliding. According to an FAA medical doctor, a pilot with that type of injury should not have been flying so soon after the injury.

JFK, Jr.’s Estate Sued for Wrongful Death

Devastated by the loss of their two daughters, and probably like most families looking for non-economical damages for wrongful death, the Bessettes and their family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against JFK, Jr.’s estate. Like many wrongful death suits, the case was settled out of court to avoid a lengthy trial and what would be a publicity nightmare for the Kennedy family. Mum was the word on the settlement; however, a report by A&E in a biography of JFK, Jr. said the estate settled the case for $50 million.

Just like his father, John F. Kennedy, JFK, Jr. died way too young and had a bright and promising career. Seems like ten years passed in the blink of an eye.