1918- Teddy Samuel Williams is born on August 30 in San Diego to Sam and May Williams.
1920- Danny Williams, Ted's brother is born in San Diego.
1926- Ted Williams enters school at Garfield Grammar School. At Garfiled Ted would discover the game of baseball and would play it as much as possible. Ted would sometimes go to school early and bribe kids with his lunch money to pitch or shag while he hit.
1932- Del Ballinger moved across the street from Ted's house. Ted was 14 and Del was 13. Del had been the batboy for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League. With both Ted and Del huge baseball fans they quickly became friends. In school Ted would raise his hand to go to the bathroom and then would sneak out to the field to hit. Five minutes after Ted would leave Del would raise his hand and would also leave to met Ted at the field.
1933- Ted enters high school at Herbert Hoover High. Ted was supposed to go to San Diego high with the way the boundry lines were drawn up even though he lived two miles from Hoover. The same situation was going on for Bill Skelly who was a very good pitcher. After some sort of agreement between school administrators Ted would go to Hoover and Billy to San Diego High. Ted would go on to become both a hitting and pitching star at Hoover. By the end of his senior year Ted was attracting a few professional scouts. Ted would end up signing with the hometown San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League.
1937- The legendary Boston Red Sox obtain the rights to Ted Williams from the San Diego Padres.
Ted in his San Diego Padres Uniform. Photo from The San Diego Historical Journal
1938- Ted's parents recieve 5,000$ from the Padres paid by Eddie Collins for their son to report to the Red Sox. In March Ted starts his professional career with the Red Sox at their farm team in Minneapolis. Ted would make his major league debut later in the year.
1939- Ted has a great rookie year hitting .327 with 31 home runs and 145 rbi's. Babe Ruth calls him the rookie of the year. Ted also hits two of the longest home runs in Detroit Tiger history at their field.
1941- Ted has one of the greatest seasons ever recorded. Ted hit .406 on the year. Ted instead of playing it safe on the last day of the season to stay a .400 decides to play. He would go 6 for 8 on the day and finish at .406. Ted also wins the All-Star game with a home run in the ninth inning.
1942- Ted is classified as 1A for the draft. Ted has his classification changed to 3A because he has to support his mother. In May he enlists in the US Naval Air Corps. He would win baseballs Triple Crown leading the league in average, home runs, and rbi's. In December Ted is assinged to ground school at Amherst.
1942-46- Ted serves in the Navy but sees no active duty. He is called back from Hawaii just as he was to see duty becuase of V-J Day. In 1944 he maries Doris Soule.
1947-50- Ted wins his second Triple Crown in 1947. In 1948 while fishing in Florida his first child is born in Boston. In 1949 he wins his second MVP award and signs a contract worth 125,000$.
1952- Ted is called to active duty for the Korean War. In his final at bat before leaving he hits a home run.
1953- Ted reports to Korea for duty. In Feburary his plane is hit by Red ground fire but he manages to land safely. Ted survives a second crash when the right wing of his jet is smashed by flak. In June he is ordered to come home and in July is released from the marines. In August he makes his return to baseball with a pinch hit appearence.
1954-58- Ted's wife wins a divorce case and recieves 50,000$. In 1956 he hits his 400th career home run. In 1957 Ted wins the batting title with a .388 average. Although Mickey Mantle beats him out for MVP. Mantle was in shock that Ted did not win. In 1958 Ted signs a contract for 125,000$ and wins his sixth batting title.
1960- Ted hits his 500th career home run against Clevland. Announces this will be his last year playing baseball. Is voted player of the decade by the Sporting News. Again he hits a home run in his last at bat.
1966- Ted is inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame with Casey Stengel.
1969- Ted becomes the Manager of the Washington Senators. Teds contract is for five years worth 1,250,000$ including stock. In 1968 his son John Henry Williams is born to him and his third wife Dolores.
1991- Ted Williams day is held at Fenway Park and Ted tips his cap to the crowd for the first time. Later that year he recieves the Medal of Freedom from President Bush.
2002- Ted passes away due to medical complications in Florida leaving the world to wonder who the greatest living ball player is now that The Greatest Hitter Ever is gone.
