Ted Williams Dies :(
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Was checking through news stories, stumbled upon this:
Red Sox Great Ted Williams Dies
The Associated Press
Jul 5 2002 1:00PM
<< <i>CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (AP) - Ted Williams, the Boston Red Sox revered and sometimes reviled ``Splendid Splinter'' and baseball's last .400 hitter, has died at age 83.
Williams, who suffered a series of strokes and congestive heart failure in recent years, was taken Friday to Citrus County Memorial Hospital ``where he was pronounced deceased,'' said sheriff's department spokesman Lt. Joe Eckstein.
He underwent open-heart surgery in January 2001 and had a pacemaker inserted in November 2000.
The Hall of Famer always wanted to be known as the greatest hitter ever, and his stats backed up the claim.
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 Marine Corps pilot in World War II and the Korean War.
He had 145 RBIs as a Red Sox rookie in 1939 and closed out his career - fittingly - by hitting a home run at Fenway Park in his final major league at-bat in 1960.
Williams' greatest achievement came in 1941 when he batted .406, getting six hits in a doubleheader on the final day of the season.
Williams contended his eyesight was so keen he could pick up individual stitches on a pitched ball and could see the exact moment his bat connected with it.
He also asserted he could smell the burning wood of his bat when he fouled a ball straight back, just missing solid contact.
07/05/02 12:56 EDT >>
Red Sox Great Ted Williams Dies
The Associated Press
Jul 5 2002 1:00PM
<< <i>CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (AP) - Ted Williams, the Boston Red Sox revered and sometimes reviled ``Splendid Splinter'' and baseball's last .400 hitter, has died at age 83.
Williams, who suffered a series of strokes and congestive heart failure in recent years, was taken Friday to Citrus County Memorial Hospital ``where he was pronounced deceased,'' said sheriff's department spokesman Lt. Joe Eckstein.
He underwent open-heart surgery in January 2001 and had a pacemaker inserted in November 2000.
The Hall of Famer always wanted to be known as the greatest hitter ever, and his stats backed up the claim.
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 Marine Corps pilot in World War II and the Korean War.
He had 145 RBIs as a Red Sox rookie in 1939 and closed out his career - fittingly - by hitting a home run at Fenway Park in his final major league at-bat in 1960.
Williams' greatest achievement came in 1941 when he batted .406, getting six hits in a doubleheader on the final day of the season.
Williams contended his eyesight was so keen he could pick up individual stitches on a pitched ball and could see the exact moment his bat connected with it.
He also asserted he could smell the burning wood of his bat when he fouled a ball straight back, just missing solid contact.
07/05/02 12:56 EDT >>
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