Ted Williams aspired to be the greatest hitter who ever lived, a lofty goal that he achieved by obsessing over every facet of the craft. Williams was a wizard with the bat, combining an expert knowledge of the strike zone with an analytical approach that was well ahead of its time.
As brilliant as he was as a ballplayer, the “Splendid Splinter” was also a complicated human being whose personality could be described as surly. The complexities of Williams’s personality and the fascinating details of his career are explored in an installment of the PBS documentary series American Masters.
Life Away from the Diamond
Though it runs just 54 minutes, Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived provides a wealth of information about the Red Sox legend. Baseball fans know Williams as the last player to hit .400, as well as a two-time Triple Crown winner and the owner of the all-time on-base percentage record. What they may not know is that Williams was enshrined in two fishing Halls of Fame, or that he was a fighter pilot who served in both World War II and the Korean War.
The documentary examines these aspects of Williams’s life to demonstrate that he was not a typical ballplayer, but a multi-faceted individual with an insatiable desire for greatness.
Rather than simply cutting together highlight-reel plays from his baseball career, the film presents Williams as an archetype of the stoic but highly motivated individuals that have so often shaped history. Williams may have been a genius at the plate, but his obsession with mastering the art of hitting came at a price.
A Master of his Craft
Williams refused to work on his defense and would practice his swing even while playing the outfield. This practice was criticized by the press, and by fans who felt that he prioritized individual achievements over team results. The difference between Williams and other ballplayers was that Williams felt no need to apologize for being so single-minded. He knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish, and no one could deter him from his goal.
Viewers will come away from this installment of American Masters with a deeper understanding of Ted Williams the person, particularly how his stubbornness was a defining character trait. For instance, Williams was insistent on never tipping his cap to the fans who cheered him on at Fenway Park.
The Fenway Faithful had booed Williams early in his career, and he could never quite forgive them for that treatment. It wasn’t until the Red Sox celebrated “Ted Williams Day” in 1991 that he finally doffed his hat to the Boston crowd. While many viewed him as difficult, Williams’ refusal to give in to public pressure could also be seen as an admirable quality.
Searle’s Final Say
Both hardcore baseball fans and newcomers to the sport will be thoroughly entertained by Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived. The documentary features interviews with players like Wade Boggs and Joey Votto who explain how Williams and his offensive approach influenced the way they play the game. The greatest strength of the film, however, is that it delves deeper than mere stats and career highlights.
Details such as how Williams struggled to accept his Mexican-American heritage help us understand the various nuances of his personality and public image. The world may know who Ted Williams was as a player, but this film reveals the personal struggles that defined his life away from the ballpark.
American Masters- Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived is currently available on Netflix.
