Autograph Letter Signed
Price: $1,750.00
1969. First Edition. Near Fine.
October 24, 1969. Four pages, written over two leaves, from Ted Williams to his wife, Dolores Williams. Written by Williams in blue ink, with the original envelope addressed in his hand. Near fine letter with intentional three-fold creases, light creasing elsewhere and just a hint of soiling to last page. Near fine envelope with minor creasing and spotting. Overall, a unique letter that gives a glimpse into the private life of a baseball great. In this letter, MLB Hall of Famer Ted Williams updates his wife, Dolores, on his time in Africa. Presumably there as part of a promotional tour, he starts off by telling Dolores about Academy Award-winner Cliff Robertson shooting an elephant for T.V. and describing a swimming area cordoned off and surrounded by hungry crocodiles. He goes on to recount shooting a warthog and reedbuck antelope, catching bream fish, sighting hippos and lions, and more. Camping by the Kafue River at the time of writing the letter, he looks ahead to traveling to the Zambezi River. He ends the letter on a more personal note, writing, "Improve your disposition while I'm gone and someday I'll bring you here. I miss you and John Henry. Please feed him as he's like his mother and loves to eat." Williams, who played his entire 19-year MLB career with the Red Sox, is considered to be one of, if not the greatest hitter of all time. Off the field, Williams was an avid outdoorsman. A world-class fly fisherman, he was inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, making him one of only a handful of professional athletes to be inducted into more than one Hall of Fame. He maintained a long and lucrative endorsement deal with Sears after his retirement from baseball, putting his stamp of approval on various hunting, fishing, and camping products. Item #TWILL004
