This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/4/2017
Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams – commonly referred to as “the greatest hitter who ever lived” – was a native of San Diego who attended Herbert Hoover High School in the 1930’s. He honed his craft early in San Diego but then blossomed into one of the major leagues’ most feared hitters during his 19-year tenure with the Boston Red Sox (1939 to 1960). Williams hit 521 home runs and batted .344 for his career and was inducted into Cooperstown in 1966. In fact, he was also a decorated war hero who lost three full seasons of playing time, and parts of five seasons overall, by serving as a naval aviator in both World War II and in the Korean War.
This lot features Williams’ original framed and matted San Diego Hall of Champions induction painting by artist William Pierce. Inducted into the S.D. Hall of Champions in 1954, Williams was always a local favorite and, in fact, had a San Diego parkway named after him years later. The beautiful painting shows a smiling “Splendid Splinter” gripping a baseball bat over his left shoulder sporting his Red Sox uniform. The bottom of the frame boasts a gold plaque that reads: “TED WILLIAMS ELECTED 1954.” The overall framed presentation measures 25.5” wide by 31.5” high and is ready to be displayed. Williams was just the second athlete ever elected to the San Diego Hall of Champions Hall of Fame, following 1953 inductee Harold “Brick” Muller, a two-time All-American football player.
Includes Letter of Provenance from the San Diego Hall of Champions.