(Courtesy of Wikipedia)
A public dispute over the disposition of Williams's body was waged after his death. Announcing there would be no funeral,[16] his son John-Henry Williams had Ted's body flown to the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona, where the head was separated from the body and both placed individually into cryonic suspension.[17] Barbara Joyce Ferrell, Ted's daughter by his first wife, Doris Soule, sued,[18] saying his will stated that he wanted to be cremated.[19] John-Henry's lawyer then produced an informal "family pact" signed by Ted, John-Henry, and Ted's daughter Claudia, in which they agreed "to be put into biostasis after we die."[20] Ferrell's attorney, and former attorney of Ted Williams, Richard S. "Spike" Fitzpatrick, contended that the "family pact", which was scribbled on a oil-stained napkin, was forged by John-Henry and/or Claudia.[1] Fitzpatrick and Ferrell believed that John-Henry had his father "practice" his signature on the napkin, and that the alleged "family pact" was added later without Ted's knowledge.[2] Reportedly, cryonics arrangements were hastily made post mortem by John-Henry and Claudia per their family pact. Though this action upset many family members, friends, and fans, it seems to have been the children's right under the law.[21]
In Ted Williams: The Biography of An American Hero, author Leigh Montville makes the case that the supposed family cryonics pact was merely a practice Ted Williams autograph on a plain piece of paper, around which the "agreement" had later been hand-printed. The pact document was signed "Ted Williams", the same as his autographs, whereas he would always sign his legal documents "Theodore Williams". However, Claudia testified to the authenticity of the document in a sworn affidavit.[22]
Following John-Henry's unexpected illness and death from acute myelogenous leukemia on March 6, 2004, John-Henry's body was also transported to Alcor, in fulfillment of the controversial agreement.[3]
Recently, the Tampa Bay Rays home stadium of Tropicana Stadium has installed a Ted Williams Museum behind the right field fence. From the Tampa Bay Rays website: "The Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame brings a special element to the Tropicana Field. Fans can view an array of different artifacts and pictures of the 'Greatest hitter that ever lived.' These memorable displays range from Ted Williams' days in the military through his professional playing career. This museum is dedicated to some of the greatest players to ever 'lace 'em up,' including Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Sadaharu Oh."
