‘Ted Williams’ at Bat on American Masters July 24

PBS DISTRIBUTION HONORS LEGENDARY BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER WITH THE RELEASE OF 

“AMERICAN MASTERS – TED WILLIAMS: ‘THE GREATEST HITTER WHO EVER LIVED’”

 

Narrated By Emmy- and Golden Globe-Winner Jon Hamm

Available on DVD and Digital HD July 24 from PBS Distribution

Premieres Monday, July 23 at 9 p.m. on PBS (Check Local Listings)

 

PBS Distribution announced today it will be releasing “AMERICAN MASTERS – TED WILLIAMS: ‘THE GREATEST HITTER WHO EVER LIVED’” on DVD and Digital HD. The new program, co-produced by Albert M. Tapper Productions, in association with Major League Baseball, David Ortiz’ Big Papi Productions and Nick Davis Productions, explores not only the Baseball Hall of Famer’s remarkable on-field accomplishments but also his complicated relationships with family, teammates, press, fans and himself. “AMERICAN MASTERS – TED WILLIAMS: ‘THE GREATEST HITTER WHO EVER LIVED’” will be available this summer in honor of Williams’ centennial (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002), and marks the first baseball subject in the series’ 32-year history.

AMERICAN MASTERS – TED WILLIAMS: ‘THE GREATEST HITTER WHO EVER LIVED’” will be available on DVD July 24, 2018 (SRP $24.99) and has a run time of approximately 60 minutes. The program will also be available for digital download.

During his remarkable career with the Boston Red Sox, Ted Williams earned many nicknames – The Kid, The Splendid Splinter and Teddy Ballgame, but the only nickname that he wanted was “the greatest hitter who ever lived.” In that pursuit, he combined his preternatural gifts with a fierce work ethic to become widely regarded as one of the greatest ever to play the game of baseball and in the process elevated the science of hitting in ways still emulated today.

Through never-before-seen archival footage and in-depth interviews with those who knew and studied Williams, including his daughter Claudia Williams, author/journalist Ben Bradlee, Jr., veteran baseball writer Roger Angela, and award-winning broadcasters Bob Costas and the late Dick Enberg, the program demonstrates the power of the heroic myth-making culture in which Williams flourished. Lesser-known topics explored int eh film include Williams’ Mexican-American background, his experiences serving during World War II and the Korean War, and his deep rage over his mother’s virtual abandonment of him and his younger brother.

Narrated by Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor Jon Hamm, “AMERICAN MASTERS – TED WILLIAMS: ‘THE GREATEST HITTER WHO EVER LIVED’” also looks at the legendary player’s impact on the game of baseball and his relevance in the almost 60 years since his retirement, highlighted by Williams’ iconic achievement — he is the last player to hit over .400, finishing the 1941 season batting .406. Former players – including Baseball Hall of Famers Willie McCovey and Wade Boggs, three-time All-Star Jim Kaat, and current Cincinnati Reds first baseman and former National League MVP Joey Votto – share how Williams’ philosophy, commitment to greatness and approach to hitting influenced them in the film.

AMERICAN MASTERS – TED WILLIAMS: ‘THE GREATEST HITTER WHO EVER LIVED’ is an Albert M. Tapper Production in association with Nick Davis Productions, Major League Baseball, Big Papi Productions, and THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC’s American Masters for WNET. Nick Davis is director and producer. Michael Kantor and Albert M. Tapper are executive producers. David Ortiz is executive producer for Big Papi Productions. Nick Trotta is executive producer for Major League Baseball.

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