Status: Hall of Fame MLB catcher from 1974-92 with Montreal Expos, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers.

DOB: April 8, 1954 In: Culver City, CA

Sports Heroes/Inspirations: “Well, first of all, it would have to be my father. And second of all, I’d have to say Mickey Mantle. When I was involved in ‘Punt, Pass & Kick’ contests – which I was one of the very first winners in 1961 as a seven-year-old, I’d have to say back then I was a Rams fan and I liked Roman Gabriel. Basketball – I’ve admired and respected the great respect than Michael Jordan had. I followed the Lakers and loved Jerry West and Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain and that group.”

Early Basetball Memory: “I was just excited to have a uniform. And I got that when I was eight-years-old. And then, obviously, when I signed professionally, to play in my first Major League game which was in September if ‘74. And never had to look back, I mean, it was a dream come true. That’s what every young kid thinks about when they first put on a uniform – is to play in the Major League and then, ultimately, play in a World Series. To me, that was the ultimate, winning in ‘86.”

Favorite Meal: “Steak and potatoes.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Cap’n Crunch with Crunchberries.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Pralines and cream.”

Nicknames: “The Kid, Kid Carter.”

Favorite Movies: “Baseball movies would have to be Field Of Dreams – that one little segment at the end, when it says, Hey dad, do you want to have a catch? For The Love Of The Game. I’ve got a lot, my wife and I are big movie-goers. So I’d have to say I’ve got a lot of favorites.”

Favorite TV Shows: “I like Friends, and I liked Joey.”

Musical Tastes: “I like mellow music. I like some jazz. But I’m not a big hard rock guy.”

First Job: “Was a nerspaper boy – Fullerton News Tribune.”

First Car: “1963 Ford Fairlane – ugly beige/brown – that my father gave me.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “To win, nothing more.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Was as a team winning the World Series. Gotta be the 1986 World Series, no question. Personally – getting inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

Most Painful Moment: “[Laughs] Ten knee surgeries. I had my knee replaced. Comes along with the territory.”

Funny Baseball Memory: “Just being around the guys always made me laugh. I like the three-man lift deal. It’s kind of a tradition that you get a rookie, put him in the middle, wrap your arms and legs around him, then douse him with everything you can get a hold of – shaving cream, ketchup, mustard, everything. It’s kind of like a pie in the face after a guy is successful. (Who did you get?) Oh gosh, every rookie that came through. Anybody that was gullible enough to accept that.”

Closest Baseball Friends: “Jerry Royster, Tommy Hutton, Jeff Reardon – the ones that I’ve been around.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Oh my goodness, Roger McDowell would have to be number one.”

Family: Wife, Sandy; children, DJ, Christy, Kimmy; three grandkids.

Career Accomplishments: 11-time All-Star; Two-time All-Star Game MVP (1981, 1984); Won three Gold Gloves; Recipient of Roberto Clemente Award in 1989; World Champion with Mets in 1986; .262 career batting average with 324 HRs and 1,225 RBI.

Status: Baseball Hall of Famer.

DOB: August 30, 1918 In: San Diego, CA

Passed Away: July 5, 2002

Childhood Heroes: “That’s a funny point. I never had any childhood sports heroes. There was no radio or television back then. The only word I could get from anyone was from the ‘papers. From the very beginning I’d heard of (Lou) Gehrig and (Babe) Ruth. What I did was ask anyone who was a good hitter, What did I have to do to be a good hitter? And I got all kinds of answers. The one that I remember most was from Rogers Hornsby. He said to make sure you get a good ball to hit. Of course, that meant to not swing at balls in the dirt, or too high, or too outside.”

Nicknames: The Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame, The Thumper, Thumpin’ Theodore, The Kid.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Fishing, tennis, jazz.”

Childhood Dream: “Only to become a big league ballplayer.”

Early Baseball Memory: “Hit my first ball over the fence at the playground. A Sunday game in the San Diego league. When I was 18. Didn’t hit it far…it went over the shortest part of the fence. But I’ll never forget that one.”

Favorite Movies: “No question [laughs]…John Wayne movies.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “I’d think about the pitcher. That’s the only guy I’d think about, not of any hitters or anyone else from the opposing team. I’d think of just that pitcher. Maybe I’d found out as much as I could from someone who’d hit against him in the past.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “The home run I hit in the All-Star Game in 1941 (in ninth inning against Claude Passeau of the Cubs). Won the All-Star Game for the American League. That was my second All-Star Game but my first time in the starting lineup.”

Most Painful Moment: “When we lost the World Series to the Cardinals (1946). I hadn’t done very well (he hit .200 in the seven game series).”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Barry Bonds. Steve Garvey. Ken Griffey Jr. I like the big hitters in sports. Today they’re bigger, faster and stronger. These days I see more great plays in the outfield than I’ve ever seen in my life. In tennis I like Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl and Michael Chang. I love to see Chang play. The little man. Lots of Go with him. He hammers it away with the best of them.”

Most Treasured Possession: “The only baseball I ever really kept…I kept two. Babe Ruth signed a baseball for me, signed, ‘Ted Williams, your pal, Babe Ruth.’ But someone stole it from me. I offered a $5,000 reward. Only one I ever kept was the first home run I hit off Bob Feller. I had a high regard for him as a pitcher and as a person. He sold me on him when they day after Pearl Harbor he signed for the Navy for four years.”

Interesting Facts: Ted was a Marines fighter pilot instructor during World War II (1942-1945). And then he flew 38 combat missions in the Korean War (1952-53). On February 17, 1953, Ted’s plane was hit by ground fire. Despite no landing gear, no radio, no hydraulic pressure, and his plane on fire, he was able to land the plane.

Career Accomplishments: Two-time MVP; Two Triple Crowns; Six-Time AL Batting Champ; .344 career average; 521 career home runs; ML record for most successive times (16 in 1957) reaching base safely (2 singles, 2 HR, 9 BB, 1 HBP); Oldest ML player to win batting title (.328 at age 40); Inducted to Hall of Fame in 1966; First ML player to hit over .400 (.406 in 1941); Hit HR in final at-bat and received four-minute standing ovation (1960).

This Biofile interview was conducted in 1995.