John Henry Williams (baseball) - Alcor Controversy

Alcor Controversy

John-Henry had always been a highly controversial figure in sports and sports collectibles circles, but this reached a fever pitch after Ted died on July 5, 2002. Announcing there would be no funeral, he had Ted's body flown to the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona, and placed in cryonic suspension. John-Henry's lawyer produced an informal family pact signed by Ted, John Henry, and Claudia in which they agreed "to be put into biostasis after we die" to "be able to be together in the future, even if it is only a chance."

In his book, Ted Williams: An American Hero, Leigh Montville disputes this document, as he believes it to be a "practice autograph" with the rest of the contract written around it: It was signed "Ted Williams", whereas Williams typically signed legal documents with his full name, according to Montville.

Barbara Joyce (Bobbie Jo) Ferrell, Ted's daughter by his first wife, sued John-Henry, claiming that Ted wanted to be cremated, and led a very public campaign against her half-brother. Ferrell, who was in contact with her father but had only met her siblings a few times, had been disinherited by Williams. She also alleged John-Henry was planning to sell their father's DNA, a charge John-Henry disputed. A judge ruled that the signature on the family pact was Ted's, and, the note would stand as his final request. On December 20, 2002, Ferrell withdrew her objections after a judge agreed that a $645,000 trust would be distributed equally among the siblings.