The date was May 23rd, 1954. The Red Sox were playing a day game on a rainy Sunday afternoon in New York.  They trailed 7-2 going into the top of the 7th. They scored 8 unanswered runs to come away with a 10-9 win over the Yankees. For the day, Ted Williams was 2-3, with an RBI and three walks. He scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and drove in an insurance run with a single in the top of the 9th.

Ted Williams on What’s My Line

After the game, the Splendid Splinter made his way from the Bronx over to be the “mystery guest” at a live taping of What’s My Line at CBS Studio 59 in downtown Manhattan. The show aired live at 10:30 PM.

Williams signed in, and Dorothy Kilgallen asked him if he “frequently appeared before the public”, and if he was a “performer.” He answered yes to both questions, before telling her that he was not a singer. She thought he should take it up.

Comedian Fred Allen asked if he was an actor, drawing a “no” from Williams.

Actress Arlene Francis asked again if he performed, and if he was “in some other business than the theater and the picture business?”

“Yes.”

“Would it be in the sports world”

“Would it be part of a sport that has become a national pastime in America, baseball?”

Ted asked host John Daly (not the golfer), “Is it””, getting the biggest laugh of the evening, and leading to him making a face most didn’t know Teddy Ballgame could make.

“Are you with one of the New York teams,” to which Ted replied, “No.”

Bennett Cerf then figured it out, asking if he played in one of the New York ballparks today? Ted replied yes. “Was it up at the Yankee Stadium?”

“Yes.”

“Are you then a member of the Boston Red Sox.”

“Yes.”

“Well gee, if it isn’t the fellow it oughta be, I’m gonna be pretty sore. ”

“Have you ever served a hitch in the Marines”

“Yeah”

“If I’m right, it’s a great honor to be on the same show with Ted Williams”