Orioles’ Williams Was Battler to the End

The determination that Edward Bennett Williams exhibited in all facets of his life was underscored by his vocal involvement with baseball and his battle to live. Williams, 68, noted trial lawyer and owner of the Baltimore Orioles, died Saturday of cancer.

“It’s like a family member passing away,” said Oriole coach and former catcher Elrod Hendricks. “He’s been sick since he owned the ballclub. He had the will to live. He never gave in; he could have easily quit. It’s been a rough year all around for the ballclub. It seemed never-ending.”

Williams invested some of the proceeds of his court-room labor in sports, buying an interest in the Washington Redskins in the early 1960s before fulfilling a childhood dream by owning a major league baseball team.

Because the National Football League has a policy against owner involvement in two leagues, Williams sold his share of the Redskins to partner Jack Kent Cooke after buying the Orioles in 1979.

“He knew what was going on with the ballclub until the day he died,” pitching coach Herm Starrette said.

Milwaukee Brewers owner Allan (Bud) Selig said: “We knew it was coming but it doesn’t make it any easier. (Williams) had a spirit the rest of the world could take a lesson from. He was one of the most remarkable men I knew. He had great intellect and integrity, and he’ll be missed dearly.”

Related story in Part I, Page 39.