Williams Back in Hospital

Ted Williams, slowed by a series of strokes and congestive heart failure in recent years, was back in a Gainesville, Fla., hospital Thursday with a high temperature and low blood pressure.

The 83-year-old baseball Hall of Famer was taken from his home by ambulance to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, about 50 miles away. He had open-heart surgery last January.

Williams was given fluids and antibiotics in the intensive care unit, and his vital signs improved, The Boston Globe reported Thursday night. His temperature was 100 degrees before he arrived, it said.

“Dad’s doing all right,” son John Henry Williams told the newspaper. “He’s got some sort of cold or flu or something. But he’s far from dead.”

The family at first didn’t think it was serious enough for Williams to go to the hospital but decided not to take a chance. Williams said his father might return home today.

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The hearing on the grievance by players to block contraction resumed, then quickly recessed until the week of Feb. 4.

Management labor lawyer Rob Manfred was the only witness Thursday, the 11th day of testimony before arbitrator Shyam Das. Management lawyers finished their cross-examination of Manfred, who was called as a witness by the union.

When the hearing resumes, the union intends to put additional questions to Manfred on redirect.

After that, players intend to call Paul Beeston, baseball’s chief operating officer, and at least two other management officials.

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San Diego Padre relief pitcher Rob Ramsay was recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor.

Ramsay was out of intensive care and doing well a day after the operation at University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, his family said in a statement released by the Padres.

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Juan Gonzalez moved closer to finalizing his $24-million, two-year contract with the Texas Rangers by completing a physical before returning home to Puerto Rico.