Williams’ Children Ask for Mediation

The two children of Ted Williams who want his body kept frozen are trying again to reach a compromise with their half sister, who says the baseball great should be cremated.

John Henry Williams and his sister, Claudia, asked a Florida state court judge Wednesday to order a mediation session with their half sister, Bobby-Jo Williams Ferrell. They hope to avoid a public showdown in court.

“John Henry and Claudia feel strongly that the disposition of their father’s body is a private matter,” their attorney, Robert Goldman, said in the motion.

Williams died July 5. He was 83.

Williams’ children already have tried mediation, negotiating for hours Monday, but were unable to reach agreement.

Ferrell’s attorney, Richard Fitzpatrick, said an agreement is possible.

“There’s middle ground everywhere,” Fitzpatrick said. “Now this is a very difficult case to find that--I agree with that--but I’m not about to say there’s no possibility that there couldn’t be any middle ground.”

Ferrell has accused John Henry Williams of sending their father’s body to the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Arizona so he could profit off their father’s remains or sell his DNA.

“One point should be made clear,” Goldman said at a news conference. “Claudia and John Henry Williams will never profit off of their father’s body or the disposition of their father’s remains.”

If no agreement is reached, a judge could decide whether Williams wanted to be frozen or cremated. The Hall of Fame outfielder’s will and the executor of his estate present conflicting accounts of his intentions.

In the will that was filed and made public Tuesday, Williams said he wanted his ashes “sprinkled at sea off the coast of Florida where the water is very deep.”

Williams also specified he didn’t want a funeral or memorial service.

But executor Albert Cassidy said that after Williams wrote his will Dec. 20, 1996, he expressed a desire to have his body frozen.

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George Steinbrenner responded to charges from Cleveland owner Larry Dolan that the New York Yankees are to blame for baseball’s economic problems.

“Since the day that Babe Ruth was acquired, the Yankees have been the envy of many in the game and subject to the jealousies that success brings,” Steinbrenner, the Yankee owner, said in a statement.

“In reality, it is the Yankees’ success and commitment to providing a consistent winner that is at the center of the criticism.”

Dolan said Tuesday the Yankees, whose payroll is about $135 million, are forcing other teams to overspend so they can compete.

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Tampa Bay put pitcher Wilson Alvarez on the 15-day disabled list because of left elbow tendinitis. Alvarez is in the final season of a $35-million, five-year contract. He sat out the last two seasons because of a left rotator cuff injury.... Atlanta activated Marcus Giles from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to triple-A Richmond. Giles was the Braves’ starter at second base before he sprained his right ankle May 28.... Chicago Cub catcher Joe Girardi went on the disabled list for the first time since 1994. He has a strained rib cage muscle.... Cincinnati right-hander Joey Hamilton, who hasn’t pitched since July 7, went on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring.