Here Carroll Hardy signs a photo with the inscription, “Only man to pinch hit for Ted Williams”. Hardy had a multi-faceted career in professional sports. In 1955, his sole season as a wide receiver and running back in the NFL, Hardy also caught a touchdown pass from Hall of Fame quarterback Y.A. Tittle. Three years later, Hardy pinch hit for Roger Maris and hit a homer. The exact date was May 18, 1958, Hardy’s 25th birthday. His pinch hitting appearance for Williams in August of 1960 wasn’t his only link to the Splendid Splinter. Many fans remember that Williams homered in his final at bat. In the top of the next inning, Williams briefly took his spot in the left field before Boston manager Pinky Higgins called on Hardy to replace the Hall of Famer.
Hardy tells the story’s punchline with his trademark humility.
“They booed me all the way out and cheered him all the way in.”
In 1961, Hardy pinch hit for a young Red Sox rookie named Carl Yastrzemski, another future Hall of Famer. In fact Hardy pinch hit for Yaz three times, going two-for-three.
When Hardy retired from baseball he became a scout for the Denver Broncos, eventually becoming a player personnel executive. In his 20 years with the Broncos, Hardy helped assemble five teams that reach the Super Bowl including the back-to-back championship teams.