A top freelance writer since the 1950s, Ed Linn is the co-author of the critically acclaimed autobiographies of Bill Veeck and Leo Durocher. He has written two highly regarded books and several memorable articles on Ted Williams during a career that has produced eleven books on sports and hundreds of magazine stories and essays. Linn's collaborative talents and his wry, forthright style came of age in the 1950s and 1960s, and he was among those who pioneered the new journalism in sportswriting.

Edward Linn was born on 14 November 1922 in Boston. He was the second child of Gertrude and Hyman Linn and younger brother to sister Edith, who was born two years earlier. Hyman Linn worked as a compositor for several local newspapers, including the Boston American.

Growing up, young Ed spent as much time on the playground as he did at school. He was an unremarkable student but...