In the 1941 All-Star Game in Detroit, Williams' two-out, three-run homer in the ninth inning gave his American League squad a thrilling 7-5 victory.

"When I knew that ball had won the game, that I had hit a home run with all the greatest players there, it was a proud moment for me," Williams told Gary Miller on a recent edition of ESPN's Up Close. "I felt that I stepped up the ladder 3 or 4 pegs then."

Williams also talked about where he feels he ranks among the all-time greatest hitters and which modern players he admires the most. The following is an edited transcript of Williams' interview:

Miller: What type of limits have your recent health problems had on your daily activities?

Williams: I'm mad to think that here I am 80 years old, and I can't go fishing anymore. It's a thing I love to do but I can't wade a stream. I can't do this, I can't do that.

Miller: Somebody recently said that you're the only guy he has ever seen use his walker and do it with a swagger... (laughter)

Williams: I tried those canes and fell down broke my leg, broke my hip, and I said the hell with these canes, so I use the walker. It is a lot easier. If I need help, I'll ask someone for it.

Miller: One of the things ESPN is doing is the SportsCentury greatest athletes' of all-time, and we don't know where you are in the top 50 yet, but where do you think you should be?

Williams: The 40's through 50's if I'm there. No, I'll tell you what: I didn't have one of the greatest assets an athlete could have and I didn't have that, and that was speed. Boy, you take an guy who makes a ton of mistakes but has speed, he can make up for it.

Miller: You watched McGwire in the Home Run Derby, hitting them out across the street which is now named in your honor, but they still have a seat in the right field bleachers where you hit a ball, which is further than anything McGwire or any of them hit....

Williams: Oh, I think he can hit them further than that, but I hit that ball good. I had all the elements with me, and bam boom bam, and they had the tickets where that seat was. The guy had a straw hat on, smashed it all to hell.

Miller: Have you ever sat in that seat?

Williams: I've been out right there and seen it but I don't think I've sat in it.

Miller: When you think back to that home run, the All-Star home runs you hit in '41 and '46, I heard that you went into a film theater a couple days later to see the news reel of the home run in '41 (which was a game-winner in the All-Star Game in Detroit).

Williams: Yeah, I've never seen myself hit a ball. It was that dramatic for me. Two strikes and two runs down and two strikes and bang I hit the ball. When I knew that ball had won the game, that I had hit a home run with all the greatest players there, it was a proud moment for me. I felt that I stepped up the ladder 3 or 4 pegs then.

Miller: Well, they do say you are the greatest hitter that ever lived. What does that mean to you?

Williams: I don't think they're right. I think I was one of the better hitters that ever played. Keep bringing up that word luck again.

Miller: What if we hadn't gone to war? You could have had four of your best years then.

Williams: Well that's where I was lucky. I was still able to play. I had gotten away from the game, hadn't played, and I came back and I was treated like hell and this was just like yesterday.

Miller: What was 1946 like, coming back?

Williams: You really didn't know what to think, 'cause here we are in a World War and after you got back, and got your feet settled you kinda forgot about it all and said "let's go." There must have been a lot of apprehension in these guys' minds. We were lucky we got started off in a great style, everybody on the club was hitting.

Miller: You say you're just one of the greatest hitters, so who is the greatest hitter right now?

Williams: If you want to talk about looks of doing it, and you want to look about results, and the ease of him doing it, you gotta lean towards two hitters for me, and that's Nomar Garciaparra and Ken Griffey Jr. Those two guys can hit! I would hope that they would always think that whatever they do here on out, whatever they say, whatever they do, that their first concern would be baseball, because baseball is so important to both of those guys.

Miller: In your playing days you had an adversarial relationship with the media. Now you have done a lot with the media in your recent days. Why?

Williams: Let me ask you something. Did you ever do anything to me?

Miller: No, just admire you.

Williams: I'm swinging a lot of votes my way now and I haven't got a base hit in 35 years! I'm better than I've ever been! People have different views, so much stuff directed one direction, and all of a sudden your influenced. I thought of times when I was playing and still doing good. I think at times that there was an element here that was trying to make me seem disagreeable, trying to make it unfair, but they didn't fool these Boston fans one bit.

Miller: I'm surprised with all you did in Fenway Park that you're not that upset they're going to leave this ballpark.

Williams: You would like to say that about a brand new Cadilliac versus one that's 20 years old with a lot of history, it took your wife to the hospital when she was ready to deliver. Now you've got a Cadillac that's bigger and more comfortable, and you love the old Cadillac, but you want something a little better now. I kind of feel the same way. I think that Boston deserves a new ballpark. I know a lot of people that are going to say "what about the old Green Monster out there?" Well, okay, that is certainly a memorable impression and memory of this ballpark.

Miller: One of the guys who has always hit great here is Ken Griffey Jr. He is halfway to Aaron at 29 years of age. Think he'll make it?

Williams: I'd have to bet on him someplace - I don't know where but he is certainly a great looking hitter. Does it nice and easy and quick and great. Boy, I look at McGwire and I think I'm looking at Gargantua. He hits the ball that sounds like a 50-caliber hit it.

Miller: We talked about you mellowing a little bit with the media and being more generous and outgoing because you're a living legend.

Williams: Why do you say a little more generous with the press, I've always done that.

Miller: Well your reputation was that it was touch and go.

Williams: Where did you get it from?

Miller: From the press. (laughter).

Williams: Yeah, I used to agitate them a little bit.

Miller: Is part of that to share with people what you've been, and what you're like with the passing of Joe DiMaggio this year?

Williams: I felt very badly and I used to call his brother like 3, 4, 5 times a week. Knowing that Joe was laying out there and he wasn't going to make it probably, he had cancer of the lung, he had part of his lung removed and he was 82, 83, 84 years old and his brother knew how bad he was. I admired him so much, 'cause all I could see was pure perfection and greatness in everything he did. If he didn't get a fly ball this way and bring it back here to throw, he would come and get the ball right here and then bang. So there were a lot of things he did just automatically, that made it look easier, he accomplished it in the quickest possible way he could and do it.

Miller: We talk about you as the greatest hitter that ever lived and you talk about yourself as lucky, what should your legacy be?

Williams: As a ball player, as a ball player......