MANCHESTER, N.H. -- First the father, now the son.

Baseball great Ted Williams on Tuesday endorsed George W. Bush for president.

Williams is a Republican loyalist and close friend of Bush's father, former President Bush, who won the former Boston Red Sox outfielder's endorsement in 1992.

"I spent a few minutes with him earlier in the evening and I'm really impressed every time I hear him speak," the Hall of Famer said of George W. during a brief appearance at the annual New Hampshire Baseball Dinner at the Center of New Hampshire.

In his keynote speech to an overflow crowd of more than 800, Bush said: "In our household his (Williams') name is as revered as it is here in Boston and New Hampshire."

Before the dinner, Bush attended an autograph session with former relief pitcher and Cy Young winner Dennis Eckersley, other former Red Sox players Mike Easler and Rico Petrocelli, and a number of New Hampshirites who have gone onto the big leagues.

While Bush never played professional baseball, he was managing general partner of the Texas Rangers.

Bush scribbled his signature across a "Bush" baseball card that featured a portrait of him and a banner reading, "GOP's Best Hope for 2000." Under "position," the card read, "governor of the 2nd largest state."

On the back, where real baseball cards usually give a player's game and vital statistics, was a summary of Bush's record as Texas governor, as well as a list of some of his political priorities.