BOSTON -- Ted Williams' oldest daughter wants Boston Red Sox fans to help her pay legal bills to retrieve her father from an Arizona cryonics lab.

Bobby-Jo Williams Ferrell asked on Monday for the public to donate to a new "Ted Williams' Last Wish Fund'' to help cover her legal expenses, which her attorney said could eclipse $100,000, as she fights her siblings in a Florida court.

Ferrell wants her father's body cremated, as the Hall of Famer directed in his 1996 will. John Henry Williams and Claudia Williams say their father authorized them, in a note handwritten on stained scrap paper, to preserve his body cryonically.

Williams died July 5.

Ferrell's lawyer in Cleveland, where the fund was established at Charter One Bank, says Ferrell is retired and can't afford to pay.

"It's become increasingly obvious that this is going to be a long and protracted process,'' lawyer John A. Heer said. "She's on a fixed income. Every dollar she spends on this comes out of her ability to live.''

Red Sox great Johnny Pesky, a teammate and close friend of the Splendid Splinter, said he doesn't want to get involved.

"I've never heard of such a thing. That's a family matter,'' Pesky said. "I don't think it should have gone this far.''

Heer established a Cambridge post office box where checks can be sent. He said most of the money will then be sent to Ferrell's Florida lawyer, Richard Fitzpatrick.

Contributions will only be used to defray legal fees and expenses incurred "in Bobby-Jo's mission to carry out her father's last wish,'' Heer stated. He said leftovers will be given to the Jimmy Fund, a favorite charity of Ted Williams. The Fund supports the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Ferrell did not respond to requests, made through Heer, to comment. An attorney for John Henry Williams also did not immediately return a call.

Ferrell and her husband so far have racked up between $30,000 and $40,000 in fees, Heer said.

"It's going to run through their retirement savings rather quickly,'' he said.

Fans in New England seemed skeptical.

"I don't like the whole situation,'' said Somerville resident Joseph Russo, 35. "There's something fishy about the whole thing. I'd rather not get involved.''

"She shouldn't need a fund. I don't think (John Henry's) case is too strong,'' said Rudy Wallace, 29, a Boston bike messenger. "I don't see how a napkin is going to hold up as a legal document.''

"If it's legit, I'd support it,'' said Chris McLaughlin, 16m of Boston. "His (oldest) daughter is a lot more trustworthy. The son knew (Ted) did not want to be frozen and he's still trying to do it.''

Others are keeping their distance.

"If it was to benefit hospitals or kids, then you donate,'' said William Sarnie, 66, of Boston. "I don't think they carried out his wishes too well _ or in a timely fashion.''

In court Friday, Ferrell asked for documents that prove Williams wanted to be cryonically frozen. Williams' will said he wanted to be cremated and his ashes spread in the ocean off Florida.

But Robert Goldman, the attorney for John Henry and Claudia Williams, filed a motion claiming that Ferrell's lawyer shouldn't be allowed to continue with the discovery process until the issue of jurisdiction is resolved.

Fitzpatrick also is requesting Williams' medical records. A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 3.