August 31, 20188 yr The Splendid Splinter would have been 100 years old today. The Kid was the best hitter ever for my money. His numbers would have been truly staggering if not for the seasons lost to military service in World War II and Korea. He was John Glenn's wingman and is also a member of the Fishing Hall of Fame. He was the John Wayne of baseball.
August 31, 20188 yr Terrific thread AJG. The last guy to hit over .400 in a season. He was such a competitor, the manager tried to sit him for the last few games of the season because he was at .400 and why risk it. Williams refused and actually raised his average to .406. He also hit 37 homers, a good number in that era. That was 1941. In 1942 he won his first Triple Crown. Then he went into military service. What would he have achieved if his career wasn't interrupted by war twice? I remember reading a book about him as a child when the book mobile came to my tiny town one summer. I have a few baseball cards of him. A terrific all-round hitter!
August 31, 20188 yr Author Terrific thread AJG. The last guy to hit over .400 in a season. He was such a competitor, the manager tried to sit him for the last few games of the season because he was at .400 and why risk it. Williams refused and actually raised his average to .406. He also hit 37 homers, a good number in that era. That was 1941. In 1942 he won his first Triple Crown. Then he went into military service. What would he have achieved if his career wasn't interrupted by war twice? I remember reading a book about him as a child when the book mobile came to my tiny town one summer. I have a few baseball cards of him. A terrific all-round hitter! They did a segment on him on the Baseball Tonight Podcast today. Using the levels he was producing at he would have be first in RBIs, times on base and walks, and 2nd in total bases along with 6th in homers. To put in perspective just how good he was: Joey Votto, the active leader in OBP, would have to reach base in his next 650 plate appearances to match Williams career number.
August 31, 20188 yr Can you imagine what Ted would've hit if had access to watch the amount of tape on pitchers that is available today?
August 31, 20188 yr Author Can you imagine what Ted would've hit if had access to watch the amount of tape on pitchers that is available today? He'd never leave the stadium.
August 31, 20188 yr I think watching the first 2 or 3 batters face a pitcher before hand was all he needed. I learned how to hit a curveball listening to he and Joe Morgan talk on baseball tonight one night.
August 31, 20188 yr Ted Williams had Joey Vottos mind at the plate combined with Bryce Harpers talent.
September 2, 20188 yr One of the best lines ever was by Williams in the 1970's, long after he retired. He was asked how he would do against the pitchers of that era. He said he would probably hit about .300. The guy who asked the question was very surprised and asked why he wouldn't do better. Williams said "well I am in my 60's now"... I have always loved Ted Williams. He was one of the greatest hitters ever and he knew it.
September 2, 20188 yr Didn't his son freeze Ted's head or body when he died? They decapitated him post-mortem and froze him in two separate pieces. I forget all the details, but some of the family said he wanted to be cremated, and there were other family members who said he wanted to be cryogenically preserved.
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