Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel Williams grew up in San Diego obsessed with the science of hitting. He reached the Boston Red Sox in 1939 and immediately starred. He became a national icon in 1941, when he hit .406, becoming the last major leaguer to top the .400 mark for a full season.
The Science of Hitting
Born in San Diego in 1918, Ted Williams approached batting as a craft to be studied and perfected. He reached the Boston Red Sox in 1939 and starred from the start. In 1941 he hit .406, a mark no one has matched over a full season since.
Hero On and Off the Field
Williams won two Triple Crowns and six batting titles while compiling a career .344 average. Twice he left baseball to serve his country, flying combat missions as a Marine in World War II and Korea. Those years cost him a shot at many all-time records.
Splendid Splinter
Nicknamed the 'Splendid Splinter,' Williams homered in his final career at-bat in 1960. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1966. Widely regarded as the greatest pure hitter ever, he died in Inverness, Florida, in 2002 at age 83.
Career Timeline
- 1918Born in San Diego, California
- 1939Debuts for the Boston Red Sox
- 1941Bats .406, last to hit .400 in a season
- 1942Wins first Triple Crown
- 1943Leaves baseball for WWII Navy service
- 1946Returns and wins American League MVP
- 1947Captures his second Triple Crown
- 1952Recalled as Marine pilot for Korean War
- 1957Wins batting title at age 39, hitting .388
- 1960Homers in final career at-bat, then retires
- 1966Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
- 2002Dies in Inverness, Florida, at age 83
Biggest Hits
- His .406 average in 1941 makes him the last major leaguer to hit .400 over a full season.
- He interrupted his career to serve as a Marine combat aviator in both World War II and the Korean War, losing nearly five prime seasons.
Portrait: Unknown author · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons