Manfred von Richthofen
German fighter pilot (1892-1918)
Ted Williams was an American baseball legend, known as one of the greatest hitters in MLB history. He played his entire 19-year career with the Boston Red Sox, winning two Triple Crowns and two AL MVP awards. Despite his career being interrupted by military service, Williams remained one of the last players to hit over .400 in a season and held numerous batting records.
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About the Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel Williamswas an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 19-year Major League Baseballcareer, primarily as a left fielder, for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960; his career was interrupted by military service during World War II and the Korean War. Nicknamed “Teddy Ballgame”, “the Kid”, “the Splendid Splinter”, and “the Thumper”, Williams is widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters in baseball history in addition to being one of the last players to hit over .400 in a season – and the last in the American Leagueto do so.
Williams was a nineteen-time All-Star, a two-time recipient of the AL Most Valuable Player Award, a six-time AL batting champion, and a two-time Triple Crown winner. He finished his playing career with a .344 batting average, 521 home runs, and a 1.116 on-base plus slugging percentage, the third highest of all time. His career batting average is the highest of any MLB player whose career was played primarily after World War II, and ranks 11th all-time.
Born and raised in San Diego, Williams played baseball throughout his youth. After joining the Red Sox in 1939, he immediately emerged as one of the sport’s best hitters. In 1941, Williams posted a .406 batting average; he is the last AL player to bat over .400 in a season. Williams’s .482 on-base percentage is the highest of all time. Williams followed this up by winning his first Triple Crown in 1942. Williams was required to interrupt his baseball career in 1943 to serve three years in the United States Navy and Marine Corps during World War II. Upon returning to MLB in 1946, Williams won his first AL MVP Award and played in his only World Series. In 1947, he won his second Triple Crown. Williams was returned to active military duty for portions of the 1952 and 1953 seasons to serve as a Marine combat aviator in the Korean War. In 1957 and 1958 at the ages of 39 and 40, respectively, he was the AL batting champion for the fifth and sixth time.
Williams retired from playing in 1960. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966, in his first year of eligibility. Williams managed the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers franchise from 1969 to 1972. An avid sport fisherman, he hosted a television program about fishing, and was inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame. Williams’ involvement in the Jimmy Fund helped raise millions in dollars for cancer care and research. In 1991, President George H. W. Bush presented Williams with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States government. He was selected for the Major League Baseball All-Time Team in 1997 and the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ted Williams was an American professional baseball player who played his entire 19-year career with the Boston Red Sox, primarily as a left fielder. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters in baseball history.
Ted Williams had several nicknames, including ,Teddy Ballgame,, ,the Kid,, ,the Splendid Splinter,, and ,the Thumper,.
Ted Williams was a nineteen-time All-Star during his career.
Ted Williams won two American League Most Valuable Player Awards and was a six-time American League batting champion. He also won the Triple Crown twice, in 1942 and 1947.
Ted Williams finished his playing career with a .344 batting average, 521 home runs, and a 1.116 on-base plus slugging percentage, which is the third highest of all time. His career batting average is the highest of any MLB player who primarily played after World War II and ranks 11th all-time, while his .482 on-base percentage is the highest of all time.
Ted Williams’ baseball career was interrupted twice by military service, first during World War II and then again during the Korean War. He served a total of three years in the United States Navy and Marine Corps.
Ted Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966, in his first year of eligibility.
18 Quotes by Ted Williams
- 1.
If there was ever a man born to be a hitter it was me.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 2.
Hitting is fifty percent above the shoulders.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 3.
I hope somebody hits .400 soon. Then people can start pestering that guy with questions about the last guy to hit .400.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 4.
If you don’t think too good, don’t think too much.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 5.
Hitting is the most important part of the game. It is where the big money is, where much of the status is, and the fan interest.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 6.
You have to hit the fastball to play in the big leagues.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 7.
Baseball gives every American boy a chance to excel, not just to be as good as someone else but to be better than someone else. This is the nature of man and the name of the game.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 8.
A man has to have goals – for a day, for a lifetime – and that was mine, to have people say, ‘There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived.’
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 9.
I’ve found that you don’t need to wear a necktie if you can hit.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 10.
There has always been a saying in baseball that you can’t make a hitter, but I think you can improve a hitter. More than you can improve a fielder. More mistakes are made hitting than in any other part of the game.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 11.
If I was being paid thirty-thousand dollars a year, the very least I could do was hit .400.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 12.
By the time you know what to do, you’re too old to do it.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 13.
Baseball’s future? Bigger and bigger, better and better! No question about it, it’s the greatest game there is!
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 14.
They invented the All-Star game for Willie Mays.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 15.
There’s only one way to become a hitter. Go up to the plate and get mad. Get mad at yourself and mad at the pitcher.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 16.
Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 17.
God gets you to the plate, but once your there your on your own.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot
- 18.
All managers are losers, they are the most expendable pieces of furniture on the face of the Earth.
Ted WilliamsAmerican baseball player and fighter pilot