In Memoriam

There Goes the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived

By: Tyler Sekula

"A man has to have goals — for a day, for lifetime — and that was mine, to have people say, 'There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived."

Ted "The Splendid Splinter" Williams is widely considered to be the best baseball player never to win a World Series. After playing his entire illustrious career with the Boston Red Sox, the 17-time All-star retired from the game at the age of 41.

"This guy was the best at everything he did," former baseball player Don Zimmer told The Daily News. "He was the best hitter that ever lived. The best fisherman that ever lived. The best pilot that ever lived," Zimmer said. "That's the way Ted Williams was. He was going to be the best at everything he did."

Ted Williams shows off his iconic batting stance
(Credit: Swingsmarter.com)

On July 5, 2002 the world lost the best to ever live.

Williams, who was prone to strokes and congestive heart failure in the later years, was taken from his home by ambulance to Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness, Fla. after complaining about a pain in his chest. Hours later the 83-year-old fan-favorite was pronounced dead of cardiac arrest, according to hospital officials.

"With the passing of Ted Williams, American has lost a baseball legend," former President George W. Bush announced after his passing. "Whether serving the county in the armed forces or excelling on the baseball diamond, Ted Williams demonstrated unique talent and love of country."

Born and raised in San Diego, Calif., Williams seemed destined for stardom at a young age. A dedicated athlete, Williams worked diligently to perfect his game in hopes of getting noticed by professional teams.

"I used to hit tennis balls, old baseballs, balls made of rags - anything," Williams said in an interview with ESPN.com. "I didn't think I'd be a particularly good hitter. I just liked to do it."

After graduating high school, Williams played for the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres, posting a .291 batting average with 23 home runs during the 1937 season. His impressive performance caught the eye of former Boston Red Sox general manager Eddie Collins.

"It wasn't hard to find Ted Williams," Collins later stated in William's biography. "He stood out like a brown cow in a field of white cows."

Following the 1937 season, the Padres agreed to trade Williams' rights to the Red Sox for two major league players and $35,000. The then 19-year old star was invited to train with the team but was eventually assigned to the team's minor league system.

Two years later Williams would make his professional debut for the Red Sox in what was arguably the most impressive rookie season of any player in history.

A young Williams poses for a picture during his rookie season
(Credit: Markrfox.hubpages.com)

In 149 games for the Red Sox in 1939, the young slugger drove in a major league rookie record 145 runs and slashed 31 HRs en route to a fourth place finish in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.

Following his rookie season, the Red Sox decided to move in the right-field fence to accommodate their new star. Despite the changes, Williams' power numbers dropped, only managing 23 HR in his sophomore season. Nonetheless, Williams was selected to the first of his 17 All-star games, hitting a remarkable .344 on the season.

"Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be consider a good performer,"Williams said.

Perhaps the most impressive season in Williams' illustrious 19-year career career came in 1941 when became the last player to hit .400 in major league history. Batting an even .400 going into the final day of the season, manager Joe Cronin approached Williams with the prospect of sitting out the final two games in order to make sure he could keep the average.

"I told Cronin I didn't want that," Williams recalled in his biography. "If I couldn't hit .400 all the way, I didn't deserve it."

Williams decided to play in both games of the doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics, going 6 for 8 on the day and finishing .406 on the season.

"If I was being paid thirty-thousand dollars a year, the very least I could do was hit .400," Williams famously stated after the season.

Along with the .406 batting average, Williams also hit a league-best 37 HRs and drove in 120 runs, in what many people believe to be the most impressive offensive season in MLB history. However, out-shined by Joe Dimaggio's famous 56-game hitting streak, Williams would eventually fall just short of his first most valuable player award.

Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio pose for a picture during historic 1941 season
(Credit: Bigjoshcox.com)

"Hitting .400 is absolutely unreal," Sam Frank, an avid Red Sox fan said. "Any other year and he definitely would have won the MVP. Looking back, that was probably the best season in MLB history for hitters."

After another all-star season in 1942 that saw him earn the first of two Triple-Crown awards, Williams was drafted to serve the U.S. military in World War II. Wanting to give the most back to his country, Williams spent the next three years serving as a second lieutenant Naval Aviator for the United States Marine Corps.

Ted Williams while serving as a Naval Aviator during WWII
(Credit: ESPN.go.com)

"It was typical of him to become a Marine Air Corps pilot and see action and almost get shot down," American sportscaster Vin Scully said shortly after his death. "He was a remarkable American as well as a remarkable ballplayer. His passing so close to a national holiday seem part of a divine plan, so we can always remember him not only as a great player but as great patriot."

Despite missing the previous three years, Williams returned to the Red Sox for the 1946 season. The relentless Williams put together one of his best seasons, propelling the Red Sox into the World Series for the first time in 28 years on an inside-the-park home run. Although they would eventually lose the series, Williams was rewarded for his incredible season with the first of his two American League MVP honors.

A signal red chair forever marks the longest home run ever hit a Fenway Park in Boston, a towering 520 foot shot off the bat of Williams in 1946
(Credit: Bostonglobe.com)

On September 28, 1960 arguably the greatest hitter of all time stepped into the batters box for the final time in his storybook career. With the Red Sox down 3-2 to the Baltimore Orioles, Ted "The Splendid Splinter" Williams launched one final home run into the bullpen, tying the game. As he trotted around the bases every fan in attendance was on their feet.

"As a Yankees fan, I think Ted Williams is arguably the greatest hitter in history," High Point University student Brian Brennan said. "He is an American hero for his service in WWII and Korea and has my full respect even if I am a Yankee fan."

Williams finished his career posting a .344 batting average in 19 seasons for the Red Sox. At the time of his retirement in 1960, his 521 career home runs ranked third all time behind Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx, even with giving three years up to serve his country. His incredible .482 career on-base-percentage is still the highest in Major League history to this day.

Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 25, 1966.

"Ted's passing signals a sad day, not only for baseball fans, but for every American," former President of the Baseball Hall of Fame Dale Petroskey told the United Press. "He was a cultural icon, a larger-than-life-personality. He was great enough become a Hall of Famer player. He was caring enough to be the first Hall of Famer to call for the inclusion of Negro League stars in Cooperstown. He was brave enough to serve our country as a Marine in not one but two global conflicts. Ted Williams is a hero for all generations."

LINK LIST:

Buy the Biography: The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams

Williams' Historic Final At Bat

Purchase Ted Williams Memorabilia 

Donate to a Charity Very Close to Ted's Heart

Catch a Game at Fenway Park This Year