Left Field
Ted Williams
(1939-1960)
Career Stats: .344/.482/.634, 521 HR, 1839 RBI, 24 SB, 130.4 WAR
With Red Sox: Played entire career in Boston
Two Most Valuable Player Awards, four times with a second place finish on MVP, two Triple-Crowns, six batting titles, all-time OPS leader, 17 All-Star selections, last .400 hitter, 20.75 walk percentage and a key name in any debate on the greatest hitter who ever lived.
Williams was signed out of San Diego, where he played for the hometown Padres, by Red Sox GM Eddie Collins and in 1938 reported to spring training where his brashness soon had Williams shipped to the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association. Williams left with a hard dose of swagger and bluster aimed at the team veterans. What did Williams do? Won the AA Triple-Crown.
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Williams was originally a right-fielder when he returned to Boston for his rookie season in 1939, but the following season was relocated to his permanent spot in left field. Williams was never a great outfielder, but was competent enough and did have an accurate arm.
The Red Sox also recognized his power potential and in 1940 installed the bullpens to their current location at Fenway Park and created “Williamsburg.”
Williams engaged in notorious and venomous battles with the press and fans who would often delight in arousing Williams’ ire. Relations with the press are reported to have cost Williams an MVP Award when one writer left him off the ballot. But the leather-lunged fans – especially on the road – knew the right comments could get Williams to do a slow burn.
Two seasons stand out for me with Williams and both were at the end of his career. The first was 1958 when Williams hit .388 at the age of 39 and the next was his last season in 1960. In his farewell year he hit .316, but hammered 29 home runs and had 72 RBI in only 310 at-bats. Not bad for a 41-year-old.
Late in his career Williams established a boy’s camp in Lakeville, Massachusetts to provide a camp environment that he never had as a child. Williams was deeply involved in charitable work – especially the Jimmy Fund and was a standard at the Boston Sportsman Show for many years.
Later Williams managed for four seasons for the Washington Senators and the Texas rangers and was on one occasion named Manager of the Year in the American League before retiring from baseball.
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