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Williams served 3 years in the war if I am not mistaken...but as good as a year as Williams had that year, he was not the AL MVP. DiMaggio beat him out by like a point that year in 41.
As big as a redsox fan as I am, everything I have ever read about Ted says he was one of the biggest pricks in baseball. Think of a skinny white version of Bonds.
I think you gotta throw in anyone who has had a 40/40 year.
Thats the thing about Williams and Bonds. Are they really arseholes in a major way or did the media always put them in that light because they werent media friendly. Bonds usually wont give a reporter the time of day so in the end, he usually gets negative articles written about him. Even when its not his fault, he usually gets blamed like the fight between David Bell and Jeff Kent.
Williams in the end was a beloved figure, I dont think Bonds will ever be perceived that way. I liked Williams because when he talked, he talked about hitting and stuff that was actually interesting rather than most of the junk the older folks talk about. Ted Williams was never PC but I thought he was enjoyable to listen to.
If I were voting, he would have my vote for the 41 mvp over Dimaggio.
I also thought Williams and Bob Knight were a lot alike. Who wouldn't love to be out fishing with those two a few years ago and listen to their stories.
As for another great season, how about going pitching and Koufax in 63. 25 wins, 306 K's. 1.88 ERA with 11 shutouts. He was the Cy Young, and MVP winner.
I think when they did the voting for the 41 mvp they took into consideration how many ppl had hit .400 before Williams did it. In no way did they ever think that it would be going on 66 years before anyone would do it again. I think both are very prestigious records. With the season getting longer in 1961, hitting .400 has become impossible now a days. As with hitting in 56 straight games. Simply because in 1941 you wasn't playing in 4 different time zones in a month, nor did you have to face the different variety of pitchers.
For a player to hit in 56 straight games they are gonna need:
1. have some protection behind you-see better pitches.
2. to hit 2nd in the order, this way if a pitcher does decide to start walking them, they are going to have to pay with the heart of the lineup coming up.
3. have good speed-be able to not only lay a bunt down but be able to leg out those close infield hits.
4. be aggressive enough at the plate where if it is close your gonna hit it (thas why i said it would be harder for a leadoff hitter since you want them to take alot of walks).
For a player to hit 400 they will need:
1. have some protection behind you-see better pitches.
2. to hit 3rd or 4th in the order, this way your gonna get your at bats but not as many as a guy hittin leadoff or 2.
3. have good speed-be able to not only lay a bunt down but be able to leg out those close infield hits.
4. have a great eye, be willing to take a walk whenever possible
5. be a well rounded hitter. you want to be able to hit the ball where its pitched. if you get in the scenario like bonds/williams where you got 3 infielders playin the shift, it makes it hard to get your hits in.
I know there are some exceptions to each rule, like Ichiro flirtin with breakin the consecutive hit record, or a guy w/out blazing speed like Tony Gywnn comin close to hittin .400.
Im a have to throw myself in that category. WHen I was 12 I hit 815 with 3 HRs 2 K's and about 50 RBI's. I was like Bonds in LL.
Bonds is a douche to adults, but I did notice. Everytime a kid yelled his name or said hey barry, he always turned and waved or gestured to them. I will give Bonds that. AROD gets the same guff as well, many people say he is not very friendly, Willie Mo Pena may be the friendlist ball player I have encountered.