Ted Williams, RIP

[The Genius]

He was the greatest hitter of my lifetime, maybe all time.
I remember a game at Municipal Stadium, probably about 1958. He homered to help beat the Tribe, and I wasn't happy about it. My grandfather was. Not that the Indians lost, but that I had a chance to see #9 homer.
He said I would remember it, and I do.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ July 05, 2002 01:06 PM: Message edited by: The Genius ]</font>

[The RotoTribe]

He was great allright. I never saw him play live, although I did see him on TV. Williams last season was 1960 at age 42. He still hit .316 with 29 home runs. Had he played for the 1960 Tribe, he would have led the tribe in home runs.

A great war hero, and a great player, he will be missed.

[Alex]

His son is playing in the Boston Red Sox minor, minor, minor league affiliate, he's 32-33 years old. Has similar facial features, apparently the similarities end there.

I wonder what was the longest hitting streak Ted Williams put up?

[Swanny]

The greatest hitter of all time!!!

[the teacher]

The guy lost 3 years, ages 24-26, to WWII; then a couple years later on to Korea. Put those years back and his stats are utterly untouchable:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willite01.shtml

A .344 lifetime average, with over 500 HR's.

[the teacher]

Williams was a fighter pilot. It's one thing to be a pitcher staring down at him from the mound. How'd you like to face him in a dogfight from the cockpit of a MIG 25, knowing he was drawing a bead on you?

Oh, **** !!

[Alex]

I remember reading that Hank Greenberg had the most amazing eye-sight. But I think I also read the same thing about Ted Williams.

Anybody know?

[the teacher]

One more.

One of the best descriptions I've heard of Ted Williams (and I don't remember who said it) is that he was "The John Wayne of Baseball."

Actually, it might be more fitting to say that John Wayne was "The Ted Williams of acting."