Ted Williams

The Yankees had Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle, and the rival Boston Red Sox had Ted Williams. Nicknamed “The Thumper,” Williams played 21 seasons with the storied franchise and as a left fielder became forever known as one the game’s greatest players and biggest hitters.

Born in San Diego in 1918, Williams did a stint with the minor league teams, the San Diego Padres and then the Minneapolis Millers straight out of high school before joining the Red Sox in 1939. He won the Rookie of the Year award and began a career rivaled by few. During his tenure with the Red Sox, Williams won the American League Triple Crown twice (1942 and 1947), the Most Valuable Player Award twice (1946 and 1949), and the Silver Slugger award (1958). Not especially known for his quick feet, Williams relied on his superior hitting ability. He finished the 1941 season with a World record batting average of .406 and he is tied with Frank Thomas and Willie McCovey for the number 18 spot on the all-time career home run list.

Not only an excellent baseball player, Williams was a decorated member of service as a pilot during World War II and the Korean War. He was given an American Campaign medal, and Asian-Pacific Campaign medal, World War II Victory medal, a Nation Defense Service Medal, and a United Nations medal for his time in combat.

Williams ended his career with the Red Sox and although he never won a World Series, he played in 17 All-Star Games and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. Williams passed away from cardiac arrest in 2002, and remains remembered as an American hero and one of America’s past time’s most important players.