Eighty-five years ago, in 1941, Ted Williams finished the season batting .406. Nobody in Major League Baseball has hit .400 since, and in an era of analytics and specialist relievers, nobody seems likely to.
The Splendid Splinter spent his whole career with the Boston Red Sox, lost nearly five seasons to military service and still ended with 521 home runs and the highest on-base percentage in history. This is his story – and you'll find more diamond legends in our baseball collection.
Ted Williams Fact File
| Full name | Theodore Samuel Williams |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 August 1918 |
| Place of birth | San Diego, California, USA |
| Died | 5 July 2002, Inverness, Florida (aged 83) |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m) |
| Position | Left fielder (batted left, threw right) |
| Nationality | American |
| Team | Boston Red Sox (1939–1960) |
| Shirt number | 9 (retired by the Red Sox) |
| Nicknames | The Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame, The Kid |
Career History
| Years | Team | Games | Hits | Home runs | RBI | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939–1960 | Boston Red Sox | 2,292 | 2,654 | 521 | 1,839 | .344 |
| 1969–1972 | Washington Senators / Texas Rangers (manager) | Record 273–364 | – | – | – | – |
Playing figures are MLB regular-season totals. He missed 1943–45 for the Second World War and most of 1952–53 for the Korean War. His career on-base percentage was .482.
San Diego Beginnings
Williams grew up in San Diego, attending Herbert Hoover High School, and turned professional with his hometown San Diego Padres in the Pacific Coast League. The Red Sox brought him to Boston, and he made his major league debut on 20 April 1939.
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1941: The Last .400 Season
Going into the final day of 1941, Williams was hitting just over .400. He could have sat out the doubleheader to protect his average. Instead he played both games, went 6-for-8 and finished at .406. That same summer he won the All-Star Game with a two-out, ninth-inning home run.
He won the Triple Crown in 1942, leading the league with a .356 average, 36 home runs and 137 RBI.
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War Service and the Peak Years
Williams then left baseball to serve as a naval aviator and flight instructor, missing 1943, 1944 and 1945. He came back better than ever: AL MVP in 1946, a second Triple Crown in 1947 and another MVP in 1949. Recalled during the Korean War, he flew combat missions and played only 43 games across 1952 and 1953.
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A Home Run Goodbye
Williams won six batting titles in all. On 28 September 1960, in the last at-bat of his career, he hit a home run. Six years later he was voted into the Hall of Fame at the first time of asking.
Honours
Major awards
- AL MVP (2): 1946, 1949
- Triple Crown (2): 1942, 1947
- AL batting champion (6)
- 19 All-Star selections
Recognition
- Baseball Hall of Fame (1966, first ballot)
- Shirt number 9 retired by the Boston Red Sox
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (1991)
Away From the Game
Williams was a long-time champion of the Jimmy Fund, the Boston charity that raises money for children's cancer care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He was also a keen sport fisherman, later inducted into the International Game Fish Association's Fishing Hall of Fame.
FAQs
When was Ted Williams born and when did he die?
Ted Williams was born on 30 August 1918 in San Diego and died on 5 July 2002, aged 83.
Where was Ted Williams born?
He was born in San Diego, California.
How tall was Ted Williams?
He was listed at 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m).
What team did Ted Williams play for?
He spent his entire 19-season major league career with the Boston Red Sox (1939–1960).
Who was the last player to hit .400?
Ted Williams, who hit .406 in 1941. No major leaguer has hit .400 in a season since.
How many home runs did Ted Williams hit?
He hit 521 career home runs, including one in his final at-bat on 28 September 1960.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Babe Ruth Career Story and Derek Jeter Career Story.
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