On January 20 1966 — The Baseball Writers Association of America

elects former Boston Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams to the Hall of Fame. Williams, the last

major league batter to hit .400, receives 282 of a possible 302 votes. He won

the Triple Crown twice, the American League MVP Award twice, and produced the

highest career on-base percentage of all time (.483), even though he lost five

years to military service.

American League Triple Crown: 1942 and 1946. In neither of

those years did Williams win the MVP Award; in todays game he would have won

the award because he had the highest WAR, he also had the highest WAR in the AL

6 times including posting 10+ three times. He is one of 11 positions players

since 1900 to post a War over 10 multiple times.

Hit for the cycle on July 21, 1946; blasted three homers

and drove in 8 runs on July 14, 1946;

collected more RBI's 159 than games played 155 (1949);

had RBI in 12 straight games (thru September 13, 1942);

RBI in 11 consecutive games (thru June 10, 1950);

homered in four straight at-bats (September 7th and

September 22nd, 1957); combined with Bobby Doerr for 549 homers as teammates

(Williams 333, Doerr 216)...

During Ted’s speech in the summer of 1966 he may have done

the most selfless thing during his association with baseball. Williams was born

of Mexican decent and it was something he kept to himself, he may have never

played MLB if he had not. He was sensitive to the color barrier and made a

pitch for the Negro League players inclusion into Cooperstown. The voters will

listen and begin with Satchel Paige in 1971.

Here is Ted’s speech the day he learned he was voted in. If

you want more Ted Williams interviews, and listen to games he played in

checkout vintagebaseballreflections.com and use the code – thisday to get

something extra off the membership!