[BluesDuke]

There are no words.

There was only one Ted Williams. The good Ted was incomparable; the bad Ted in the end we learned to forgive. And in the end, he was an American blessing. Our blessing, which we should have been proud to claim our own.

Two vital readings said it all: Ed Linn, "The Kid's Last Game"; and, John Updike, "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu". Not to mention Mr. Linn's splendid biography, Hitter; and Teddy Ballgame's own memoir, My Turn At Bat

God bless Ted Williams.

[BluesDuke]

Not to mourn, but to appreciate our blessings, of which Ted Williams having played and represented our game was one.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Williams served as a navy pilot in World War II and the Korean War.

Ted Williams was a United States Marine, not a squid.

[Charles Henrickson]

Greatest pure hitter of them all. If he hadn't missed several prime years serving our country in two wars, his numbers would be even more amazing. When I made my all-time team a couple years ago, I had him in my top six outfielders, around fifth: Ruth, Mays, Cobb, Aaron, Williams, and Musial. If he hadn't missed those prime years, he would surely be in my starting outfield: Ruth (RF), Mays (CF), and Williams (LF).

It was from reading Ted Williams' book, The Science of Hitting, that I learned how to hit.

Jack Buck, the great baseball broadcaster, died last month, and now Ted Williams dies this month. Both were war heroes and patriots. Those two truly exemplified "The Greatest Generation."

[CARDINALRULES]

Too bad I didn't remember that he has a museum down near where I was visiting family in Feb.

Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame

I plan to go next time I make it down to Florida.

Baseball has lost another great..and sadly there will be more in the coming years. I hate to think about it.

[Charles Henrickson]

Ted Williams is #2 all-time in slugging percentage at .634, second to Babe Ruth's .692. Williams is #1 all-time in on-base percentage at .481 (Ruth is second at .469).

[Charles Henrickson]

In 1941, when he was 22-23, Ted Williams hit .406 with 37 home runs, a .551 on-base percentage, and a .735 slugging percentage. He led the majjor leagues in all those categories. And he struck out 27 times in 456 at-bats.

In 1957, when he was 38-39, Williams hit .388 with 38 home runs, a .526 on-base percentage, and a .731 slugging percentage. He led the major leagues in all those categories, except home runs. And he struck out 43 times in 420 at-bats.

He did not play at all in 1943, 1944, and 1945, when he was 24-27. He played only a little bit in 1952 and 1953, when he was 33-35. So he missed almost five full seasons in the prime of his career, when his numbers would have been at their highest.

What a hitter.