Last Updated on May 12, 2025 by Matt Musico
Like many baseball fans, I’ve spent way too much time on social media over the years. But when I’m not doomscrolling, it’s led to some pretty incredible discoveries thanks to the research of others.
Which baseball stat or fact lives rent-free in your mind? I could list a few, but this 2017 post from Ryan Spaeder on Twitter about Boston Red Sox legend and Hall of Famer Ted Williams is right there at the top:
Like, come on — you can’t make this stuff up. What I love about this is that it was literally sitting there in plain sight on Williams’ Baseball-Reference page for everyone to see. But I never noticed until Ryan pointed it out. Just amazing, especially when you look further into Teddy Ballgame’s stats throughout the decade.
Ted Williams’ Incredible Stats During the 1940s
The 1940 season was Williams’ second full campaign in the big leagues. It was the start of an incredible decade. All I can do is imagine where these numbers would’ve landed if he hadn’t spent 1943-45 serving in the military during World War II.
The Splendid Splinter suited up for 1,035 games in the 1940s, which led to 4,671 plate appearances. He slashed .356/.496/.647 with 234 home runs, 270 doubles, 893 RBI and 951 runs scored. An average year for him during the decade included a 1.143 OPS to go along with 33 homers, 39 doubles, 128 RBI and 136 runs scored.
Nobody hit more homers, scored more runs, walked more often or had a higher on-base percentage than him during this time. According to FanGraphs, Williams’ performance was worth a league-best 69.3 WAR. Lou Boudreau finished second with 61 WAR…while playing in 390 more games.
Williams Led The League in So Many Categories
Williams’ list of personal accolades during the 1940s is incredibly long. Yes, he won two MVP Awards and two Triple Crowns while his .406 average in 1941 is still the last time someone surpassed .400 in a single season.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for what the left-handed slugger accomplished. Williams led the league in:
- bWAR five times
- Runs scored six times
- Home runs four times
- RBI three times
- Walks six times
- Batting average four times
- On-base percentage seven times
- Slugging percentage & OPS six times
- Total bases four times
My Lanta…and I’m still leaving some stuff out! Other than the two times he won the award, Williams finished in the top three of MVP voting four more times and was a seven-time All-Star.
Where Williams Stands in Red Sox Home Run History
Despite missing parts of five seasons due to military service, Teddy Ballgame finished his incredible career with 521 home runs. That’s tied with Frank Thomas and Willie McCovey for 20th on the all-time list.
While David Ortiz gave his best efforts, he couldn’t find a way to surpass him on Boston’s all-time home run leaderboard. He finished his Red Sox career with 483 dingers, which ranks second behind Williams.
His best single-season performance in the home run department came in 1949 when he slugged a career-high 43 taters. That’s tied for seventh all-time in franchise history with Manny Ramirez (2004) and J.D. Martinez (2018).
What Made Ted Williams So Dominant?
I’m utterly fascinated by Williams’ approach to hitting. He wrote a book on it—”The Science of Hitting”—where he breaks down his methodology with the precision of a nuclear physicist. It wasn’t just talent; it was an obsession with the craft. Williams reportedly had 20/10 eyesight, which let him see pitch rotation that other hitters couldn’t even dream of detecting.
His plate discipline was also bonkers. Williams never struck out more than 64 times in a single season (it happened when he was a rookie). During his mythical .406 campaign in 1941, he fanned just 27 times in 606 plate appearances. The discipline stats alone can make any modern analytics fan’s jaw drop to the floor.
The Impact of Military Service on Williams’ Career
Here’s the mind-blowing “what-if” that I think about regularly: What would Teddy Ballgame’s numbers look like if he hadn’t missed nearly five full seasons as a fighter pilot?
If we’re playing the projection game, the estimates are staggering:
- We’re talking 700-plus home runs (which would’ve had him challenging Babe Ruth’s throne)
- Easily clearing 3,000 hits (he finished with “just” 2,654)
- Career numbers that might’ve made even the most devoted Ruth stan admit Williams was the GOAT of this period
And remember—this isn’t missing time for hamstring pulls or contract holdouts.
The Legacy of Ted Williams
The numbers are jaw-dropping, but Williams’ impact goes so far beyond statistics. His maniacal commitment to hitting perfection changed how players approach the craft. Decades before launch angle and exit velocity became baseball buzzwords, Williams was calculating the ideal bat path to generate maximum power.
Modern analytics have only confirmed what Williams preached 80 years ago. Every deep dive into the numbers reinforces the same conclusion: this man might be the greatest pure hitter who ever lived. His combination of batting eye, raw power, and supernatural plate discipline created a statistical unicorn that hasn’t been replicated since.
Even when looking at numbers from players in various eras, it’s hard to find one that matches Williams’ complete offensive profile. Even with today’s specialized training, nutrition science, and technology advantages, Williams’ 1940s dominance remains the gold standard that modern superstars can only aspire to.
Final Thoughts: Baseball’s Statistical Anomaly
Ted Williams wasn’t just another great player—he’s among baseball’s greatest statistical anomalies. His numbers don’t just impress; they bewilder. They make you double-check your math. They force you to recalibrate your understanding of what’s possible with a bat.
Next time you’re in a heated debate about the greatest hitters ever, just drop Williams’ 1940s slash line (.356/.496/.647) and watch jaws hit the floor. Those are video game numbers, and he did this while taking a three-year break in his prime to fly combat missions.
That’s not just greatness. That’s not just legendary. That’s Ted Williams.
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