Under the heading of "what if" for Ted Williams is that he took part in WWII and the Korean Conflict taking many years from his potential statistics. His numbers would have been incredible had he not taken the time to serve his country. Kudos to Ted for putting his country ahead of his career.

At the time it was not regarded as the milestone it is today. Before 1941 players had hit above .400 several times within living memory, (|Terry had done it 11 years before) and while it was regarded as a significant feat, it was not seen as unbelievable.



Perhaps the most interesting thing about it is Williams' refusal to sit out the final double header of the season to protect his average, which was then .3995 (rounds to .400) He played both games, hit a ton, and finished the season at .406.

My personal opinion is that with the game as it is today, this may be impossible to break. Williams did not have to deal with coast to coast travel, night games, integrated baseball and so forth. A very few players have come close since. In 1957, at the age of 38, Williams almost did it again, hitting .388. In 1977, Rod Carew, who composed hits, reached .388.
George Brett hit .390 in 1988, and in one of the great "might have beens" in baseball history Tony Gwynn was sitting on .394 on August 11, 1994 when the players strike ended the season.

Say what you will about "Joltin' Joe" and his 56-game hitting streak...this one's more impressive, IMO.

Wow, what a cool thread! I'm glad to see so much intelligent conversation going on online...

Chrisrianna: It IS hard to hit above .400 "nowadays" the reason (according to my father and uncle, who are very wise when it comes to baseball) is: 1. relief pitchers, 2. night games (which I tend to disagree with somewhat, given that the stadium seems to be lighted at least as well as natural light (but I dunno, since I'm not an MLB payer)) and 3. relief pitchers. I think the idea of fresh arms is somewhat acceptable, but in these days of HD, DVD, etc. any given batter can literally watch any given pitch by any pitcher in any situation. The idea of "game film" for MLB seems to be limitless...

Another thing I would point out is that I understand that Ted Williams had 20/10 (or better) vision. 20/20 is perfect, so theoretically he had better than perfect vision. This has never been confirmed (for me) but if that's true... the problem is I'm coming at this from a perspective where I've seen The Matrix trilogy, and I imagine that Williams could almost see the pitches in slow motion, like Neo dodging the bullets, but I doubt that was the case...

Jar-Jar: Now I know the reason people hate "you." No Yankee will ever do anything of any significance without a tingle of doubt. I love the idea that a team can spend $200 million and not make the playoffs. That just goes to show the Beatles were right: Can't Buy Me Love. The Yanks could spend $500 million on a cyborg player, but that wouldn't guarantee them a pennant...

And now my final point: If there is ever going to be a player to finish a season at or above .400 I believe it's going to be Ichiro (of the Seattle Mariners.) I don't just believe this because I'm a Mariners fan, but because when I watch him swing, I know he's swinging to get on base (that's what a hit is.) I don't know that he's doing it intentionally, but it's almost like he is. I think that is... part of Japanese baseball training (?) Talk about lost in translation: In America players (and fans expect it) hit for power, but I think in Japan players hit for scoring (whether that's to get on base or advance a runner.) I think that is the difference between our two cultures (of baseball and in general.) We think of only ourselves as individuals, the Japanese think of themselves as a part of a whole. If Ichiro finishes a season at or above .400 it will because it benefits his team to do so (but obviously it will be a major feat...)

So hard to hit .400, there is a reason no one has hit .400 since 1941 and the last one that I can think of to even sniff it was George Brett who hit .390 in 1980.

This one is a little tough to rank because when it happened nobody knew it would be at least 67 years before someone would do it again, and it will most likely be 68 years and then some.

It's fitting that it was Williams who did it last. There's no telling what kind of records the man would have set if he hadn't given up so many years of his career. This is another thing that might better fit the significant catagory, but for some folks out there it could well be a fond memory as well. 

My father-in-law used to tell a great story. Joe Cronin, Red Sox manager at the time, came to Williams in the dugout before the first game of the doubleheader, and said, Ted, you're sitting on .400, but just barely, I told the press you've got a pulled leg muscle, I'm gonna sit ya today, thinking he was assuring him of the .400 average for the season. Williams had just come up in 1939, not exactly a seasoned veteran. As Cronin was walking away, Williams jumped up and yelled at his back, you put me back in that line-up! Cronin tried to explain that .400 was quite an accomplishment and was more important than playing in the doubleheader. Williams threatened to kick his ass right there in the dugout if he didn't put him back in the game. Cronin looked at him, shook his head and said, OK, Ted. You're in. He went 4 for 5, I think, in the first game and 2 for 3 in the nightcap, finishing at .406 for the season, and the legend was born.

The guy had balls!! I am only 39 years old and I know the guys around today would have sat the last at bat out once they clinched it. Ted was not only a great hitter but he was a war pilot. There are many great players today but none can shine his shoes overall.

Don't worry. The drought will be broken by a Yankee slugger someday.

This was great because it still hasn't been done since. It might take many more years for it to happen again, but I do think someone will hit .400 again.