Michael Jordan has no case to be the number 1 NBA player of all time. He has no case to be the number 1 NBA shooting guard of all time. He never had a case to be the number 1 NBA player when he was in the NBA. If you are going to rank players, lots of players are better than him. Lots of players could beat him in a one on one game. He doesn't have the best NBA statistics of all time. He is not the best scorer of all time. He is the most overrated sports star in the history of mankind. And I could give you more examples, but you get the point.............Also, Michael Jordan fans have lots of takes where they are wrong, or where they make things up, or where they contradict themselves, or where they move the goal post, or where they don't do enough research, or where they cherry pick things, or where they are not consistent, or where they react in a negative way if someone has a take that they think is taking away from Michael Jordan..........Also, Michael Jordan fans are the worst sports fans of all time, and they are the flat Earthers of the NBA world then.....................Now, if you disagree, you can go on my program and show me why you are right. If you want to go on email TheTelephoneUniverse@Gmail.Com...........And now watch how most Michael Jordan fans will ignore all this, and they won't go on my podcast to show me how they're right on whatever they disagree on, and they will get annoyed, and they will write something negative online...........and you know why they are like this?.............Because they know that they have no proof that will prove that I am wrong on whatever they disagree on, and they are in love with Michael Jordan, and they have too much pride to admit that they are wrong in anything, and they are not educated on the NBA.
I said it many times Michael Jordan is far from the best NBA player of all time, just because Stephen a Smith proclaims him God on the NBA courts, in my humble opinion Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest of all time, 50 points a game, for a complete season ridiculous, 4,000 points in one season, and one final fact, no player is ever average 30 points a game and 20 Reba game for an entire season, I think will did it seven times by himself, to be quite honest Michael Jordan couldn't carry his jockstrap!!!!
@@jimo50 Why do you Michael Jordan fans love to start drama online? WHy do you guys prefer to type silly and negative things? Why don't you just go on my program and prove how you're right in anything that you disagree on?
You're scared to go on my program to show me how you're right in anything that you disagree on, or to show me how any of the silly and negative things you write are true. So you lost. And you're just acting like you're winning.
Ted could have sat out the final 2 games of the 1941 season and preserved his 400 average. Not Ted. He played both, went 6 for 8 and ended the season at .406. That tells you what you need to know about Mr. Williams
I read about an interview with Ted Williams, years ago, about that doubleheader. The other teams manager told Ted, we are going to pitch to you, just as if was any other day My opinion, that manager realized how significant the it was to be flirting with a .400 batting average. That is a show of RESPECT!!!!
He wasn't 400. He was something like .3998 or (w/e) and it would have rounded up to .400. The manager wanted to sit him and Ted says It's not .400 I am playing. The catcher for the Phil A's told him: Mr. Mack says we are going to pitch to you. We aren't going to give you anything, but we are going to pitch to you.
@MrK623 Yes. I was aware of the sub 400 average that would round up and the opposing team was going to pitch to him normally. Ted wanted to do it the right way. Not take the easy way out
I met Ted Williams in 1996, near his house in Florida, when he held a luncheon at a rehab center, after recovering from a stroke! I had a rental property in the next town, Beverly Hills & heard about it on the local radio! I had a free lunch, met, shook his hand & had a picture taken & spent an hour listening to his stories! I'm not a big baseball fan, but have always admired Ted's life story! R.I.P. Ted!
Williams showed up for the troops in Korea. My father in law said he disappointed the troops. It was obvious he did not want to be there. With regards to this interview, he was great. Baseball is him.
@@kenkeast8519 many stars and celebrities went overseas to entertain the troops. The rapport between them was strong. That wasn’t the case with Ted Williams. I an not judging him. Many of these players were under contract to entertain the troops.
@@saulchapnick1566 That's what I thought, but I can't find any information on Williams being in Korea other than when he was recalled to active duty.............did he have "double-duty" ...............as an aviator, but then also have to do some appearances for other troops?
My father served in the Marines in WW 2 and said that Ted Williams was a legend in his own time there. He apparently had the best eye test score ever up to that point in the USMC. Every man wanted to be John Wayne while John Wayne wanted to be Ted Williams
Had a friend who got in a mini bike accident and loss the use of his legs. He went to a baseball card show and asked Ted Williams for his autograph. Ted said sure. Pulled out his checkbook and wrote him a check for $25 and signed it on the signature line. In the memo on the check he wrote “Hitting Lessons.” Ted said “You can cash that, but I would recommend holding on to that.” LEGEND!!
@@clarkfry7792Arnold Palmer was also an amazing human being and was everything you’d want in a role model. My father met him during his youth and says he was as kind and warm as any man he’s ever met and Arnold Palmer was a superstar back then.
I am 71 and I am glad I was a kid and saw most of the players he mentions. The first live game I saw was between Cleveland and the Angels, the second Yankees against the Angels with Whitey Ford on the Mound and Micky Mantle ( my favorite Player) in Centerfield. The next night we saw the Dodgers vs the Giants with Sandy Koufax, my brothers favorite player. I know there are great players today, but I think Baseball was better back then.
First game I ever saw in person was at dodger stadium in 1966 Sandy was starting. Koufax & Drysdale That’s how I spent the summer of 66’ At dodger stadium every homestand. I would plot the starting rotation in advance to make sure that it was either going to be Sandy or Don starting. I was 16 and the summer of ‘66 was the happiest time of my life. Life was simpler then. Sigh.
@@coleparker Don’t you just miss it? Doesn’t matter how (or better) todays players supposedly are. What they CAN’T replicate today is the settings and the “times”. I don’t go to games any more. With the new rules it’s a totally different game altogether. For example, with the “pitch clock”, extra innings “runner” starting at 2nd base, etc, they destroyed the biggest advantage that baseball had over other sports. It was TIMELESS. The only game without a clock. From the first pitch to the last it gave the illusion that time itself was endless. Until the last pitch or last at bat you were suspended in world all its own. I’ll wax poetic here for a second. It was like we all were Peter Pan in a timeless “Never Neverland”. The closest one could get to eternity in this world. In todays Baseball it’s Rush, Rush, Rush, so many seconds to make a pitch, can’t step out of the Box, limited throws to first base (which is GIVING the runner Second after your throw-overs are depleted.) And not to mention PULLING pitchers when they’re working on a NO HITTER! I completely stopped watching it about 5 years ago. They KILLED it.
@@Amaberean Well, I can understand the pitch clock. It was annoying to watch batters always step out of the box to adjust their gloves, or the pitcher constantly pacing the mound to get back at the hitter. But I agree with you about the rest.
I loved seeing Mays, Mantle, Aaron, and Frank Robinson. I saw films of Ted Williams and Dimaggio. Ted Williams had a perfect swing. Got to add Stan the man Musial. I saw him play too. All of the above are some of the greatest to ever play the game.
For my money, it's Rickey. All those guys were deserved HOFers, but Rickey was something else. Ted and Tony were the perfect batsmen. Stan was Mr. Clutch. But if I get first pick first it's 24.
Ted William's book on hitting was one of the best reads about the inner workings of baseball. I read The Art and Science of Hitting as a high school baseball player and had my best year at the plate for my team in 1989, playing a part in wining a State Championship. What a sharp mind and a great teacher!
That's the thing that strikes me most. A genius in three competencies. Greatest hitter. Survivor in two wars' most dangerous job. And world class in Fishing's most cerebral division. And friends with the best men in each class. Hard to compare oneself with in my case. So I don't.
I'm a die hard Yankees fan. I LOVE listening to Mr Williams. People have accused him of being braggadocios. I find him just the opposite. He was/is the greatest hitter ever. He recognizes so many that we at least close to him. True student of the game.
The first MLB game I attended was the 1960 opening day game at Griffith stadium in DC. The Senators played the Boston Red Sox in what was Ted Williams' final season. The Senators won the game 10-1, and the one run was a Williams homer out of the park!! My dad stood and applauded and I didn't know why since it was the opposition. He explained that it was in appreciation for a great player. As a footnote, I also witnessed a MLB record that day that still stands today! Washington's pitcher was Camilo Pascual who just happened to strike out 15 Red Sox which stands as the record for strikeouts in an opening day game to this day. I'm pretty excited about that!
Awesome memory, you’re very lucky to have seen it. I remember the day I saw a rare occurrence. I was 16 and got cheap tickets but good seats to a dodger game. They’re playing the expos and Mike Morgan and Dennis Martinez are pitching. Pops is going to trust me to drive to the ravine with a buddy. We lived in oc. Sunday day game, bueatiful day. El presidente pops a perfect game. Only time in my life I rooted against my boys, well only 4 innings. Both pitchers were perfect through 5. Morgan went 9 innings for a complete game but Martinez through the perfecto. Plus he was the first no USA born player to it Listening to vin call it on ear piece while you’re watching a game like was perfect in of itself. Love baseball. Truly lucky we were to see such things in person.
Ted's career numbers would have been much higher if he hadn't stopped playing twice to serve in WWII and the Korean War. To me, he is the best hitter that ever played the game.
@@posthawk1393except Ted was a way better contact hitter. And Ted’s missed years came right in the middle of his prime, not the first years of his career
@@scutifr Babe's peak was 1920-21. Don't tell me he couldn't have also peaked in 16-19 if he was a full time hitter in the live ball era. He played in the dead ball era and hit in the dead ball era until he was 24. That's a big deal. Williams had his best season his third year in the league. That's the equivalent of Babe in 1916. He didn't start hitting full time until 1920, and had to hit in the dead ball era for the first SIX years of his career. Babe's pitching and hitting in the dead ball era had a bigger impact on his total numbers than Ted missing 3 years. Go look at Babe's number for the first six years of his career. He barely hit at all, and when he did, he was great, but still in the dead ball era. Williams was already an all star his second year in the league, with good total numbers, and had his best season ever his third year. 900 home runs would have been easily possible for Babe if he hit his entire career in the dead ball era.
I grew up as a Red Sox fan in Massachusetts, but was too young to have ever seen him play ... the Yaz era was when my fandom kicked in. But Ted was such an all-time legend and I love coming across his interviews cuz he was so articulate and so honest. In my mind I will always think of him as the real-life John Wayne. He was truly a great American.
I saw this legend,at Shands Hospital in Gainesville Florida back in the 80s,they had a back entrance for celebrities, I worked there and was taking a smoke break,and his son or grandson was driving a Cadillac Mr. Williams said too my me you need to give up the cigarettes,at first I didn’t realize who he was a friend later told me.
He’s right on DiMaggio. JoeD lost 3 years to WW2, but as a right handed hitter in enormous Yankee Stadium, Bill James said he had the largest home field disadvantage in baseball history probably costing 120 HR’s. He would have been high 500’s without WW2 and in any other ballpark. that with his average and 360ish strikeouts his whole CAREER and playing in huge Yankee Stadium CF getting to everything. JoeD is underrated.
Remember, Willie Mays played in the cavernous Polo Grounds in NY( left center 450 ft, center 483 ft, right center 450 ft) , then shifted to the notorious swirling winds of SF Candlestick Park (left center 397 ft, center 420 ft, right center 397 ft) - both tougher HR-hitting fields than Yankee Stadium. Mays also lost 2 years to Korean War service. DiMaggion is top-notch, but James' claims about field disadvantages seem at least a bit exaggerated.
@@waldolydecker8118 Polo grounds was 279 to the foul pole and a good chunk of left center was very close while it jutted out. There was a lot of space to pull the ball and get an easy HR. He played there only 5 yrs and averaged 36/year. Candlestick was 330 at pole and 397 in left center. not big shots. he didn’t have Dimaggios Yankee Stadium 450 left center his whole career
Ted himself voted Joe the greatest living ball player the year DiMaggio won it. Mays, Mantle, DiMaggio, Williams, Stan the man,etc., etc., etc. These are the players and teams I miss dearly and that era will always be baseball to me. It was almost a religion. Still has a place in my heart that conjures so many memories. What the hell happened ?
You may be right but I doubt it. I don’t think Joe would ever have reached the 500 hr plateau. He was a very heavy smoker when he played and I think he would have started slowing down and breaking down before he would have gotten there. Just my opinion.
I've had a couple such experiences, but no baseball ones. One of mine is the highest scoring Marine Aviator ever, and Guadalcanal savior Joe Foss. For a follow on he was the first commissioner of the AFL, Now the NFL's AFC. HE signed me up for a Life membership in the NRA on the spot, no sales required.
It was 1951 i was 8 allie reynolds had a no hitter 2 outs bottom of the 9th ted williams up hits a popup yogi berra drops it and next pitch another popup this time berra catches it.a no hitter.i was sitting 3rd base.i can remember it like yesterday
There is that word again. People using underrated when it does not apply. JFC...Ted Williams....Ted...fu*king Williams is underrated to you? Im done. God.😒 You have zero clue as to wtf you are talking about.
Ted's lifetime on-base percentage is a mind-boggling .482. If MLB had allowed sacrifice flies in 1941 he would have batted .413 that year. The greatest hitter of all time.
@@PringlesCan-y7m Before steroids Bonds had a .290 career batting average, a .402 on-base percentage, and a .554 slugging percentage. Williams had a .344 career batting average, a .482 on-base percentage, and a .634 slugging percentage. Even counting his steroid years, Bonds is well behind Williams in all three categories.
@@TheYaegerjeusmc Bonds never failed a drug test, accusations of juicing are all hearsay, and the same hearsay was said about Williams. Weird that you think steroids were invented in the 90's and not around when Williams played. Besides, Bonds faced far better pitchers, and they were all scared of him. William's numbers are smaller than Bond's numbers.
@@TheYaegerjeusmc also, even Hank Aaron admitted to using steroids in 1969. Read the book "I had a Hammer" and maybe you wont be such a noob about baseball history. Doping was widespread in the 60's more so than the 90's.
Ted Williams has my enduring respect. He was a fabulous ball player but more importantly he was totally honest with his views in life. He told it like it was and didn’t let color influence his opinions.
Truth. At some point one of the "Knights of the Keyboard" asked a question about Willie Mays passing his home run total and Williams' response was - and I quote: "you go, Willie">
I was around Washington when he became the Senators manager. It was a thrill as a 13 year old just to see Ted Williams in the dug out, or bring the line up card out to the Umpires.
Ted missed almost 5 seasons, he was slower than molasses and Boston writers were vindictive morons. E.G. One year Ted won the triple crown and one Boston writer did not give him a single vote. And they voted for 1-10. Triple crown and not a tenth place vote- Disgusting and petty
Great interview by Costas. Williams wasn't afraid to tell the truth and show a bit of humility along the way. He wasn't afraid to talk about other players being great. And in his HOF speech, he championed letting in players from the Negro Leagues.
I had the honor of seeing Ted Williams play against the Washington Senators in Griffith stadium, he had eyes like a hawk, and the smoothest swing ever. The best hitter there ever was, #1 all time best player, with the best ethics.
As a kid growing up in NYC, Mickey Mantle was my idol, Mayes was unbelievable too but the Giants left for California, Williams by far the best hitter I had the pleasure to see in person at Yankee Stadium. He was also a class act.
Around 1949 or 1950 there was serious talk between the Yankees and the Red Sox about a straight up 1 for 1 swap, Williams for Joe D. Luckily for the Sox that deal never happened because DiMaggio retired after 1951 and Ted still had several excellent seasons left in his career. I can see why NY wanted to pursue this trade, though. Despite the Yanks always having outstanding pitching staffs, especially with plenty of good left handed pitchers, I mean that was a big part of why they won so many titles, Ted hit very well in Yankee Stadium. It would have been a good park for his hitting style. That short porch in right field would have received a lot of Williams homers!
@@flparkermdpc it is possible that both descriptions are true, Ted Williams was respectful of other professionals and their accomplishments on the field and was a difficult interview with local press. I recall how outraged the NYC press was when Micky signed a six figure contract for $100,000. Looking back the same reporters would be going nuts with today’s contracts.
Had Ted not served for the U.S. military for those years, his MLB career would have been that much more impressive, at least in terms of the statistics. Ironically, his stepping away from baseball temporarily to serve his country makes him look that much more impressive. Ted Williams is definitely one of the best guys to ever play the game. The best hitter in the game according to many.
Teddy Ball Game is the Greatest Patriot ever to play professional sports. I learned the Ted Williams technique in high school with great success and taught it in little league albeit a simplified approach. The message is Ted Williams batting techniques are lessons to pass to each generation.
In my humble opinion, Ted Williams is the best hitter in the history of baseball. I encourage everyone to review his lifetime stats and factor in the total time he was in the USMC, both WWII and Korea. Nobody else comes close. Sure, he wasn’t easy to deal with, at least that’s what the baseball press corps felt, but he was the best. DiMaggio, Mays, Mantle, Robinson, Musial, and Aaron were great ball players. That’s true. Yes, several had careers beyond the time of Ted. But that’s not the point, the point is, career to career, Williams is the best. The modern era? Everybody was so juiced up fuggitaboutit.
Not only that, but for the first century, really, of MLB history (1876-1976), there wasn't an emphasis in on base %. Even box scores and lists of stats up until then mostly treated walks as a function of poor control by the pitcher and not discipline by the batter. It was a crusade of analysts like Bill James and Pete Palmer in the late 1970s and on into the 1980s to educate both fans and the teams themselves to recognize that certain hitters are more patient than others at the plate and consciously deciding not to swing at pitches out of the strike zone. This is why it wasn't until modern statistical research that we found out that whereas DiMaggio had hits in 56 consecutive games, Ted set the all time record for most consecutive games reaching base - in 1949 he had a streak of 87 consecutive games reaching base either by hits or walks. That's more than half a season!
But didn't Joe hit for another 27 consecutive games starting the following game after the end of the 56 game streak? Just saying that's pretty insane...
@@karlepaul6632 He followed up the 56 game streak with a 16 game streak after the first one got stopped. There was also some controversy surrounding one of Joe's games, I think it was #41 in the original streak. Roller down to 3rd base, fielder threw wildly to first, it was Joe's last at bat of that game and the only time he reached base. The official scorer called it an infield hit, kept the streak alive, say no more. Several days later the scorer admitted that every time he had ever seen that play he had always ruled it an error but in that one case he ruled it a hit specifically for the purpose of keeping DiMaggio's streak alive. But the ruling stood.
That’s actually inconsequential. Joe hit 408 during his streak . Ted hit 406 for the Season !! Joes average that season was 357. Pretty good but a far cry from 406. The streak is a bit more about luck than pure hitting skill . Ted almost always had higher on base. Slugging % , batting average ,walks , He was even that year the better hitter . DiMaggio definitely the better all around player.
He shows his strength of character here. It's not surprising he had great strength of character, he was a fighter pilot in WW2 and Korea. (He didn't see combat in WW2 but set records in aerial target gunnery. He did see combat in Korea, flying the Panther fighter jet.) A key to his success as a hitter and a fighter pilot was reportedly his extraordinary eyesight. I've read he stated that when he fired his guns he could see the ripples of his bullets passing through the air.
I’m a Redsox fan thru and thru. Ted was an American hero but when wasn’t defended freedom he was greatest hitter ever. Pain in the ass probably but it was because he expected perfection from himself and everyone else around him to work as hard as possible to get there as well. Mr. Williams is an amazing man.
Ralph Kiner was asked, "Who's the greatest ballplayer you ever saw?" He responded immediately "Joe DiMaggio", but then added, "Old-timers I knew said Ruth was better." That's always the way with baseball. Those long shadows eat up the field.
You can't teach a player to hit, but you can coach technics. Not just stance, finding the right bat, and bat grip, but a mental attitude. Keep your eye on the ball was all most coaches ever told me, but it was a female teacher that taught me to believe I could. Most coaches try to change too many batting problems at the same time. This can also relate to other issues, but I'm sticking to batting. I coached for a very few years, but always had a winning team. I find too coaches want to work on stance, position at the plate, bat choice, bat grip, ball awareness at the same time. I took one step at a time and watch them carefully and recommend 1 improvement at a time. Once they master that, we move on. Sometimes the problem is coaching those that have had several coaches before. I've also coached players that technically looked all wrong, but had some of the best stats, I didn't try to fix what wasn't broken. Some people are just amazing, but they may need more guidance than coaching. Sorry, I'm an old man just going down memory lane. I've never met one pro player or coach in my life, but dearly loved the game.
6 месяцев назад
He was one great player for man, one great hero for all mankind!
He dominated baseball, WWII and the Sears catalog. His name was on every kind of sporting equipment and dress suits. I had a Ted Williams weight set from Sears. I got it for Christmas. My friends dad had all kinds of Ted Williams fishing and camping equipment. He even had a Ted Williams canoe.
Batting average is the single most useless stat in baseball. It treats a single and home run the same, both 1-1. Ichiro (.311) had a high batting average, but his OBP was lower than Adam Dunn, even though Dunn had a .237 average. Teddy Ballgame had a sky-high OPS+, second all-time to Ruth. His OBP was .482 which is nearly 50% reaching base.
I"m 64 , when i was a kid an old guy told me babe ruth was the greatest ballplayer ever, i figurered he was just talking about home runs , but he kept bringing up other stuff, i can't remember all he said but when i left i was convinced he was right . baseball is a game of stats, babe needs to be revisited .
Ted Williams was a straight shooter. There's a 90s interview, with a local Boston sports reporter, with Ted, Bobby Orr and Ted Williams. Ted and Bobby Orr were great friends. Ted Williams was so appreciative of athletic talent. It was great to see a guy who straight up admired great athletes. Ted thought the world of Bobby Orr and was excited to meet Larry Bird.
We must consider Ty Cobb and Stan Musial along with Ted Williams as the best hitters in the game. Close second place would be Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio.
Ted gives one of the very best acceptance speech at the HOF, exhorting the inclusion of black players. The Hall would never hold out afterwards, must see speech.
Ted Williams last at bat, he hit a home run. Ran the bases and went straight to the locker-room got dressed and left. Fan were waiting for him to come back and take a bow. I watched the game on television. I had an autographed news clipping of the homerun. I gave it to my barber.
Grew up in Wisconsin and a saw plenty of Aaron . Great hitter , great base runner , above average fielder . Wasn’t flashy and played in a small market . As good as Mays in my book , and I saw all the great NL players of the ‘50’s and 60’s . I’d also put Clemente in that group .
Except Ty Cobb!! And Bob Costas never mentioned Ty Cobb either for a reason: Ty was the ONLY baseball player that could hit better than Ted Williams. Ty was a monster at the plate with a bat in his hands!
@@Truetoo102 Ted did mentioned both Ruth and Gehrig at the tail end of the interview. Watch again with subtitles. And Cobb's aggressiveness is what made him lethal! Everybody praises Michael Jordan for being ruthless and aggressive. But most people, like you, don't praise Ty Cobb for being ruthless and aggressive. It's about charisma and Ty Cobb did not have any charisma. One of many reasons why he was disliked (along with being a @sshole!).
@@Truetoo102 Is not a personality contest. Or a title for who is the nicest person. If that was the case, then Derek Jeter is the best hitter ever!! I am not a Cobb fan. He was a terrible person. No doubt. But, Ty Cobb is the best hitter ever!!! Better than Williams. Just look at the stats. And they both played until the age of 41.
My favorite baseball player of all time. I’m only 26 and I never seen him live, but his story and stats are just amazing. Idc what era he played in I believe him to be the greatest all around hitter ever. Contact, power, walks, ( take away Barry bonds * ) if he was born in the 2000’s and grew up hitting an adjusting the way players are today I still believe he would have the career he’s had. A truly great player who was robbed of half his prime and 4/5 more MVP’s
You're the first besides me, to bring up smart. He was the best in hitting a baseball, as mentally challenging as any sport, in aviation you must bat 1.000, or die, and fly fishing is the most cerebral of that entire universe. Smart, indeed.
often I think of who were the best 1 - 2 hitters; the on-base guy, then the slugger. Easy to be impressed in person (as a boy) Vada Pinson & Frank Robinson
I'm your age too and the first World Series I remember running home from school to watch was Pittsburgh/Baltimore in 1971. Roberto Clemente was my favourite player too. His death hit me hard as a little kid.
I think Ted Williams was the most humble and gracious baseball player in the game too - RIP. I don’t know when this video was made, but we can’t leave out a few players from the 80s as well and there were many of them. Like Gwynn, Schmidt, Brett and Parker to just name some.
I too read his book the Art and Science of Hitting when I was a senior in high school. I had my best year at the plate. Confidence, confidence, hit good pitches, and more confidence. You gotta spit on the ground and believe you're the best hitter on the field. The power of the mind is incredible. "Come on meat, throw me that weak a** sh**"
Mickey Mantle battled injuries his entire career, and alcohol abuse, feeling he would not live past 40. Early in his career, he was the fastest base runner, an outstanding fielder, and had incomparable power hitting rt or lt handed. Many experts feel he would have had ten more HR’s per year (650 for his career) batted .320, and be the only man to hit it out of the old Yankee Stadium (and other parks as well.)
I remember seeing Mantle hit the facade above the upper deck in right field in Yankee Stadium. That ball was still rising when it hit and it bounced back to the first baseman. It was hit hard.
@@soaringvulture I’ve only read of that legendary blast, but got to see him late in his career. His swing was a perfect transfer of weight, torque, and application of power that muscular strength/bench pressing doesn’t match. Reminded me of Nicklaus’ golf swing for distance. Shear perfection.
@@flparkermdpc He had osteomyelitis as a young man. Then in the CF injury he tore ligaments and meniscal damage. With his history, and early deaths in males of his family, understandable EtOH probs might follow. What a natural ball player though-speed, incomparable power, and a very competent fielder. 700 HR, a .320 average, 2000 RBI’s in his 17 yr career were possible.
@@SeptemberChild1835 Ohtani's good, but he's not even remotely close to Ruth as a hitter or pitcher. Ruth's career batting average was .342 compared to Ohtani's .279. Ruth's career pitching record was 94-46 with a 2.28 ERA. Ohtani is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA. Ruth truly excelled at both hitting and pitching...
This is what my dad’s generation would refer to as a man’s man..One of the greatest ballplayers ever, a combat veteran of 2 wars, and a guy who stood up for what he believed in and didn’t suffer fools likely..what happened to todays men!!?? They certainly don’t make them like Ted anymore
I’ve seen a ton of these interviews. One thing in common is that no matter how great that was he is always praising who inspired him and his contemporaries. Pete Rose is probably the best at this. The greats truly lived for the game
Michael Jordan has no case to be the number 1 NBA player of all time. He has no case to be the number 1 NBA shooting guard of all time. He never had a case to be the number 1 NBA player when he was in the NBA. If you are going to rank players, lots of players are better than him. Lots of players could beat him in a one on one game. He doesn't have the best NBA statistics of all time. He is not the best scorer of all time. He is the most overrated sports star in the history of mankind. And I could give you more examples, but you get the point.............Also, Michael Jordan fans have lots of takes where they are wrong, or where they make things up, or where they contradict themselves, or where they move the goal post, or where they don't do enough research, or where they cherry pick things, or where they are not consistent, or where they react in a negative way if someone has a take that they think is taking away from Michael Jordan..........Also, Michael Jordan fans are the worst sports fans of all time, and they are the flat Earthers of the NBA world then.....................Now, if you disagree, you can go on my program and show me why you are right. If you want to go on email TheTelephoneUniverse@Gmail.Com...........And now watch how most Michael Jordan fans will ignore all this, and they won't go on my podcast to show me how they're right on whatever they disagree on, and they will get annoyed, and they will write something negative online...........and you know why they are like this?.............Because they know that they have no proof that will prove that I am wrong on whatever they disagree on, and they are in love with Michael Jordan, and they have too much pride to admit that they are wrong in anything, and they are not educated on the NBA.
I said it many times Michael Jordan is far from the best NBA player of all time, just because Stephen a Smith proclaims him God on the NBA courts, in my humble opinion Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest of all time, 50 points a game, for a complete season ridiculous, 4,000 points in one season, and one final fact, no player is ever average 30 points a game and 20 Reba game for an entire season, I think will did it seven times by himself, to be quite honest Michael Jordan couldn't carry his jockstrap!!!!
This sure is a lot of basketball opinion posted in the comments section of a video about baseball.
@@jimo50 Why do you Michael Jordan fans love to start drama online? WHy do you guys prefer to type silly and negative things? Why don't you just go on my program and prove how you're right in anything that you disagree on?
@@universegalaxyuniversegalaxy Becaise you’re not worth the time.
You're scared to go on my program to show me how you're right in anything that you disagree on, or to show me how any of the silly and negative things you write are true. So you lost. And you're just acting like you're winning.
Ted could have sat out the final 2 games of the 1941 season and preserved his 400 average. Not Ted. He played both, went 6 for 8 and ended the season at .406. That tells you what you need to know about Mr. Williams
I read about an interview with Ted Williams, years ago, about that doubleheader. The other teams manager told Ted, we are going to pitch to you, just as if was any other day My opinion, that manager realized how significant the it was to be flirting with a .400 batting average. That is a show of RESPECT!!!!
He wasn't 400. He was something like .3998 or (w/e) and it would have rounded up to .400. The manager wanted to sit him and Ted says It's not .400 I am playing. The catcher for the Phil A's told him: Mr. Mack says we are going to pitch to you. We aren't going to give you anything, but we are going to pitch to you.
@@MrK623 Thanks for the update.
@@timothymcknight9485 Did not see your reply.
@MrK623 Yes. I was aware of the sub 400 average that would round up and the opposing team was going to pitch to him normally. Ted wanted to do it the right way. Not take the easy way out
Not only was Williams a great hitter, he was a great jet fighter pilot, and a world class fly fisherman.
Who fishes for Flies?😂
Also a very good photographer from what I’ve read.
I met Ted Williams in 1996, near his house in Florida, when he held a luncheon at a rehab center,
after recovering from a stroke! I had a rental property in the next town, Beverly Hills & heard about
it on the local radio! I had a free lunch, met, shook his hand & had a picture taken & spent an hour
listening to his stories! I'm not a big baseball fan, but have always admired Ted's life story! R.I.P. Ted!
And a great PROPELLER fighter pilot too. He flew fighter planes in WW2 in addition to Korea.
Ted Williams is the ONLY athlete in 2 Halls of Fame. Baseball and fishing.
Ted was known to be prickly at times but I really liked him in this interview. Came across as very humble and positive toward his peers.
I heard it the same way. One of the top 3 hitters of all time in my book.
Williams showed up for the troops in Korea. My father in law said he disappointed the troops. It was obvious he did not want to be there. With regards to this interview, he was great. Baseball is him.
@@saulchapnick1566 Not sure what you mean by he showed up for the troops in Korea (and disappointed them)?
@@kenkeast8519 many stars and celebrities went overseas to entertain the troops. The rapport between them was strong. That wasn’t the case with Ted Williams. I an not judging him. Many of these players were under contract to entertain the troops.
@@saulchapnick1566 That's what I thought, but I can't find any information on Williams being in Korea other than when he was recalled to active duty.............did he have "double-duty" ...............as an aviator, but then also have to do some appearances for other troops?
My father served in the Marines in WW 2 and said that Ted Williams was a legend in his own time there. He apparently had the best eye test score ever up to that point in the USMC. Every man wanted to be John Wayne while John Wayne wanted to be Ted Williams
John Wayne did not want to be a soldier, just act like one.
@@leonpse John Wayne was a little old for WWll....
@@faroutgolf3650 Self-centered, too!
I've read he set aerial target gunnery records.
@@faroutgolf3650 James Stewart was just one year younger than Wayne, and he served. He flew in bombing missions over Germany.
Ted Williams, Marine World War II & Korean War Fighter Pilot Veteran...thank you for your service sir.🇺🇸
During his peak years, no less.
The real John Wayne
The only thing missing was the MoH. And never once did he complain about the military. He said John Glenn was his personal hero. God, what a man !
That's what I was thinking.
👍💗🇺🇸🇺🇸💐
Had a friend who got in a mini bike accident and loss the use of his legs. He went to a baseball card show and asked Ted Williams for his autograph. Ted said sure. Pulled out his checkbook and wrote him a check for $25 and signed it on the signature line. In the memo on the check he wrote “Hitting Lessons.”
Ted said “You can cash that, but I would recommend holding on to that.”
LEGEND!!
Along with Arnold Palmer he probably had the best looking autograph in all of sports, too. I wish I had penmanship like them.
You should look up Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford's autograph.....He has one of the best
@@clarkfry7792 he signed my ball over 30 years ago. indeed it's a nice sig.
@@clarkfry7792Arnold Palmer was also an amazing human being and was everything you’d want in a role model. My father met him during his youth and says he was as kind and warm as any man he’s ever met and Arnold Palmer was a superstar back then.
@@scottventura566 How classy is that !
Every Ted Williams interview you see he's always full of praise for other great players
Always.
His Hall of Fame speech had references to black ballplayers of the old Negro Leagues who should also be in the Hall
I am 71 and I am glad I was a kid and saw most of the players he mentions. The first live game I saw was between Cleveland and the Angels, the second Yankees against the Angels with Whitey Ford on the Mound and Micky Mantle ( my favorite Player) in Centerfield. The next night we saw the Dodgers vs the Giants with Sandy Koufax, my brothers favorite player. I know there are great players today, but I think Baseball was better back then.
Without a doubt!
First game I ever saw in person was at dodger stadium in 1966
Sandy was starting.
Koufax & Drysdale
That’s how I spent the summer of 66’
At dodger stadium every homestand.
I would plot the starting rotation in advance to make sure that it was either going to be Sandy or Don starting.
I was 16 and the summer of ‘66 was the happiest time of my life.
Life was simpler then. Sigh.
@@Amaberean I agree with that. I was 13 at that time.
@@coleparker Don’t you just miss it? Doesn’t matter how (or better) todays players supposedly are.
What they CAN’T replicate today is the settings and the “times”.
I don’t go to games any more. With the new rules it’s a totally different game altogether.
For example, with the “pitch clock”, extra innings “runner” starting at 2nd base, etc, they destroyed the biggest advantage that baseball had over other sports.
It was TIMELESS. The only game without a clock. From the first pitch to the last it gave the illusion that time itself was endless. Until the last pitch or last at bat you were suspended in world all its own. I’ll wax poetic here for a second. It was like we all were Peter Pan in a timeless “Never Neverland”. The closest one could get to eternity in this world.
In todays Baseball it’s Rush, Rush, Rush, so many seconds to make a pitch, can’t step out of the Box, limited throws to first base (which is GIVING the runner Second after your throw-overs are depleted.)
And not to mention PULLING pitchers when they’re working on a NO HITTER!
I completely stopped watching it about 5 years ago. They KILLED it.
@@Amaberean Well, I can understand the pitch clock. It was annoying to watch batters always step out of the box to adjust their gloves, or the pitcher constantly pacing the mound to get back at the hitter. But I agree with you about the rest.
Perfect swing, and he could fly an F-86. What a guy!!
Do you mean the F9F Panther, friend?
@CardinalRG You are correct! I wrongly assumed that Ted would only fly the best. Lol
He was humorless. Ask Stuttering John.
not fair is it?
I loved seeing Mays, Mantle, Aaron, and Frank Robinson. I saw films of Ted Williams and Dimaggio. Ted Williams had a perfect swing. Got to add Stan the man Musial. I saw him play too. All of the above are some of the greatest to ever play the game.
Roberto Clemente
In this video, Ted praises Stan.
Maybe they’ll all show up in the Field of Dreams ball park.
There will be a million people trying to get in.
For my money, it's Rickey. All those guys were deserved HOFers, but Rickey was something else. Ted and Tony were the perfect batsmen. Stan was Mr. Clutch. But if I get first pick first it's 24.
He was so gracious to other players. And in his HOF speech he mentioned the great players in the negro leagues. What a man! The real John Wayne.
Ted William's book on hitting was one of the best reads about the inner workings of baseball. I read The Art and Science of Hitting as a high school baseball player and had my best year at the plate for my team in 1989, playing a part in wining a State Championship. What a sharp mind and a great teacher!
@ ad 18 - He even said that Phillies' Hall of Famer, Mike Schmidt, amazed him by hitting more tham 500+ homeruns by swinging "down' . . . . .
He’s a direct and honest man from a harder era. One of the mentally strongest and most talented great Americans.
That's the thing that strikes me most. A genius in three competencies. Greatest hitter. Survivor in two wars' most dangerous job. And world class in Fishing's most cerebral division. And friends with the best men in each class. Hard to compare oneself with in my case. So I don't.
my take also
I'm a die hard Yankees fan. I LOVE listening to Mr Williams. People have accused him of being braggadocios. I find him just the opposite. He was/is the greatest hitter ever. He recognizes so many that we at least close to him. True student of the game.
He was compulsively honest!
@@roscoefoofoo Yes, he was honest and direct. He knew he was great and he said so. He knew others were great and he said so.
The argument could be made that Ty Cobb was the best hitter ever. His stats are amazing and 4th all time stolen bases
In any case, it ain't bragging if you can do it.
@@treyray2 He still has die hard, non Boston fans. He was a great player who transcended team loyalty. Great is great no matter the team.
The first MLB game I attended was the 1960 opening day game at Griffith stadium in DC. The Senators played the Boston Red Sox in what was Ted Williams' final season. The Senators won the game 10-1, and the one run was a Williams homer out of the park!!
My dad stood and applauded and I didn't know why since it was the opposition. He explained that it was in appreciation for a great player.
As a footnote, I also witnessed a MLB record that day that still stands today! Washington's pitcher was Camilo Pascual who just happened to strike out 15 Red Sox which stands as the record for strikeouts in an opening day game to this day.
I'm pretty excited about that!
That’s pretty cool. My dad always talks about his first game from August of that season, at Fenway, when they celebrated Ted Williams’ birthday.
and Pascual is still alive.
Great story. As a Mets fan we always cheered on Willie Mays of the SF Giants
Awesome memory, you’re very lucky to have seen it. I remember the day I saw a rare occurrence. I was 16 and got cheap tickets but good seats to a dodger game. They’re playing the expos and Mike Morgan and Dennis Martinez are pitching. Pops is going to trust me to drive to the ravine with a buddy. We lived in oc. Sunday day game, bueatiful day. El presidente pops a perfect game. Only time in my life I rooted against my boys, well only 4 innings. Both pitchers were perfect through 5. Morgan went 9 innings for a complete game but Martinez through the perfecto. Plus he was the first no USA born player to it Listening to vin call it on ear piece while you’re watching a game like was perfect in of itself. Love baseball. Truly lucky we were to see such things in person.
I remember Pascual beating the Yankees 1-0. On Pascual's home run.
Ted's career numbers would have been much higher if he hadn't stopped playing twice to serve in WWII and the Korean War. To me, he is the best hitter that ever played the game.
The same can be said for Ruth pitching for the first 4-5 years of his career. Ruth is the greatest hitter ever, hands down.
@@posthawk1393except Ted was a way better contact hitter. And Ted’s missed years came right in the middle of his prime, not the first years of his career
@@scutifr Babe's peak was 1920-21. Don't tell me he couldn't have also peaked in 16-19 if he was a full time hitter in the live ball era. He played in the dead ball era and hit in the dead ball era until he was 24. That's a big deal. Williams had his best season his third year in the league. That's the equivalent of Babe in 1916. He didn't start hitting full time until 1920, and had to hit in the dead ball era for the first SIX years of his career. Babe's pitching and hitting in the dead ball era had a bigger impact on his total numbers than Ted missing 3 years.
Go look at Babe's number for the first six years of his career. He barely hit at all, and when he did, he was great, but still in the dead ball era. Williams was already an all star his second year in the league, with good total numbers, and had his best season ever his third year. 900 home runs would have been easily possible for Babe if he hit his entire career in the dead ball era.
I grew up as a Red Sox fan in Massachusetts, but was too young to have ever seen him play ... the Yaz era was when my fandom kicked in. But Ted was such an all-time legend and I love coming across his interviews cuz he was so articulate and so honest. In my mind I will always think of him as the real-life John Wayne. He was truly a great American.
You got that exactly right.
I saw this legend,at Shands Hospital in Gainesville Florida back in the 80s,they had a back entrance for celebrities, I worked there and was taking a smoke break,and his son or grandson was driving a Cadillac Mr. Williams said too my me you need to give up the cigarettes,at first I didn’t realize who he was a friend later told me.
Rest in peace Mr Ted Williams God bless 🙏 to you and your families 😊❤
One of the greatest to play baseball, and what a kind gentleman, and his respectful words to his fellow players. Thanks Ted Williams
He’s right on DiMaggio. JoeD lost 3 years to WW2, but as a right handed hitter in enormous Yankee Stadium, Bill James said he had the largest home field disadvantage in baseball history probably costing 120 HR’s. He would have been high 500’s without WW2 and in any other ballpark. that with his average and 360ish strikeouts his whole CAREER and playing in huge Yankee Stadium CF getting to everything. JoeD is underrated.
Remember, Willie Mays played in the cavernous Polo Grounds in NY( left center 450 ft, center 483 ft, right center 450 ft) , then shifted to the notorious swirling winds of SF Candlestick Park (left center 397 ft, center 420 ft, right center 397 ft) - both tougher HR-hitting fields than Yankee Stadium. Mays also lost 2 years to Korean War service. DiMaggion is top-notch, but James' claims about field disadvantages seem at least a bit exaggerated.
@@waldolydecker8118 Polo grounds was 279 to the foul pole and a good chunk of left center was very close while it jutted out. There was a lot of space to pull the ball and get an easy HR. He played there only 5 yrs and averaged 36/year. Candlestick was 330 at pole and 397 in left center. not big shots. he didn’t have Dimaggios Yankee Stadium 450 left center his whole career
Ted himself voted Joe the greatest living ball player the year DiMaggio won it. Mays, Mantle, DiMaggio, Williams, Stan the man,etc., etc., etc. These are the players and teams I miss dearly and that era will always be baseball to me. It was almost a religion. Still has a place in my heart that conjures so many memories. What the hell happened ?
@@damohanson5393free agency amd steriods
You may be right but I doubt it. I don’t think Joe would ever have reached the 500 hr plateau.
He was a very heavy smoker when he played and I think he would have started slowing down and breaking down before he would have gotten there.
Just my opinion.
His humility just makes me think him that much greater.
Roberto Clemente was best player I ever saw. I'm 79. Watched a lot of great players starting in 1959. Clemente was the best.
Wow, must’ve been great back then.
Should baseball retire his 21 number like Robinson.
He really impacted Latinos in baseball.
He and Mays
Willy mays
Class dude. He had the perfect swing.
He was a Veteran of both WW2 and the Korean wars. We'll never know how truly great he was.
Yes we know. He's the best damn hitter that ever lived.
I met Ted Williams once, shook his hand. What a highlight!
Envious I am .
@@damohanson5393 It was a hot stove league dinner. I met some other ball players, Roger Craig and Enid Slaughter come to mind.
So did I in 1996!
I've had a couple such experiences, but no baseball ones. One of mine is the highest scoring Marine Aviator ever, and Guadalcanal savior Joe Foss. For a follow on he was the first commissioner of the AFL, Now the NFL's AFC. HE signed me up for a Life membership in the NRA on the spot, no sales required.
@@flparkermdpc Not my cuppa, but there’s a connection with Teddy Ballgame. He was an aviator I believe, but I don’t know which branch.
It was 1951 i was 8 allie reynolds had a no hitter 2 outs bottom of the 9th ted williams up hits a popup yogi berra drops it and next pitch another popup this time berra catches it.a no hitter.i was sitting 3rd base.i can remember it like yesterday
Ted Williams was definitely underrated. A lot of people today grew up during the wrong time. In the history of baseball, those guys were the best.
Williams has never been underrated.
He’s not underrated. He’s literally regarded unanimously as the greatest hitter of all time.
@@Film-Watcher12 kids now days think they’re old farts who couldn’t compete in todays game.
Still are.
There is that word again. People using underrated when it does not apply. JFC...Ted Williams....Ted...fu*king Williams is underrated to you? Im done. God.😒 You have zero clue as to wtf you are talking about.
Ted's lifetime on-base percentage is a mind-boggling .482. If MLB had allowed sacrifice flies in 1941 he would have batted .413 that year. The greatest hitter of all time.
nothing comes close to early 2000's Barry Bonds. The most feared hitter of all time.
@@PringlesCan-y7m Before steroids Bonds had a .290 career batting average, a .402 on-base percentage, and a .554 slugging percentage. Williams had a .344 career batting average, a .482 on-base percentage, and a .634 slugging percentage. Even counting his steroid years, Bonds is well behind Williams in all three categories.
Williams was better and didn’t JUICE.
@@TheYaegerjeusmc Bonds never failed a drug test, accusations of juicing are all hearsay, and the same hearsay was said about Williams. Weird that you think steroids were invented in the 90's and not around when Williams played.
Besides, Bonds faced far better pitchers, and they were all scared of him. William's numbers are smaller than Bond's numbers.
@@TheYaegerjeusmc also, even Hank Aaron admitted to using steroids in 1969. Read the book "I had a Hammer" and maybe you wont be such a noob about baseball history. Doping was widespread in the 60's more so than the 90's.
Ted Williams has my enduring respect. He was a fabulous ball player but more importantly he was totally honest with his views in life. He told it like it was and didn’t let color influence his opinions.
Amen.
Truth. At some point one of the "Knights of the Keyboard" asked a question about Willie Mays passing his home run total and Williams' response was - and I quote: "you go, Willie">
I was around Washington when he became the Senators manager. It was a thrill as a 13 year old just to see Ted Williams in the dug out, or bring the line up card out to the Umpires.
Left the game during the prime of his career, and still hit 500 home runs. Also, the last hitter to hit over .400 for a full year.
Plus missed yr because of war
@@richardmorris6365 Yes, exactly.
Ted missed almost 5 seasons, he was slower than molasses and Boston writers were vindictive morons. E.G. One year Ted won the triple crown and one Boston writer did not give him a single vote. And they voted for 1-10. Triple crown and not a tenth place vote- Disgusting and petty
@@damohanson5393 Boston writers and broadcasters are still ignorant and negative.
God I wish I could've seen this Man play baseball. There will never be another Ted!
Great interview by Costas. Williams wasn't afraid to tell the truth and show a bit of humility along the way. He wasn't afraid to talk about other players being great. And in his HOF speech, he championed letting in players from the Negro Leagues.
Teds respect for DiMaggio' is pure class as his observations of Mantle Mays etc
Ted respected those who were worthy of respect.
Very well spoken I wish we had more players and thoughts like that today😊 rest in peace
His head is still in a jar
So well-spoken, every other word doesn't include, "you know."
Or "like"...
Or genuinely/actually/literally/honestly
Greatest all around hitter in MLB history. If not for WWII, top 4 or 5 in homers, 600+ EASILY
I had the honor of seeing Ted Williams play against the Washington Senators in Griffith stadium, he had eyes like a hawk, and the smoothest swing ever. The best hitter there ever was, #1 all time best player, with the best ethics.
As a kid growing up in NYC, Mickey Mantle was my idol, Mayes was unbelievable too but the Giants left for California, Williams by far the best hitter I had the pleasure to see in person at Yankee Stadium. He was also a class act.
Around 1949 or 1950 there was serious talk between the Yankees and the Red Sox about a straight up 1 for 1 swap, Williams for Joe D. Luckily for the Sox that deal never happened because DiMaggio retired after 1951 and Ted still had several excellent seasons left in his career. I can see why NY wanted to pursue this trade, though. Despite the Yanks always having outstanding pitching staffs, especially with plenty of good left handed pitchers, I mean that was a big part of why they won so many titles, Ted hit very well in Yankee Stadium. It would have been a good park for his hitting style. That short porch in right field would have received a lot of Williams homers!
You are one of many who bring up "class act!" You would never know it if you listened to Boston sportswriters who were the jesters in Ted's court.
You are one of many who bring up "class act!" You would never know it if you listened to Boston sportswriters who were the jesters in Ted's court.
@@flparkermdpc it is possible that both descriptions are true, Ted Williams was respectful of other professionals and their accomplishments on the field and was a difficult interview with local press. I recall how outraged the NYC press was when Micky signed a six figure contract for $100,000. Looking back the same reporters would be going nuts with today’s contracts.
Such a Magnanimous man when praising rival .players ...Class act .
I love this man's fire! What an all timer. No one like him in any sport today!
Had Ted not served for the U.S. military for those years, his MLB career would have been that much more impressive, at least in terms of the statistics. Ironically, his stepping away from baseball temporarily to serve his country makes him look that much more impressive. Ted Williams is definitely one of the best guys to ever play the game. The best hitter in the game according to many.
And a fighter pilot in 2 wars..... great man
Teddy Ball Game is the Greatest Patriot ever to play professional sports. I learned the Ted Williams technique in high school with great success and taught it in little league albeit a simplified approach. The message is Ted Williams batting techniques are lessons to pass to each generation.
It's so sad to watch the way America was and then see the way America is.
bingo
In my humble opinion, Ted Williams is the best hitter in the history of baseball. I encourage everyone to review his lifetime stats and factor in the total time he was in the USMC, both WWII and Korea. Nobody else comes close. Sure, he wasn’t easy to deal with, at least that’s what the baseball press corps felt, but he was the best. DiMaggio, Mays, Mantle, Robinson, Musial, and Aaron were great ball players. That’s true. Yes, several had careers beyond the time of Ted. But that’s not the point, the point is, career to career, Williams is the best.
The modern era? Everybody was so juiced up fuggitaboutit.
Great interview with a great ballplayer.
I read in a book once that during Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak, T.W. still outhit him for batting average.
Not only that, but for the first century, really, of MLB history (1876-1976), there wasn't an emphasis in on base %. Even box scores and lists of stats up until then mostly treated walks as a function of poor control by the pitcher and not discipline by the batter. It was a crusade of analysts like Bill James and Pete Palmer in the late 1970s and on into the 1980s to educate both fans and the teams themselves to recognize that certain hitters are more patient than others at the plate and consciously deciding not to swing at pitches out of the strike zone. This is why it wasn't until modern statistical research that we found out that whereas DiMaggio had hits in 56 consecutive games, Ted set the all time record for most consecutive games reaching base - in 1949 he had a streak of 87 consecutive games reaching base either by hits or walks. That's more than half a season!
But didn't Joe hit for another 27 consecutive games starting the following game after the end of the 56 game streak? Just saying that's pretty insane...
@@karlepaul6632 He followed up the 56 game streak with a 16 game streak after the first one got stopped. There was also some controversy surrounding one of Joe's games, I think it was #41 in the original streak. Roller down to 3rd base, fielder threw wildly to first, it was Joe's last at bat of that game and the only time he reached base. The official scorer called it an infield hit, kept the streak alive, say no more. Several days later the scorer admitted that every time he had ever seen that play he had always ruled it an error but in that one case he ruled it a hit specifically for the purpose of keeping DiMaggio's streak alive. But the ruling stood.
That’s actually inconsequential. Joe hit 408 during his streak . Ted hit 406 for the Season !! Joes average that season was 357. Pretty good but a far cry from 406. The streak is a bit more about luck than pure hitting skill . Ted almost always had higher on base. Slugging % , batting average ,walks , He was even that year the better hitter . DiMaggio definitely the better all around player.
@@karlepaul6632 Big reason he won MVP
He shows his strength of character here. It's not surprising he had great strength of character, he was a fighter pilot in WW2 and Korea. (He didn't see combat in WW2 but set records in aerial target gunnery. He did see combat in Korea, flying the Panther fighter jet.) A key to his success as a hitter and a fighter pilot was reportedly his extraordinary eyesight. I've read he stated that when he fired his guns he could see the ripples of his bullets passing through the air.
Ted kicked ass both on the baseball field and on the battlefield-one of the most badass Americans ever!
I’m a Redsox fan thru and thru. Ted was an American hero but when wasn’t defended freedom he was greatest hitter ever. Pain in the ass probably but it was because he expected perfection from himself and everyone else around him to work as hard as possible to get there as well. Mr. Williams is an amazing man.
I absolutely love the deference Ted always shows to other great players. Class act all the way. American hero.
Ted Williams has a baseball instructional book that teaches mechanics of hitting….every kid should have one
Ralph Kiner was asked, "Who's the greatest ballplayer you ever saw?" He responded immediately "Joe DiMaggio", but then added, "Old-timers I knew said Ruth was better." That's always the way with baseball. Those long shadows eat up the field.
DiMagg was the better pure fielder than Ruth.
@@ohger1 But he couldn't hit like Ruth.
@@vestibulate or pitch
Took my family to Cooperstown shortly after Ted passed in 2002. He exemplified baseball's golden age.
You can't teach a player to hit, but you can coach technics. Not just stance, finding the right bat, and bat grip, but a mental attitude. Keep your eye on the ball was all most coaches ever told me, but it was a female teacher that taught me to believe I could. Most coaches try to change too many batting problems at the same time. This can also relate to other issues, but I'm sticking to batting. I coached for a very few years, but always had a winning team. I find too coaches want to work on stance, position at the plate, bat choice, bat grip, ball awareness at the same time. I took one step at a time and watch them carefully and recommend 1 improvement at a time. Once they master that, we move on. Sometimes the problem is coaching those that have had several coaches before. I've also coached players that technically looked all wrong, but had some of the best stats, I didn't try to fix what wasn't broken. Some people are just amazing, but they may need more guidance than coaching. Sorry, I'm an old man just going down memory lane. I've never met one pro player or coach in my life, but dearly loved the game.
He was one great player for man, one great hero for all mankind!
wow, such incredible humility for arguably the greatest hitter ever. this was awesome.
ADD BACK TED'S 4 YEARS IN THE MARINES AND HIS LIFETIME RECORDS WOULD BE EVEN BETTER.
He dominated baseball, WWII and the Sears catalog. His name was on every kind of sporting equipment and dress suits. I had a Ted Williams weight set from Sears. I got it for Christmas. My friends dad had all kinds of Ted Williams fishing and camping equipment. He even had a Ted Williams canoe.
Did you have a Ted Williams freezer?😊
@@dan-vv8gs Was there a Ted Williams freezer? That was probably for putting all the wild meat people hunted with Ted Williams guns.
Absolutely true about the great group of players he mentioned. They were the cream of the crop!
Teddy Ballgame may be the greatest hitter ever. 💯
Yes, my #2 is George Brett ...
Lol, George Brett. His OPS+ of 135 is not in the top 120 all-time. Hit the books.
@@razorback9926 Yes true, but nobody has challenged the .400 since Williams ...
Brett came the closest ... that's my point ...
Batting average is the single most useless stat in baseball. It treats a single and home run the same, both 1-1.
Ichiro (.311) had a high batting average, but his OBP was lower than Adam Dunn, even though Dunn had a .237 average.
Teddy Ballgame had a sky-high OPS+, second all-time to Ruth. His OBP was .482 which is nearly 50% reaching base.
@@razorback9926 Hey just so you know you can go on my program and go over the topic of analytics if you want then.
What great radio Ted Williams had
I"m 64 , when i was a kid an old guy told me babe ruth was the greatest ballplayer ever, i figurered he was just talking about home runs , but he kept bringing up other stuff, i can't remember all he said but when i left i was convinced he was right . baseball is a game of stats, babe needs to be revisited .
Babe doesn't need to be revisited - he's generally regarded by all to be the best baseball player who ever lived.
Great American. The best compliment I can give anyone, and this right here is a GREAT American!
AMEN!!
That was a cool interview.
Ted Williams was a straight shooter. There's a 90s interview, with a local Boston sports reporter, with Ted, Bobby Orr and Ted Williams. Ted and Bobby Orr were great friends. Ted Williams was so appreciative of athletic talent. It was great to see a guy who straight up admired great athletes. Ted thought the world of Bobby Orr and was excited to meet Larry Bird.
Ted appreciated excellence.
Greatest hitter of all time. Yet so humble.
We must consider Ty Cobb and Stan Musial along with Ted Williams as the best hitters in the game. Close second place would be Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio.
Most great professionals are prickly
Always striving to improve
Ted was a legend … HOF Baseaball player and HOF American ……⚾️🇺🇸
"Mr Mays and Mr Aaron" so much respect in so few words
A great player and a great man!
I admire the way in which Ted talks about other players and their greatness, he is an honorable man.
He likes to kill animals for fun then.
Go Ted. Go BoSox with Ted. And this is from a sick, sick Bronx Bombers fan for life.
Ted gives one of the very best acceptance speech at the HOF, exhorting the inclusion of black players. The Hall would never hold out afterwards, must see speech.
Ted Williams last at bat, he hit a home run. Ran the bases and went straight to the locker-room got dressed and left. Fan were waiting for him to come back and take a bow. I watched the game on television. I had an autographed news clipping of the homerun. I gave it to my barber.
Let's remember Ruth was not only a great hitter, he was also a great pitcher.
Like Ohtani!
Willie Mays my #1. He could do it all. Honorable mention Satchel Paige
Redford wore #9 in "The Natural" for Ted Williams. If it's good enuff for Roy Hobbs, it's good enuff for me. ⚾
Can anyone explain why Hank Aaron doesn't get enough credit for being a great hitter? Yes he hit for power, but dang, he was a hitter.
He had 3771 hits. So even if you took away all 755 homeruns he still got 3016 hits.
@mikekinsella2822 I have never understood why Hank doesn't get the credit for being a hitter. Hank was just a pure hitter, in my opinion.
Hank was just so consistent for so long. Not like all time greats but all those years he was excellent.
He played for Braves? Just like Stan who was Cardinal. Small market teams you don’t get as much publicity. New York guys get all the love.
Grew up in Wisconsin and a saw plenty of Aaron . Great hitter , great base runner , above average fielder . Wasn’t flashy and played in a small market . As good as Mays in my book , and I saw all the great NL players of the ‘50’s and 60’s . I’d also put Clemente in that group .
Stan Musuals numbers are just mind-boggling.
Musial*
@@michaeljames4630 lol, right
No they're not
@fidge54 Well, then you know nothing about baseball.
His 1948 season needs more attention.
His leads over the player in second place in most categories were chasms.
He named all the apostle's of baseball in this interview.
Except Ty Cobb!! And Bob Costas never mentioned Ty Cobb either for a reason: Ty was the ONLY baseball player that could hit better than Ted Williams. Ty was a monster at the plate with a bat in his hands!
@@nikolaivista920 he doesn't always get the love due to his aggressive ness. He didn't mention Ruth or Gerhig either.
@@Truetoo102 Ted did mentioned both Ruth and Gehrig at the tail end of the interview. Watch again with subtitles. And Cobb's aggressiveness is what made him lethal! Everybody praises Michael Jordan for being ruthless and aggressive. But most people, like you, don't praise Ty Cobb for being ruthless and aggressive. It's about charisma and Ty Cobb did not have any charisma. One of many reasons why he was disliked (along with being a @sshole!).
@@nikolaivista920 Cobb was one of the best but he was a mean S. O. B.
@@Truetoo102 Is not a personality contest. Or a title for who is the nicest person. If that was the case, then Derek Jeter is the best hitter ever!! I am not a Cobb fan. He was a terrible person. No doubt. But, Ty Cobb is the best hitter ever!!! Better than Williams. Just look at the stats. And they both played until the age of 41.
Great interview.
My favorite baseball player of all time. I’m only 26 and I never seen him live, but his story and stats are just amazing. Idc what era he played in I believe him to be the greatest all around hitter ever. Contact, power, walks, ( take away Barry bonds * )
if he was born in the 2000’s and grew up hitting an adjusting the way players are today I still believe he would have the career he’s had. A truly great player who was robbed of half his prime and 4/5 more MVP’s
Right. Imagine if Williams took steroids. He'd never let a ball get by him.
Williams are something ...every Williams I meet ...are super, duper smart 😊
You're the first besides me, to bring up smart. He was the best in hitting a baseball, as mentally challenging as any sport, in aviation you must bat 1.000, or die, and fly fishing is the most cerebral of that entire universe. Smart, indeed.
@@flparkermdpc thanks 😊 🐟
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE SIR !
often I think of who were the best 1 - 2 hitters; the on-base guy, then the slugger. Easy to be impressed in person (as a boy) Vada Pinson & Frank Robinson
I'm only 61 so I didn't see those guys but I did see Roberto Clemente he's my favorite.
I'm your age too and the first World Series I remember running home from school to watch was Pittsburgh/Baltimore in 1971. Roberto Clemente was my favourite player too. His death hit me hard as a little kid.
The Great One.
I fished with him, he was a great outdoorsman and good guy!
I think Ted Williams was the most humble and gracious baseball player in the game too - RIP. I don’t know when this video was made, but we can’t leave out a few players from the 80s as well and there were many of them. Like Gwynn, Schmidt, Brett and Parker to just name some.
I too read his book the Art and Science of Hitting when I was a senior in high school. I had my best year at the plate. Confidence, confidence, hit good pitches, and more confidence. You gotta spit on the ground and believe you're the best hitter on the field. The power of the mind is incredible. "Come on meat, throw me that weak a** sh**"
Man he really would be unhappy with today's MLB mess.
Aren't we all?
Mickey Mantle battled injuries his entire career, and alcohol abuse, feeling he would not live past 40.
Early in his career, he was the fastest base runner, an outstanding fielder, and had incomparable power hitting rt or lt handed.
Many experts feel he would have had ten more HR’s per year (650 for his career) batted .320, and be the only man to hit it out of the old Yankee Stadium (and other parks as well.)
I remember seeing Mantle hit the facade above the upper deck in right field in Yankee Stadium. That ball was still rising when it hit and it bounced back to the first baseman. It was hit hard.
@@soaringvulture I’ve only read of that legendary blast, but got to see him late in his career.
His swing was a perfect transfer of weight, torque, and application of power that muscular strength/bench pressing doesn’t match.
Reminded me of Nicklaus’ golf swing for distance. Shear perfection.
I wonder if there are X-Rays extant of the Mantle injury in centerfield when he stepped in a hole.
@@flparkermdpc He had osteomyelitis as a young man. Then in the CF injury he tore ligaments and meniscal damage. With his history, and early deaths in males of his family, understandable EtOH probs might follow.
What a natural ball player though-speed, incomparable power, and a very competent fielder. 700 HR, a .320 average, 2000 RBI’s in his 17 yr career were possible.
Ruth, greatest all around player. Could hit with power, .342 lifetime BA. and could pitch.
Ohtani?
@@SeptemberChild1835 How many years has O played in MLB compared to Ruth . . .
@@SeptemberChild1835 Ohtani's good, but he's not even remotely close to Ruth as a hitter or pitcher. Ruth's career batting average was .342 compared to Ohtani's .279. Ruth's career pitching record was 94-46 with a 2.28 ERA. Ohtani is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA. Ruth truly excelled at both hitting and pitching...
Very good interview
This is what my dad’s generation would refer to as a man’s man..One of the greatest ballplayers ever, a combat veteran of 2 wars, and a guy who stood up for what he believed in and didn’t suffer fools likely..what happened to todays men!!?? They certainly don’t make them like Ted anymore
I’ve seen a ton of these interviews. One thing in common is that no matter how great that was he is always praising who inspired him and his contemporaries. Pete Rose is probably the best at this. The greats truly lived for the game