Williams' Record Grip

Ted Williams' brilliant career was interrupted by almost five years of service in the Marines. Despite the loss, the slugger with the strong left-handed grip was able to compile one of baseball's great batting records, second in all-round accomplishment only to Babe Ruth:

Lifetime batting average, .347, fourth behind Cobb, Hornsby, Joe Jackson

Home runs, 380, or 1 per 15 times at bat, tied with Jimmy Foxx behind Ruth, Kiner

Runs batted in, 1,422, or 1 per 4 times at bat, second behind Ruth

Runs scored, 1,423 or 1 per 4 times at bat, second behind Ruth

Walks, 1,345*, or 1 per 4.86 times at bat, highest average ever

*At end of 1954 season