Willie McCovey: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1986

Born: January 10, 1938
1955: Signed by New York Giants
1955-59: Minor Leagues
1957: Giants move to California
Debut: July 30, 1959 (San Fransisco Giants)
1959: 4-for-4 in debut
1959: 22-game hit streak
1959: Rookie of the Year
1962: Giants win Pennant
1962: McCovey's liner
1969: All Star Game MVP
1969: NL MVP (.320, 45, 126, 101 runs, .453 OBP, .656 SLG, 1.108 OPS, 322 TB)
1973: Traded to San Diego Padres
1973: 2 HR in one inning
1976: Purchased by Oakland A's
1977: Signed by Giants
1977: First player to hit 2 HR in an inning twice
1977: Hutch Award
1978: Hit 500th Home Run
1980: Second player (Ted Williams) with home runs in four decades
1980: Retired
1980: Giants retire his #44
1986: Elected to Hall of Fame (81.4% of vote)
1999: Finalist All Century Team
2009: Elected to Afro Sports Hall of Fame

Accomplishments:
1969 NL MVP
1959 NL ROY
6x All Star
1969 ASG MVP
1977 Hutch Award
500 HR Club
3x Player of the Month
2x Player of the Week
.270
1,229 Runs
2,211 Hits
521 HR
1,555 RBI
.374 OBP
.515 SLG
.889 OPS
4,219 TB
100+ Runs: 2x
39 Doubles (1970)
30+ HR: 7x
100+ RBI: 4x
100+ Walks: 3x
.320 (1969)
.400 OBP: 4x
 .500 SLG: 10x
.600 SLG: 2x
1.000 OPS: 2x
300 TB: 2x
Led league in doubles: 3x
Led league in RBI: 2x
Led league in walks (137): 1970
Led league in OBP (.453): 1969
Led league in SLG: 3x
Led league in OPS: 3x
Led league in IBB: 4x
Postseason: .310, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1.101 OPS (2 Series)

Greatest Left Fielders in AL History by Team

Baltimore Orioles: Ken Williams (via St Louis) (1918-27)
Boston Red Sox: Ted Williams (1939-60), Carl Yastrzemski (1961-83)
New York Yankees: Charlie Keller (1939-49, 1952)
Tampa Bay Rays: Carl Crawford (2002-10)
Toronto Blue Jays: George Bell (1981-90)
Chicago White Sox: Shoeless Joe Jackson (1915-20)
Cleveland Indians: Albert Belle (1989-96)
Detroit Tigers: Bobby Veach (1912-23)
Kansas City Royals: Alex Gordon (2007-present)
Minnesota Twins: Goose Goslin (via Washington) (1921-30, 1938)
Houston Astros: Jose Cruz (1975-87)
LA Angels: Garret Anderson (1994-2008)
Oakland A's: Rickey Henderson (1979-84; 1989-93; 1994-95; 1998)
Seattle Mariners: Raul Ibanez (1996-2000; 2004-08; 2013)
Texas Rangers: Frank Howard (1965-72)

George Kell: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1983

Born: August 23, 1922

1940: Signed by Brooklyn Dodgers

1943: Purchased by Philadelphia A's

Debut: September 28, 1943 (A's)

1946: Traded to Detroit Tigers

1949: Beat Ted Williams for batting crown on final day of season

1949: Won Batting crown (.343)

1950: .340, 8 HR, 101 RBI, 218 hits, 56 doubles, 66 walks-18 strikeouts, .403 OBP, 310 TB, .886 OPS

1952: Traded to the Boston Red Sox

1954: Traded to the Chicago White Sox

1956: Traded to Baltimore Orioles

1958-96: Broadcaster

1959-96: Tiger Broadcaster

1973-83: Arkansas State Highway Commission

1983: Elected to Hall of Fame (Vets Committee)

2009: Died


Accomplishments:
1949 Batting Champion

10x All Star

.306

78 HR

870 RBI

880 Runs

2,054 Hits

621 walks-287 strikeouts

.367 OBP

.414 SLG

.781 OPS

2,773 TB

218 hits (led league): 1950

114 runs (1950)

30+ Doubles: 5x

40+ Doubles: 2x

56 doubles (1950)

10 Triples (1946)

101 RBI (1950)

Hit .300: 9x

.400 OBP: 2x

310 TB (1950)

Led league in Games (157): 1950

Led league in AB (641): 1950

Led league in hits: 2x

Led league in doubles: 2x

Led league in SH: 2x

Lou Boudreau: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1970

Born: July 17, 1917

1935: Graduated High School

1938: Graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

1938: Signed by Cleveland Indians before graduation making him ineligible for sports

Debut: September 9, 1938 (Indians)

1941: Became player-manager of Indians before 1942 season

1941: Ruled ineligible for military due to arthritic ankles

1944: Won batting title (.327)

1946: Set record: 4 consecutive doubles in a game

1948: AL MVP

1948: Indians win World Series

1950: Released by Indians (728-649, .529, 1948 World Champ)

1950: Signed by Red Sox

1952: Became player-manager of Red Sox (229-232, .497)

1955: Became manager of Kansas City Athletics (151-260, .367)

1957: Fired by A’s

1958-59: Broadcast for Cubs

1960: Managed Cubs (54-83, .394)

1961-87: Broadcaster for Cubs

1966-8: Broadcaster for Chicago Bulls

1970: Elected to Hall of Fame (77% of vote)

His daughter married Denny McLain

2001: Died

Accomplishments:

1948 World Champion

1948 MVP

8x All Star

1944 Batting Champ

Created the shift (for Ted Williams)

.295

68 HR

789 RBI

861 Runs

1779 Hits

796 walks-309 strikeouts

.380 OBP

.795 OPS

116 Runs (1948)

3x double leader

30+ doubles: 7x

40+ doubles: 4x

10 triples: 2x

100+ RBI: 2x

Hit .300: 3x

.400 OBP: 2x

.987 OPS (1948)

Postseason: .273, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .788 OPS (1948 World Series)

As a manager: 1162-1224 (1948 World Championship)

Ted Williams: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1966

Born: August 30, 1918

1936-7: Played in the Pacific Coast League (discovered by Eddie Collins)

1938: Signed by Red Sox

Debut: April 20, 1939 (Red Sox)

1939: Babe Ruth declared Williams “rookie of the year”

1940: Pitched two innings against the Tigers, he allowed one run and struck out Rudy York

1941: Hit GW walk-off in ASG

1941: Hit .406 (won Batting Title)

1942: Won Triple Crown/DiMaggio wins MVP (36, 137, .356)

1943-5: World War II

1946: Williams shift first employed by Cleveland Indians’ manager Lou Boudreau

1946: Red Sox win Pennant

1946: Williams wins AL MVP

1947: Wins Triple Crown/DiMaggio wins MVP (.343, 32, 114)

1948: Sox lose pennant playoff against Indians

1948: Won batting title (.369)

1949: Wins AL MVP

1950: Breaks arm in ASG

1952-3: Korean War

1954: Broke collarbone

1956: Spat on a fan

1957: Hit .388 at age 40 (Won Batting Title)

1958: Won Batting Title (.328)

1960: Hit 500^th home run

1960: Homered in last AB of career

1966: Elected to Hall of Fame

1966: Gave memorable speech honoring Negro League players and calling for their recognition

1969-72: Managed Washington Senators/Texas Rangers (273-364)

1991: Presidential Medal of Freedom

1999: Honored at Fenway Park ASG

1999: All Century Team

2000: Elected to the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame in 2000

2002: Died (litigation followed)

2004: Son, John-Henry died

2004: Red Sox finally win World Series

Accomplishments:

19x All Star

2x MVP

2x Triple Crown winner

6x Batting Champ

4x Home run champ

Last man to hit .400

Led league in games (155): 1949

Led league in runs: 6x

.344

521 HR

1839 RBI

1798 runs

2654 hits

525 doubles

2021 walks-709 strikeouts

.482 OBP (1^st all time)

.634 slugging

1.116 OPS

4884 TB

100+ runs: 9x

30+ doubles: 8x

40+ doubles: 4x

Led league in doubles: 2x

10+ triples: 2x

30+ HR: 8x

43 HR (1949)

4x RBI Champ

100+ RBI: 9x

159 RBI (1949)

100+ walks: 11x

Led league in walks: 8x

Hit .300+: 15x

Hit .350+: 5x

.406 (1941)

.400 OBP: 15x

.500 OBP: 3x

Led league in OBP: 12x

.500 slugging: 15x

.600 slugging: 12x

.700 slugging: 3x

Led league in slugging: 9x

OPS 1.000 or higher: 17x

Led league in OPS: 10x

300 TB: 9x

Led league in TB: 6x

Postseason: .200, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .533 OPS

Top 10 Left Fielders of All Time

Ted Williams is #1 by the proverbial country mile...and the rest....in no particular order.

Ted Williams

Barry Bonds*

Al Simmons

Carl Yastrzemski

Rickey Henderson

Joe Jackson

Manny Ramirez*

Ralph Kiner

Willie Stargell

Stan Musial

Top 10 Red Sox Moments

The Red Sox win the first World Series (1903): The Red Sox, known as the Americans at the time, defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in eight games to capture their first championship in the first World Series. In 1903, it was a best five-of-nine. The series is generally considered the wildest fall classic ever played and featured Honus Wagner and Cy Young. The Americans won the eighth game 3-0 behind Bill Dinneen to clinch the series.


Sox score two in the 10th to win the World Series (October 16, 1912): Boston and the New York Giants battled to Game 8 in the 1912 World Series. Although it was a best-of-seven, the teams tied Game 2 forcing the extra game. In Game 8, the Sox and Giants ended regulation tied at 1. In the 10th, New York scored to take a 2-1 lead. In the bottom half of the frame, Giants centerfielder Fred Snodgrass dropped an easy fly allowing Clyde Engel to reach second. After a fly ball advanced Engel to third and a walk, Tris Speaker popped up. No one made the play. Speaker promptly singled in the tying run off Christy Mathewson. The Giants intentionally loaded the bases to set up a force play at every base. Larry Gardner hit a sacrifice fly to right to end the World Series.

Ted Williams hits .406 (1941): Ted Williams was at .400 and could have taken the last day of the season off. Instead, he demanded to play in a doubleheader. The Splendid Splinter went 6 for 8 on last day to raise his average to .406. No player has hit .400 since.

Ted Williams homers in his last at bat (September 28, 1960): Ted Williams is one of 41 men to homer in a final at bat. However, there was only one Ted Williams. On a chilly Boston day, in another forgettable Red Sox season, Williams launched one 440 feet.

Yaz wins triple crown (1967): Carl Yastrzemski had the unenviable job of replacing Ted Williams. In 1967, it all came together. He won the triple crown and Boston enjoyed “an impossible dream” season. Whenever the Sox needed a big hit or big play, Yaz came through. For the year, Yastrzemski hit .326 with 44 home runs and 121 runs batted in. In the World Series, he chipped in a .400 average with three more homers. Carl Yastrzemski is the last player to win the triple crown.

The Impossible Dream (1967): The summer of 1967 witnessed one of the craziest pennant races in history. At the end of the season, four teams finished within three games of each other. The Tigers loss in the second game of a double header to California clinched the pennant. Boston battled the Cardinals to a seventh game, but could not defeat the invincible Bob Gibson in a Game 7.

The Fisk home run (October 21, 1975 Game 6 World Series): The Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds played in perhaps the greatest World Series in history. Carlton Fisk ended the greatest game in that series with a home run. The Reds needed one win to clinch their first title since 1940. They led 6-3 in the 8th when Bernie Carbo tied it with a three run home run. That sent the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the 12th, Fisk hit a fly ball off the foul pole to win the game. The camera focused on Fisk as the cameraman tried to steer clear of a large rat that surprised him. The end result was the iconic shot of Fisk willing the ball fair. Despite the dramatics, Boston lost Game 7 to the Big Red Machine. Nearly forty years later, Fisk jokes the Red Sox won that series three games to four.

Dave Henderson (October 12, 1986 Game 5 ALCS): The Angels led the Red Sox three-games-to-one in the American League Championship Series. In Game 5, the Angels took a 5-2 lead into the 9th. Mike Witt got into trouble surrendering a two-run homer to Don Baylor. He was replaced by Gary Lucas who hit Rich Gedman. California turned to their elite closer Donnie Moore to close out the series. Dave Henderson capped the rally with a two-out, two-strike two-run shot off Moore to give the Sox the lead. California tied the game, but Boston won in extra innings. Henderson’s rip doomed the Angels. They never recovered and Boston won the pennant.

The Idiots Comeback (2004): The Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the 2004 American League Championship Series. No team had ever come back to win a best-of-seven after trailing 3-0. The self-proclaimed “idiots” decided to make history. David Ortiz provided major hits to win Games 4 and 5 and send the series back to New York. Curt Schilling won Game 6 without an ankle. Television cameras transfixed on the blood oozing out of his sock. In Game 7, Johnny Damon’s grand slam set the tone for the game and the Sox rolled. It was their first pennant since 1986.

Curse Reversed (October 27, 2004 Game 4 World Series): Boston faced a formidable Cardinal team in the World Series. The Sox mojo overwhelmed St. Louis. They won a slugfest 11-9 in Game 1. Schilling returned with his bloody sock to win Game 2. Pedro Martinez pitched his final game in a Sox uniform winning Game 3. Derek Lowe closed out the Cardinals 3-0 to complete the sweep. The victory ended 86 years of frustration which was summed up as “The Curse of the Bambino.” The Red Sox had not won a World Series since shipping Babe Ruth to the Yankees. The idiots reversed the curse.

MLB All 1940s Team

C- Ernie Lombardi- Reds
1b- Johnny Mize- Giants
2b- Bobby Doerr- Red Sox
3b- George Kell- Tigers
SS- Lou Boudreau- Indians
OF- Joe Dimaggio- Yankees
OF- Ted Williams- Red Sox
OF- Stan Musial- Cardinals
RHP- Bob Feller- Indians
LHP- Hal Newhouser- Tigers
SP- Satchel Paige- Negro Leagues/ Indians
SP- Harry Brecheen- Cardinals
SP- Dizzy Trout- Tigers