Ted "The Splendid Splinter" Williams baffled pitchers with his unprecedented ability to place a batted ball seemingly anywhere he wanted. Ted Williams inspired a generation's worth of fans while setting the foundation for one of the greatest eras in baseball history. Williams was an obsessive student of hitting. He famously used a lighter bat than most sluggers, because it generated a faster swing. The hitting prowess of Williams allowed him to amass over 500 home runs, win 2 MVPs, become the last player to hit over .400 in a season, and be inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot. Williams holds the highest career batting average of anyone with 500 or more home runs. His best year was 1941, when he hit .406 with 37 HR, 120 RBI, and 135 runs scored. His .553 on base percentage set a record that stood for 61 years. Williams ended his career dramatically, hitting a home run in his very last at-bat on September 28, 1960. Ted Williams is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in Major League games in four decades. Condition Report New