You would have to give the edge to Ted in most categories. However, Ted lost a number of prime years to military service in WWII and Korea. What if Albert and Ted both had 11,421 AB? Adjusted for that:
I thought I replied to your well spoken reply. However, it must have timed and not gotten posted. To me one of the best measures is OPS+. Albert was almost half again better than the major leaguers of his era. Ted was nearly double better than his peers.
When you compare Pujols and Williams within their respective eras, you could make a case for Williams (though Musial is also in contention). But comparing them head to head? As Joe has noted many times, modern baseball players are just so much better than their predecessors because the competition is so much better. I don't think Williams would have been able to do nearly as much with Lidge's stuff. Or Pedro's. Or Randy Johnson's. Or even most 3rd and 4th starters in the 21st century. At least one version of era adjusted WAR has Pujols at 112 and Williams at 110 (Musial is ahead of them both in both era adjusted WAR versions). But from 1939-60, Williams has a real claim on being the best hitter.
I once read an article that showed Babe Ruth's batting stats the 4th time he faced the same pitcher in a given game. It was ridiculous, and it was a decent percentage of all his at bats. Of course nowadays you're lucky to see the same pitcher three times and never four. So it's definitely a different game...
You probably meant that Martinsburg is 90 miles NorthWEST of St. Louis. (I'm pretty sure it's impossible to go Northeast more than about 10 miles of St. Louis and stay in Missouri.) I say this partly because my daughter very nearly took a job in Montgomery City, which is 10 or 15 miles from Martinsburg.
In June, 1948, Babe Ruth knew he was nearing the end of his life. He decided to donate the manuscript of his autobiography to the Yale University Library. Accepting the manuscript, in a nice little ceremony, was the captain of the Yale baseball team - George H.W. Bush.
To think not so long ago, our leaders had humanity, and while you might not agree with them on certain issues, you could respect them and what they did as president.
I'm reminded that Barack Obama worked out as the same gym as Ken Williams, and Williams said he was very annoying because he kept wanting to know why the White Sox weren't doing better and what trades he should make.
“Just spot the direction the seams are spinning.”
ok ted
Your column gives me one more reason to rank HW as one of my favorite presidents.
Wasn't Smokey Joe Wood the manager of those Yale teams on which Bush the Elder played?
I love Albert, one of the all time great hitters. He's not Ted Williams. Consider the following (using career stats from Baseball Reference)":
WAR AB. HR BA Runs. RBI SB.OBP SLG OPS OPS+ tried to edit but it won' let me space for some reason)
Albert Pujols 101.2 11421 703 296 1814 2218 117 374 544 918 145
Ted Williams 121.7 7706 524 344 1798 1835 24 482 634 1116. 191
You would have to give the edge to Ted in most categories. However, Ted lost a number of prime years to military service in WWII and Korea. What if Albert and Ted both had 11,421 AB? Adjusted for that:
Ted Adj. WAR 180.4 HR 777. Runs 2665 RBI 2720 SB 36
Adjusted, Albert still leads for stolen bases and that's it.
The loss of those years does probably tip the balance. But if you don't adjust for era, WAR is not very meaningful.
I thought I replied to your well spoken reply. However, it must have timed and not gotten posted. To me one of the best measures is OPS+. Albert was almost half again better than the major leaguers of his era. Ted was nearly double better than his peers.
Great baseball story!! It always made me so happy when I watched the Astros at home and he was in his seat.
When you compare Pujols and Williams within their respective eras, you could make a case for Williams (though Musial is also in contention). But comparing them head to head? As Joe has noted many times, modern baseball players are just so much better than their predecessors because the competition is so much better. I don't think Williams would have been able to do nearly as much with Lidge's stuff. Or Pedro's. Or Randy Johnson's. Or even most 3rd and 4th starters in the 21st century. At least one version of era adjusted WAR has Pujols at 112 and Williams at 110 (Musial is ahead of them both in both era adjusted WAR versions). But from 1939-60, Williams has a real claim on being the best hitter.
I once read an article that showed Babe Ruth's batting stats the 4th time he faced the same pitcher in a given game. It was ridiculous, and it was a decent percentage of all his at bats. Of course nowadays you're lucky to see the same pitcher three times and never four. So it's definitely a different game...
You probably meant that Martinsburg is 90 miles NorthWEST of St. Louis. (I'm pretty sure it's impossible to go Northeast more than about 10 miles of St. Louis and stay in Missouri.) I say this partly because my daughter very nearly took a job in Montgomery City, which is 10 or 15 miles from Martinsburg.
Given Joe's and my shared love for Vin, let's not forget Messrs. Bush and Scully appearing in the same box score in their college days.
By the way....
In June, 1948, Babe Ruth knew he was nearing the end of his life. He decided to donate the manuscript of his autobiography to the Yale University Library. Accepting the manuscript, in a nice little ceremony, was the captain of the Yale baseball team - George H.W. Bush.
https://www.loc.gov/item/2021669737/
To think not so long ago, our leaders had humanity, and while you might not agree with them on certain issues, you could respect them and what they did as president.
I think Bush senior was a much better president than he's given credit for. There's little doubt he was a good and honorable man.
I'm reminded that Barack Obama worked out as the same gym as Ken Williams, and Williams said he was very annoying because he kept wanting to know why the White Sox weren't doing better and what trades he should make.