1941 was a streaky year for the American League, literally. Chicago’s Taft Wright collected at least one run batted in for thirteen consecutive games, Joe DiMaggio hit safely in fifty-six straight games, and Boston’s Ted Williams became the last player to end a season with a batting average over .400.
While the rival Yankees slugger was spending his summer racking up hits, The Splendid Splinter spread his record over the entire season, and eventually took the batting title from DiMaggio, who had held the distinction for the past two years. The eventual seventeen-time All-Star began the season going one-for-one with a 1.000 batting average. Over the rest of the season, his average never fell below .308, and was almost always over .400. In fact, on July 24, it stood at .397. It would never again fall below .400. Williams wrapped up 1941 at 185-456, good for an average of .406.
While Williams’ batting average garnered all of the attention in 1941, he also led the league in home runs (37), base on balls (147), runs (135), slugging average (.735), and on base percentage (.551). The .406 mark was not the only stat to last either. His on base mark stood as the Major League record until 2002. Williams will always be remembered as one of baseball’s greatest hitters, and 1941 will be known as his greatest season. Baseball Almanac is proud to present a game-by-game record of this legendary season.
"I hope somebody hits .400 soon. Then people can start pestering that guy with questions about the last guy to hit .400." - Hall of Fame Slugger Ted Williams (in response to questions about the 1941 season)
1941 & The Art of Hitting .400by Ted Williams |
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Game Date Details (Specifics) |
Opponent | RBI | Runs | Average | H-AB |
04-15-1941 1-1 (Pinch Hitter, Single) |
Washington | 1 | 1.000 | 1-1 | |
04-16-1941 0-1 (Pinch Hitter) |
Washington | .500 | 1-2 | ||
04-17-1941 Rained Out |
Washington | ||||
04-18-1941 1-1 (Pinch Hitter, Single) |
PHILADELPHIA | .667 | 2-3 | ||
04-19-1941 Did Not Play |
PHILADELPHIA | ||||
04-20-1941 0-1 (Pinch Hitter) |
WASHINGTON | .500 | 2-4 | ||
04-21-1941 0-1 (Pinch Hitter) |
WASHINGTON | .400 | 2-5 | ||
04-22-1941 2-4 (Single, Double) |
WASHINGTON | 2 | 1 | .444 | 4-9 |
04-23-1941 Did Not Play |
NEW YORK | ||||
04-24-1941 0-1 (Pinch Hitter) |
NEW YORK | .400 | 4-10 | ||
04-25-1941 Did Not Play |
Philadelphia | ||||
04-26-1941 Did Not Play |
Philadelphia | ||||
04-27-1941 Rained Out |
Philadelphia | ||||
04-28-1941 Day Off |
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04-29-1941 2-3 (HR, Double) |
DETROIT | 1 | 2 | .462 | 6-13 |
04-30-1941 1-5 (Single) |
DETROIT | 1 | .389 | 7-18 | |
05-01-1941 1-5 (Single) |
DETROIT | 1 | 2 | .348 | 8-23 |
05-02-1941 0-3 |
CLEVELAND | .308 | 8-26 | ||
05-03-1941 1-3 (Single) |
CLEVELAND | .310 | 9-29 | ||
05-04-1941 2-5 (2 Singles) |
ST. LOUIS | 2 | 1 | .324 | 11-34 |
05-05-1941 Rained Out |
ST. LOUIS | ||||
05-06-1941 Rained Out |
ST. LOUIS | ||||
05-07-1941 3-4 (2 HR, single) |
CHICAGO | 3 | 2 | .368 | 14-38 |
05-08-1941 Rained Out |
CHICAGO | ||||
05-09-1941 Day Off |
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05-10-1941 Rained Out |
New York | ||||
05-11-1941 3-6 (2 Singles, Double) |
New York | 1 | 2 | .386 | 17-44 |
05-12-1941 1-3 (Single) |
New York | 2 | .383 | 18-47 | |
05-13-1941 1-4 (HR) |
Chicago | 1 | 1 | .373 | 19-51 |
05-14-1941 0-5 |
Chicago | .339 | 19-56 | ||
05-15-1941 1-3 (Single) |
Cleveland | 2 | .339 | 20-59 | |
05-16-1941 1-4 (Single) |
Cleveland | 1 | .333 | 21-63 | |
05-17-1941 3-5 (2 Doubles, Single) |
Cleveland | 1 | 1 | .353 | 24-68 |
05-18-1941 1-4 (Single) |
Detroit | .347 | 25-72 | ||
05-19-1941 1-4 (HR) |
Detroit | 2 | 1 | .342 | 26-76 |
05-20-1941 1-3 (Single) |
Detroit | 1 | .341 | 27-79 | |
05-21-1941 4-5 (3 Singles, Double) |
St. Louis | 1 | .369 | 31-84 | |
05-22-1941 2-4 (2 Singles) |
St. Louis | .375 | 33-88 | ||
05-23-1941 1-3 (Single) |
NEW YORK | 3 | .374 | 34-91 | |
05-24-1941 2-3 (2 Singles) |
NEW YORK | 3 | .383 | 36-94 | |
05-25-1941 4-5 (3 Singles, Double) |
NEW YORK | 2 | 2 | .404 | 40-99 |
05-26-1941 Day Off |
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05-27-1941 : Game 1 1-2 (HR) |
Philadelphia | 2 | 1 | .406 | 41-101 |
05-27-1941 : Game 2 1-4 (Single) |
Philadelphia | .400 | 42-105 | ||
05-28-1941 3-5 (2 Singles, Double) |
Philadelphia | 1 | .409 | 45-110 | |
05-29-1941 3-4 (HR, 2 Singles) |
Philadelphia | 2 | 2 | .421 | 48-114 |
05-30-1941 : Game 1 1-2 (Double) |
New York | 2 | .422 | 49-116 | |
05-30-1941 : Game 2 2-3 (2 Singles) |
New York | 1 | 2 | .429 | 51-119 |
05-31-1941 Rained Out |
DETROIT | ||||
06-01-1941 : Game 1 2-4 (Double, Single) |
DETROIT | 1 | 2 | .431 | 53-123 |
06-01-1941 : Game 2 2-5 (HR, Single) |
DETROIT | 3 | 2 | .430 | 55-128 |
06-02-1941 1-4 (Single) |
DETROIT | 1 | 2 | .424 | 56-132 |
06-03-1941 Rained Out |
CLEVELAND | ||||
06-04-1941 Rained Out |
CLEVELAND | ||||
06-05-1941 3-4 (HR, 2 Singles) |
CLEVELAND | 3 | 4 | .434 | 59-136 |
06-06-1941 2-4 (HR, Double) |
CHICAGO | 2 | 2 | .436 | 61-140 |
06-07-1941 1-4 (Single) |
CHICAGO | 1 | .431 | 62-144 | |
06-08-1941 : Game 1 0-2 |
CHICAGO | .425 | 62-146 | ||
06-08-1941 : Game 2 0-3 |
CHICAGO | .416 | 62-149 | ||
06-09-1941 Exhibition Game |
INDIANAPOLIS | ||||
06-10-1941 Rained Out |
ST. LOUIS | ||||
06-11-1941 Rained Out |
ST. LOUIS | ||||
06-12-1941 : Game 1 1-5 (Single) |
ST. LOUIS | .409 | 63-154 | ||
06-12-1941 : Game 2 1-2 (HR) |
ST. LOUIS | 2 | 1 | .410 | 64-156 |
06-13-1941 Day Off |
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06-14-1941 3-5 (Double, 2 Singles) |
Chicago | .416 | 67-161 | ||
06-15-1941 : Game 1 2-3 (Single, HR) |
Chicago | 1 | 2 | .421 | 69-164 |
06-15-1941 : Game 2 2-3 (2 Singles) |
Chicago | 1 | 2 | .425 | 71-167 |
06-16-1941 Day Off |
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06-17-1941 : Game 1 1-4 (HR) |
Detroit | 2 | 1 | .421 | 72-171 |
06-17-1941 : Game 2 1-1 (Double) |
Detroit | 2 | .424 | 73-172 | |
06-18-1941 0-3 |
Detroit | .417 | 73-175 | ||
06-19-1941 1-3 (Single) |
Detroit | 2 | .416 | 74-178 | |
06-20-1941 2-3 (Single, Double) |
St. Louis | 2 | 1 | .420 | 76-181 |
06-21-1941 0-2 |
St. Louis | .415 | 76-183 | ||
06-22-1941 : Game 1 1-3 (single) |
DETROIT | 2 | .414 | 77-186 | |
06-22-1941 : Game 2 0-3 |
DETROIT | .407 | 77-189 | ||
06-23-1941 Day Off |
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06-24-1941 0-2 |
Cleveland | .403 | 77-191 | ||
06-25-1941 2-3 (HR, Single) |
Cleveland | 2 | 2 | .407 | 79-194 |
06-26-1941 3-5 (3 Singles) |
Cleveland | 1 | 2 | .412 | 82-199 |
06-27-1941 1-3 (Single) |
WASHINGTON | .411 | 83-202 | ||
06-28-1941 1-3 (Single) |
WASHINGTON | .410 | 84-205 | ||
06-29-1941 : Game 1 2-4 (HR, Single) |
PHILADELPHIA | 2 | 2 | .411 | 86-209 |
06-29-1941 : Game 2 0-4 |
PHILADELPHIA | 1 | .404 | 86-213 | |
06-30-1941 Day Off |
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07-01-1941 : Game 1 1-4 (Single) |
NEW YORK | .401 | 87-217 | ||
07-01-1941 : Game 2 1-2 (Single) |
NEW YORK | 1 | .402 | 88-219 | |
07-02-1941 1-3 (Single) |
NEW YORK | 1 | .401 | 89-222 | |
07-03-1941 2-4 (HR, Single) |
PHILADELPHIA | 2 | 2 | .403 | 91-226 |
07-04-1941 Rained Out |
PHILADELPHIA | ||||
07-05-1941 1-3 (Double) |
Washington | 1 | 1 | .402 | 92-229 |
07-06-1941 : Game 1 1-4 (Single) |
Washington | 1 | .399 | 93-233 | |
07-06-1941 : Game 2 3-4 (2 Doubles, Single) |
Washington | 2 | 2 | .405 | 96-237 |
07-07-1941 All-Star break |
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07-08-1941 All-Star break |
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07-09-1941 All-Star break |
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07-10-1941 Rained Out |
DETROIT | ||||
07-11-1941 0-4 |
DETROIT | .398 | 96-241 | ||
07-12-1941 : Game 1 0-1 |
DETROIT | 2 | .397 | 96-242 | |
07-12-1941 : Game 2 Did Not Play |
DETROIT | ||||
07-13-1941 Did Not Play |
CLEVELAND | ||||
07-14-1941 Did Not Play |
CLEVELAND | ||||
07-15-1941 Did Not Play |
CLEVELAND | ||||
07-16-1941 0-1 (Sacrifice Fly) |
CHICAGO | 1 | .395 | 96-243 | |
07-17-1941 Did Not Play |
CHICAGO | ||||
07-18-1941 Did Not Play |
CHICAGO | ||||
07-19-1941 : Game 1 0-1 |
ST. LOUIS | .393 | 96-244 | ||
07-19-1941 : Game 2 0-0 (Walk) |
ST. LOUIS | .393 | 96-244 | ||
07-20-1941 : Game 1 1-1 (PH-HR) |
ST. LOUIS | 3 | 1 | .396 | 97-245 |
07-20-1941 : Game 2 Did Not Play |
ST. LOUIS | ||||
07-21-1941 Day Off |
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07-22-1941 1-2 (HR) |
Chicago | 1 | 1 | .397 | 98-247 |
07-23-1941 2-5 (Double, Single) |
Chicago | 1 | .397 | 100-252 | |
07-24-1941 2-5 (2 Singles) |
Chicago | 1 | .397 | 102-257 | |
07-25-1941 2-3 (HR, Single) |
Cleveland | 2 | 3 | .400 | 104-260 |
07-26-1941 3-4 (3 Singles) |
Cleveland | 1 | .405 | 107-264 | |
07-27-1941 2-3 (Single, Double) |
Cleveland | .408 | 109-267 | ||
07-28-1941 Day Off |
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07-29-1941 1-3 (HR) |
St. Louis | 2 | 1 | .407 | 110-270 |
07-30-1941 Rained Out |
St. Louis | ||||
07-31-1941 : Game 1 2-3 (Grand Slam, Single) |
St. Louis | 4 | 2 | .410 | 112-273 |
07-31-1941 : Game 2 1-3 (Double) |
St. Louis | .409 | 113-276 | ||
08-01-1941 Day Off |
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08-02-1941 2-3 (Double, Single) |
Detroit | 1 | .412 | 115-279 | |
08-03-1941 1-4 (Single) |
Detroit | .410 | 116-283 | ||
08-04-1941 0-2 |
Philadelphia | .407 | 116-285 | ||
08-05-1941 2-4 (Double, Single) |
Phildelphia | 2 | 1 | .408 | 118-289 |
08-06-1941 : Game 1 1-3 (Single) |
New York | .408 | 119-292 | ||
08-06-1941 : Game 2 0-3 |
New York | .403 | 119-295 | ||
08-07-1941 3-4 (HR, 2 Singles) |
New York | 2 | 3 | .408 | 122-299 |
08-08-1941 1-3 (Single) |
Washington | 2 | .407 | 123-302 | |
08-09-1941 1-3 (Single) |
Washington | 1 | .407 | 124-305 | |
08-10-1941 : Game 1 3-4 (2 Singles, Triple) |
Washington | .411 | 127-309 | ||
08-10-1941 : Game 2 1-3 (Single) |
Washington | .410 | 128-312 | ||
08-11-1941 1-1 (Single) |
NEW YORK | 1 | 1 | .412 | 129-313 |
08-12-1941 1-3 (Single) |
NEW YORK | .411 | 130-316 | ||
08-13-1941 1-1 (Double) |
PHILADELPHIA | 1 | .413 | 131-317 | |
08-14-1941 : Game 1 1-5 (HR) |
PHILADELPHIA | 3 | 2 | .410 | 132-322 |
08-14-1941 : Game 2 1-4 (Single) |
PHILADELPHIA | 1 | .408 | 133-326 | |
08-15-1941 0-2 |
WASHINGTON | .405 | 133-328 | ||
08-16-1941 3-5 (Double, 2 Singles) |
WASHINGTON | 1 | 2 | .408 | 136-333 |
08-17-1941 0-3 |
WASHINGTON | .405 | 136-336 | ||
08-18-1941 Rained Out |
ST. LOUIS | ||||
08-19-1941 : Game 1 1-3 (HR) |
ST. LOUIS | 1 | 1 | .404 | 137-339 |
08-19-1941 : Game 2 4-5 (2 HR, 2 Singles) |
ST. LOUIS | 3 | 2 | .410 | 141-344 |
08-20-1941 : Game 1 2-4 (HR, Single) |
ST. LOUIS | 2 | 3 | .411 | 143-348 |
08-20-1941 : Game 2 1-2 (HR) |
ST. LOUIS | 2 | 1 | .411 | 144-350 |
08-21-1941 2-3 (2 Singles) |
CHICAGO | 2 | .414 | 146-353 | |
08-22-1941 0-2 |
CHICAGO | 1 | .411 | 146-355 | |
08-23-1941 1-4 (Single) |
CHICAGO | .409 | 147-359 | ||
08-24-1941 : Game 1 1-4 (Single) |
CLEVELAND | 1 | .408 | 148-363 | |
08-24-1941 : Game 2 0-3 |
CLEVELAND | .404 | 148-366 | ||
08-25-1941 0-2 |
CLEVELAND | 1 | .402 | 148-368 | |
08-26-1941 1-1 (Single) |
CLEVELAND | .404 | 149-369 | ||
08-27-1941 2-4 (2 Singles) |
DETROIT | 1 | .405 | 151-373 | |
08-28-1941 2-3 (HR, Triple) |
DETROIT | 1 | 2 | .407 | 153-376 |
08-29-1941 Day Off |
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08-30-1941 2-3 (HR, Single) |
Philadelphia | 2 | 3 | .409 | 155-379 |
08-31-1941 : Game 1 1-3 (HR) |
Philadelphia | 3 | 1 | .408 | 156-382 |
08-31-1941 : Game 2 0-1 |
Philadelphia | .407 | 156-383 | ||
09-01-1941 : Game 1 2-3 (2 HR) |
Washington | 4 | 2 | .409 | 158-386 |
09-01-1941 : Game 2 1-2 (HR) |
Washington | 1 | 3 | .410 | 159-388 |
09-02-1941 Day Off |
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09-03-1941 1-3 (Single) |
New York | .409 | 160-391 | ||
09-04-1941 1-1 (Single) |
New York | 1 | .411 | 161-392 | |
09-05-1941 Day Off |
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09-06-1941 1-4 (Single) |
NEW YORK | 1 | 1 | .409 | 162-396 |
09-07-1941 3-4 (2 Doubles, Single) |
NEW YORK | 1 | 1 | .413 | 165-400 |
09-08-1941 Day Off |
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09-09-1941 1-3 (Single) |
Detroit | .412 | 166-403 | ||
09-10-1941 2-4 (Double, Single) |
Detroit | 3 | .413 | 165-407 | |
09-11-1941 Day Off |
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09-12-1941 0-3 |
St. Louis | 1 | .410 | 168-410 | |
09-13-1941 0-1 |
St. Louis | .409 | 168-411 | ||
09-14-1941 : Game 1 2-3 (double, single) |
CHICAGO | 1 | 1 | .411 | 170-414 |
09-14-1941 : Game 2 1-4 (Triple) |
CHICAGO | 1 | 1 | .409 | 171-418 |
09-15-1941 1-3 (HR) |
Chicago | 3 | 1 | .409 | 172-421 |
09-16-1941 Day Off |
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09-17-1941 1-3 (Double) |
Cleveland | .408 | 173-424 | ||
09-18-1941 0-3 |
Cleveland | .405 | 173-427 | ||
09-19-1941 Day Off |
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09-20-1941 2-4 (2 Singles) |
New York | .406 | 175-431 | ||
09-21-1941 1-3 (HR) |
New York | 2 | 1 | .406 | 176-434 |
09-22-1941 Day Off |
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09-23-1941 1-3 (Double) |
WASHINGTON | 1 | .405 | 177-437 | |
09-24-1941 : Game 1 0-3 |
WASHINGTON | .402 | 177-440 | ||
09-24-1941 : Game 2 1-4 (Single) |
WASHINGTON | 1 | .401 | 178-444 | |
09-25-1941 Day Off |
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09-26-1941 Day Off |
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09-27-1941 1-4 (Double) |
PHILADELPHIA | 1 | .400 | 179-448 | |
09-28-1941 : Game 1 4-5 (HR, 3 Singles) |
PHILADELPHIA | 2 | 2 | .404 | 183-453 |
09-28-1941 : Game 2 2-3 (Double, Single) |
PHILADELPHIA | .406 | 185-456 | ||
Game Date Details (Specifics) |
Opponent | RBI | Runs | Average | H-AB |
1941 & The Art of Hitting .400 : by Ted Williams |
Did you know that Ted Williams was the youngest player in Major League history to hit over .400? During the 1941 season he turned twenty-three (23). Those closest to him are Ty Cobb, who at twenty-four (24) hit .420 in 1911, and Joe Jackson, who at twenty-four (24) hit .408 in 1911.
Ted Williams, who joined the .400 Hitters Club during the 1941 season, not suprisingly won the Triple Crown of hitting the very next season (1942).
Serious fans of Teddy Ballgame should search (use Ted Williams then choose 'Exact Phrase") Baseball Almanac as his name appears across the site on more than two-hundred pages.