Ted Williams hits .406 in 1941

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.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"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 .400

by Ted Williams

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
07-08-1941
All-Star break
07-09-1941
All-Star break
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
09-17-1941
1-3 (Double)
Cleveland .408 173-424
09-18-1941
0-3
Cleveland .405 173-427
09-19-1941
Day Off
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
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
09-26-1941
Day Off
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
1941 & The Art of Hitting .400 : by Ted Williams
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

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.