Quote:
Originally Posted by jsfriedm
Even without the years in the military, his numbers are actually better than people realize. Sacrifice flies aren't counted as at-bats - except that they were between 1931-1954. So, under the rules that Cobb and Hornsby hit .400 with, Ted Williams' average in 1941 would have been something like .419. His career .344 is actually probably at least .350 in comparison to Cobb's .366 and Hornsby's .358.
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The changes around the sacrifice fly rules make for an interesting discussion. Thank you for bringing them up.
SABR published
an article on the subject in 2021. In the article, it states that "In 1941, Ted Williams batted a lusty .406 (185 H in 456 AB), but had his eight RBI flyouts not been counted as at-bats, his batting average would have been .413."
It also states that "Twice the “no Sac-Fly” rule precluded a player from winning the esteemed Triple Crown of batting."
The first was Jimmie Foxx, who could have won the batting crown and therefore the triple crown in 1932 if the the sacrifice fly rule that has been in operation from 1954 to the present (where batters who hit RBI flyouts are credited with a sac fly, and an RBI flyout is not charged as an at bat, just as a sacrifice bunt is not charged as an at-bat) were in effect. This would have given Foxx back-to-back triple crowns.
Similarly, Ted Williams could have won the batting title in 1949, which would have given Ted his 3rd Triple Crown.