Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric72
Perhaps the biggest "what if" of them all:
What if there had never been a second world war?
- Names we've never known would have had HOF careers
- The "color barrier" might not have been broken by Jackie Robinson
- Team rosters would have included different players, possibly changing the outcome of several franchises. Maybe my beloved Phillies win their first World Series before their 97th year
- Ted Williams possibly becomes the one who hits 715
- Etc., etc., etc.
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I think if there is no War, Williams is regarded as the 2nd or third greatest behind Ruth, and Cobb, and I don't think this is talked about enough. In the four years leading up to the War, Williams average state line was the following
Hits: 187
Doubles: 38
Home Runs: 32
RBI's: 129
WAR: 8.5
Assuming he at a minimum meets those averages for the three years he plays, he adds 561 Hits, 114 Doubles, 96 Home Runs, 387 RBI's and 25.5 WAR to his career Totals. Williams Career Line now looks like this
3,215 Hits, 639 Doubles, 617 Home Runs, 2226 RBI's and a 147.3 WAR
That's just if World War Two doesn't Happen! Korea also bit a chunk out of Williams career as well. He misses the majority of two seasons due to the Korean War. Using the same method as above, compiling the average of the four seasons leading up to Korea (along with subtracting the small numbers he compiled during the limited amount of games he played, we are looking at a minimum at another 287 Hits, 62 Doubles, 50 Home runs, 217 RBI's 11.9 WAR which brings us to Teds minimum career stat line (assuming he is healthy) to
3,502 Hits 701 Doubles, 667 Home Runs 2443 RBI's and a 159.2 WAR
Truly insane. This is why I love playing the What If Game.