Who was better, who would you take, Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams?

[mr2686]

Same year Dimaggio had 622 plate appearances and only 13 strikeouts

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by mr2686

Same year Dimaggio had 622 plate appearances and only 13 strikeouts

They were both incredibly efficient hitters, I don't think that can be denied by anybody.

Ted walked about 2-3 times more often then Joe D. however, and got on base at a clip of about 80+ percentage points higher.

One of the things that makes Ted so amazing. Most low strikeout guys, don't walk a lot either. They are so afraid of striking out, they will swing and hit pitches out of the zone just to make contact. Ted never swung at anything he didn't think was a strike, and he was almost always right, according to the Umps anyways.

Ted has a career walk to strikeout ratio of almost 3 to 1. Joe D. is a little better then 2 to 1, though with a lot more "contact" outs. Joe has almost as many HR's as strikeouts.

Both are pretty amazing.

[mr2686]

I think the only bad thing I can say about Ted is that he wouldn't expand his strike zone to take advantage of the Williams shift (I believe he even mentioned it later in life). If he had, he probably could have hit .600,

[ullmandds]

Ted was one of the best hitters ever...maybe the best...would have given the babe's hr record a run if he hadn't lost so many years to the war effort. JOe was smooth...and played for the yankees...Ted was the better ballplayer...and I too...am a yankees fan!!

[Iron Horse]

For me Ted Williams, but i take Joe D. on my team
To me Ted is the greatest hitter of all time. What a swing. Only if he had not missed those years...

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by mr2686

Same year Dimaggio had 622 plate appearances and only 13 strikeouts

And he hit 50 points lower than Ted!

Ken

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by earlywynnfan

And he hit 50 points lower than Ted!

Ken

and hit in 56 straight games.

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by mr2686

and hit in 56 straight games.

And still didn't get as many hits as Cecil Travis!

[SteveMitchell]

Excellence and longevity wins for me! If I were a club owner or general manager, I'd take the guy who was outstanding for the longest period. In this debate, it would clearly be Ted Williams. In another posting, Willie Mays (over Mickey Mantle).