Who's the greatest hitter ever in baseball?

Question

I say Ted Williams.

Answer 1

This is one of those truely great questions. Their are arguments for both players. Ted Williams is considered one fo the greatest natural hitters of all time, and who knows what his lifetime stats would have been had he not spend the 3 years in the peek of his career in the military. If you look across the board, their averages are pretty near identical with the exception of home runs, which Ruth has alot more, and in strike outs, in which Ruth struck out near twice as often as Williams did. One can only expect that if Williams had played his 3 years he missed, his lifetime average would have probably been a few points higher, he would have likely hit in the 625-650 home run range and he would have easily had over 3000 hits.

higher lifetime average, higher hit average, about half the strike outs, and a higher lifetime OBP is better than having more home runs.

Babe Ruth may have been able to hit more home runs, but if you needed a man to get on base and get the hit, Williams would have been the choice, so I believe that Williams was the better hitter.

Answer 2

Everybody has an opinion about who was the greatest hitter. Those arguments are often based on statistics. By the time you finish reading a lot about this subject, you'll know that is like asking what is the prettiest color. A lot of colors have been called the prettiest. There has been so many great hitters that deserve the title of "greatest hitter". Also the different times and circumstances that these players lived in have a lot to do. For example, Ty Cobb's lifetime batting average (.367) tells you he must have rapped out a lot of hits. But if you read his biography, you'll learn how he got some of them by sharpening his cleats like knifepoints before every game to terrorize opposing infielders when he would slide into a base. In a way, stats are more than just numbers. Let's say a mom sends her kid to buy a loaf of bread. On the shelf are two loaves of whole wheat. One is homemade, and the other is a brand name. You love whole wheat bread with your peanut butter and jelly. Which one will you buy? They both cost the same, but maybe one has ten more slices. Which is worth more? Sounds easy. But wait. Maybe the one that has fewer slices tastes better. On the other hand, maybe the one that normally tastes better is three days older, so it's not as fresh as the other. so which will it be? You'll have to weigh the different factors and make your decision. The same with the all the great hitters that have played the game.

Answer 3

Ted Williams

Answer 4

Ted Williams. He was the best pure hitter ever in baseball.

Answer 5

I would have to say the splendid splinter Ted Williams. But in recent history i would say someone everyone forgets Rod Carew. What a natural hitter he was.Career 328 hitter and over 3000 hits. plus he stole home plate 17 times

Answer 6

Currently, I would have to lean towards Ichiro Suzuki. In 6 straight seasons he has at least 200 hits. That is his entire MLB career thus far not counting this season. Who else has done that? Ted Williams never even reached 200 hits in one season. Ichiro has done it every year since he came to the MLB. Ted Williams was a great ball player, don't get me wrong, but not the best hitter.

Answer 7

I would have to agree with you 100 per cent. I got to meet him once was I was 9 in 1958 (showing my age) thru a mutual friend of my Dad. He never autographed a lot from what I understand but I still too this day have an autographed baseball and Baseball Card signed by him which are my most treasured possessions. I remember how nice he was.
Funny how you remember things so clearly from almost 50 years ago!

I just think of the records he would of set had he had not interrupted his career when WW2 and Korea broke out. I believe he would have eclipsed Babe Ruth's HR record, easily gotten to 3000 hits and would have surpassed the .406 average he set in 1941. I think he may of been the best all around player to ever play the game, but it was his plate presence that stood out.

Answer 8

This is actually pretty easy, Ted Wiliams in a long shot. 521 homeruns, .344 career avg, 2 triple crowns. Can you say .406??? All this and he lost a few of his best years serving our country in WWII and Korea. You can make a case for the Babe as the best all around player because you can throw in his insanly good pitching stats to go with his hitting, but for pure hitting alone, the Splendid Splinter is #1.

Answer 9

I don't know about ever. However, in my time(I am 26), Tony Gwynn is the most amazing hitter I have seen. The guy hit over 300 almost every year of his career and was a phenomenal contact hitter. Unfortunately, his feats as a ballplayer are often overshadowed by the home runs of people like Bonds, Sosa, etcetera.

Answer 10

Good call. It's Teddy Ballgame. Where do you think John Wayne came up with that persona. The splinter was the best and he knew it. And with nearly five full seasons lost to the service as a fighter pilot for crying out loud. World class angler too. Incredible. Wheres the big budget Hollywood life story?