After hitting 43 home runs with the AA Minneapolis Millers as a 19 year old in 1938, Ted Williams’ debut in 1939 rivaled the release of “The Wizard of Oz” as the most anticipated event of the year. Williams immediately delivered on his tantalizing promise, clubbing 31 home runs and driving in an MLB-best 145 RBI. “The Splendid Splinter” led the Red Sox to a second-place finish in the American League, and over the next 21 years would cement his legacy as one of the greatest hitters to ever grace baseball.

     Williams’ Major League debut coincided with the Baseball Centennial, which was commemorated by the release of this set of three cent violet stamps. A scene of early baseball is depicted on these stamps, of which a total of 81,269,600 were printed to satisfy the needs of the American public. A block of four of these stamps has been affixed to this page, on which Williams has written a brief note. “Teddy Ballgame” writes “My first time at bat I struck out (Red Ruffing) first ball I caught was off Lou Gehrig’s bat & it all started when this stamp was brought out”. Williams signed off with the epitaph “To my friend Harry / Ted Williams”. The class of 1966 Hall of Famer used a black pen to write this letter and his signature. This item is accompanied by a COA from SGC (AU43553).

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