While many careers were ruined by World War II, Ted Williams emerged from the conflict energized and ready to resume his Hall of Fame bound career. His first season back saw him leading the Red Sox to their first pennant since the days of Ruth and winning his first MVP Award. 1947 was if anything, even better. Ted hit American League pitching at a .343 clip including 32 home runs and 114 RBI - all of which topped the league added up for his second Triple Crown. He was also tops in walks, on base percentage, slugging and total bases.
No one was more dominant in 1947 than Ted Williams - yet in one of the most infamous MVP votes in baseball history, it was Joe DiMaggio who won the award that year. Legend has it a Boston sportswriter left Ted's name entirely off the ballot out of spite, but whatever the reasons, DiMaggio won by a single vote. In one of the games' greatest "could have been" moments, the Red Sox and Yankees came incredibly close to swapping their two best players during that 1947 season. Of course the trade was never completed, but it's a tribute to the tremendous value placed on Ted Williams that aborted trade called for Joe DiMaggio AND Yogi Berra to be traded for Williams!
This awe-inspiring Hillerich & Bradsby bat was used by Williams that 1947 season as he slugged his way to the Triple Crown. By looking at the specific combination of center brand style, "Powerized" stamp and weight, the bat can be dated to 1947. The bat's handle reveals some particular Williams characteristics as well. The slugger used a combination of resin and olive oil to enhance his grip and this bats' surface shows the remains of that substance. Red Sox bat boy John Orlando was entrusted by Williams to scrape down his bat's handle when the substance built up and this bat's handle shows evidence of this process. Period photographs show that Williams made contact with the ball in the area above the stamped signature, and this bat exhibits this characteristic. There are green bat rack paint streaks visible throughout and cleat marks are found on the barrel. The knob and barrel ends show abrasions from contact with the ground and storage and the back of the barrel shows a dent from surface contact. The stamping is clear and the bat's surface has taken on a golden patina with age, giving it a warm, even glow. A museum-worthy bat dating from one of the most memorable seasons of the game's greatest hitter. This bat comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA who have graded the bat GU-9 and full LOA from Mears, who have graded this bat a 9.5.