Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-12-15 | Page 15 | Becomes Seventh to Win Laurels by Beating 400

Becomes Seventh To Win Laurels By Beating By GEORGE KIRKSEY NEW YORK Dec 15 UP UP- UP Ted Williams year old San Diego Cal Cat boy who threatened to quit baseball in 1940 and become a fireman joined the ranks of the greatest hitters of all time last season when season When he batted an amazing amazing amazing ing and led the American league by a margin of 47 points according to the official averages released today Williams who was serving his third year in the Boston Red Sox outfield became the first American Ameri Ameri- can leaguer to exceed since Harry Heilmann hit for Detroit Detroit Detroit De De- troit in 1923 Bill Terry of the Giants was the last major leaguer to hit over batting to lead the in 1930 Climbs 62 Points Finishing third to toJ Joe oe DiMaggio in 1940 Williams overtook the Yankee hitter by adding 62 points to his batting average of the previous previous previous pre pre- year Williams w was s the ninth American league hitter to bat and the seventh player to win the batting crown with a better better better bet bet- ter than mark The willowy Red Sox youngster accomplished his feat in spectacular spectacular spectacular ular fashion the final day of the season season after dropping to on the Saturday before the seasons season's end on Sunday His deadly eyes and his rhythmic swing never functioned with more precision than they did that last day Six hits blazed off his bat in the eight official trips to the plate in the final doubleheader with the Ath Ath- In addition to capturing the batting batting batting bat bat- ting crown Williams also led in to runs scored with in home runs with 37 and drew most bases on balls bans with How much more the pitchers feared him last season than in 1940 may be seen when its it's noted that Red drew only 96 pass passes s a year ago Travis up Runner-up Cecil Travis Washington shortstop shortstop short short- stop was the batting up runner-up with an average of good goodenough goodenough goodenough enough to win the crown in many years Joe DiMaggio Yankees the 1940 batting champion came third with Jeff Heath Cleveland outfielder who added points to his average was fourth with Leaders in other departments follow Doubles Lou Doubles Lou Boudreau Indians 45 Triples Triples Jeff Jeff Heath I Indians 20 Stolen bases bases- George bases George Case Senators 33 Sacrifices Sacrifices- Joe Cronin Red Sox Bob Harris Browns and Boudreau 14 each Runs batted in Joe in-Joe Joe DiMaggio Yankees Runs scored scored Joe Joe DiMaggio Yankees Club batting Red batting Red Sox