🇺🇸 Most Badass Ballplayers: Combat Veteran Edition #2 Ted Williams Ted Williams, widely regarded as the greatest pure hitter who ever lived, was one badass ballplayer. Born August 30, 1918, in San Diego, California. He made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1939 and quickly became one of the most feared hitters in baseball. In 1941, at just 22 years old, he hit .406, the last time any player has hit over .400 in a season. He followed that up by winning another batting title in 1942. By the end of the 1942 season, Williams was already a superstar and widely considered the best hitter in the game. Then, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Williams enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and trained as a pilot. He missed the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons, three full prime years of his career, while serving stateside during World War II. When he returned in 1946, there were questions about whether he could pick up where he left off. He answered them immediately, winning the American League MVP award in his first season back. Over the next several years he continued to dominate, winning the Triple Crown in 1947 and another batting title in 1948. When the Korean War broke out, Williams was recalled to active duty as a Marine Corps pilot. In 1952 and 1953 he flew 39 combat missions over North Korea in the F9F Panther jet. He often flew as wingman for future astronaut John Glenn. On one mission his plane was hit by the enemy and caught fire. He made a successful belly landing and jumped out and ran off the wingtip to safety. He was hit by enemy fire at least three times during his tour. After Korea, Williams returned to baseball in 1953 and continued one of the most remarkable careers in baseball history. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. Ted Williams, superstar athlete, answered the call for his country twice. Thank you, Ted! 🫡🇺🇸⚾