Ted Williams: The Beantown Belter and the Boudreau Shift
The page from the 1950 Big Time Baseball sports publication discusses Ted Williams, known as "The Beantown Belter," and his prowess in Major League Baseball. The piece focuses on the "Boudreau Shift," a defensive strategy named after Lou Boudreau, then-manager of the Cleveland Indians, aimed at countering Williams’ hitting style. This shift involves repositioning the infielders to the right side of the diamond, anticipating Williams’ tendency to hit to right field. Despite this strategy, Williams often manages to find gaps, occasionally hitting to the less guarded left side. Acknowledging his exceptional batting skills, the publication highlights his achievement in 1941, when Williams hit a .406 average, the first since 1923 an American League player had achieved this feat. That year, he also hit 37 home runs.