THIS DATE IN BASEBALL HISTORY-DECEMBER 7, 1937 BOSTON RED SOX ACQUIRE THE RIGHTS TO TED WILLIAMS FROM SAN DIEGO PADRES OF PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

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No. 19, Ted Williams, LF, San Diego Padres – Society for American Baseball Research

This Date In Baseball History- the Boston Red Sox acquire the rights to a 19 year old outfielder Ted Williams of the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League. A year or so earlier the Red Sox general manager Eddie Collins was out west scouting a second baseman Bobby Doerr. While on that trip he caught a glimpse of a young Ted Williams. He was impressed with what he saw and on December 7, 1937 the Red Sox Collins struck a deal with the Padres [not to be confused with the San Diego Padres of today who wouldn’t exist until 1969] – sending them $35,000 and two players Dom Dallessandro and Al Niemiec. The 19 year old Williams would spend the 1938 season in the minors for the Red Sox before making his major league debut in 1939. Ted Williams would go on to become perhaps the greatest hitter who ever lived- career batting average .344 with 521. Had he not missed three years to World War II and most of two years later on to the Korean War who knows he may have made a run at Babe Ruth’s 714 home runs.

2 responses to “THIS DATE IN BASEBALL HISTORY-DECEMBER 7, 1937 BOSTON RED SOX ACQUIRE THE RIGHTS TO TED WILLIAMS FROM SAN DIEGO PADRES OF PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE”

  2. With the homeruns…he did it in Fenway and for a left hander…that is not easy. Just think if he would have played for the Yankees and that right field.

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