Electing Ted Williams

The Baseball Writers Association of America elects longtime Boston Red Sox left fielder and icon Ted Williams to the Hall of Fame 58 years ago today.

Williams follows Class of 1962 honorees Bob Feller and Jackie Robinson as only the third first-ballot selection after the inaugural Class of 1936 that features Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson.

Williams’ selection, of course, is no surprise.

What is a surprise is that Williams is named on just 282 of 302 ballots, begging the question: How could 20 seemingly well-intended folks not vote for arguably the game’s greatest hitter who over 19 seasons posts a .344 batting average with 521 home runs and an all-time record .482 on-base percentage?

Just wondering.