Page "Ted Williams" Paragraph 31

On the first day of spring training in, Williams broke his collarbone running after a line drive.

Williams was out for six weeks, and in April he wrote an article with Joe Reichler of the Saturday Evening Post saying that he intended to retire at the end of the season.

Williams returned to the Red Sox lineup on May 7, and he hit. 345 with 386 at bats in 117 games, although Bobby Avila, who had hit. 341, won the batting championship.

This was because it was required then that a batter needed 400 at bats, despite Lou Boudreau's attempt to bat Williams second in the lineup to get more at-bats.

On August 25, Williams passed Johnny Mize for sixth place, and on September 3, Williams passed Joe DiMaggio for fifth all-time in career home runs with his 362nd career home run.

He finished the season with 366 career home runs.

On September 26, Williams " retired " after the Red Sox's final game of the season.