Fansided

MLB power rankings: Top 30 nicknames of all-time

By John Buhler

Aug 14, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) smiles after a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) smiles after a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 17, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; A view of the former Boston Red Sox player Ted Williams prior to the game of the Houston Astros against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; A view of the former Boston Red Sox player Ted Williams prior to the game of the Houston Astros against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Ted Williams: The Splendid Splinter

Ted Williams is still the greatest player in Boston Red Sox history over 50 years since his retirement from the game. The guy had about as may nicknames as Babe Ruth. While The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived was neat, Williams did kind of come up with that himself, so that doesn’t count.

One that he didn’t come up with that might be the most clever baseball nickname of all is The Splendid Splinter. The alliteration there is off the chain, as it gets the point across that Williams knew exactly what he was doing at the plate for the Red Sox.

In his Hall of Fame career, Williams collected 2,654 hits, 521 home runs, 1,839 runs batted in and a career .344 batting average. Keep in mind that he did miss three years of his ball playing prime from 1943 to 1945 due to service in World War II.

Williams was a 19-time All-Star, a six-time AL batting champion and a two-time AL MVP. He is the last player to hit over .400 in a season. Williams did so in 1941, hitting .406. He didn’t win MVP that season because Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees hit safely in 56 straight ball games.

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