1959 Fleer Ted Williams #37 - Sox Miss Out Again (BVG 7)

The 1959 Fleer Ted Williams #37 card, part of the "Sox Miss Out Again" series, is a notable baseball collectible that commemorates key moments in Ted Williams’ career.

Historical Context: Ted Williams remains an iconic figure in baseball history, renowned for his outstanding batting ability and significant contributions to the Boston Red Sox.

Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) distinguished himself as one of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history. Williams began his athletic career playing sandlot baseball in San Diego before excelling as a pitcher in high school. He subsequently signed with the San Diego Padres (Pacific Coast League) and later the Minneapolis Millers (American Association), where he earned his first Triple Crown by hitting .366 with 43 home runs and 142 RBIs. Nicknamed "The Kid" by Boston sports writers, Williams quickly lived up to expectations, leading the American League in RBIs during his rookie season, hitting 31 home runs and maintaining a .327 average. He finished fourth in the AL MVP voting that year.

In 1940, Williams made his first of 19 All-Star selections and led MLB in on-base percentage, a mark he would achieve 12 times. He still holds the highest career on-base percentage at .482. Known for his disciplined preparation, Williams studied pitchers extensively.

In 1941, he became the first player since Rogers Hornsby to hit over .400 (.406) in a season—a feat yet to be repeated. After finishing the 1942 season, despite criticism for not enlisting earlier, Williams won the Triple Crown but lost MVP honors to Joe DiMaggio. He then served as a Navy aviator during WWII, missing three prime seasons.

Williams returned in 1946, hitting .342 with 38 home runs and earning his first AL MVP as Boston reached its first World Series since 1918, though they lost in seven games. In 1947, he secured another Triple Crown and continued to lead in multiple offensive categories.

Despite interruptions from military service during World War II and the Korean War, Williams accumulated an impressive record: two MVP awards (1946, 1949), six AL batting championships, 521 home runs, and a career batting average of .344. He retired after hitting his final career home run at Fenway Park. Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966, Williams used his induction speech to advocate for the inclusion of Negro League players in the Hall. 

Condition: Graded – BVG 7: Professionally graded
Sport: Baseball
Player/Athlete: Ted Williams 
Year Manufactured: 1959
Manufacturer: Fleer
Card Number: #37
Type: Sports Trading Card
Grade: BVG 7
Card Size: Standard
Graded: Yes
Professional Grader: Beckett 
Vintage: Yes
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Card Manufacturer: Fleer
Product: Single
Brand: Fleer
Year: 1959