In 1941: Ignoring his manager’s suggestion that he sit to preserve a .400 average, Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox decided to play both games of a doubleheader in Philadelphia on the final day of the season. Williams went for 6 for 8 in the two games, and finished the season with a .406 mark, the last player to hit .400 in the major leagues.
and in 1960: In the final at-bat of his career, Williams hit his 521st career homer, a towering, 450-foot drive to the right-centerfield seats at Fenway Park. (baseballlibrary.com)
In 1951: In the opening Friday night game of the season, Norm Van Brocklin of the Los Angeles Rams threw for a record 554 yards in a 54-14 win over the New York Yankees. The record still stands today (Warren Moon is second with 527 yards in a game). Van Brocklin –subbing for the injured starter– was 27 of 42 with five touchdowns and three interceptions. The Rams also boasted three 100-plus yard receivers, including hall-of-famer Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch (who caught four TD‘s). Van Brocklin later led the Rams to the 1951 NFL title. (The 2006 ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia)
