One theory of great hitters is that great hitters (like Ted Williams & Stan Musial) walk a lot because 1) the good hitter waits for his pitch, and if he doesn't get it, he is content to walk and 2) after all, a walk is as good as a hit. Soon I will be reading the new biography of Henry Aaron. In the meantime, here is Roger Kahn's take on Aaron's different theory of hitting.
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But, in a team sense, Aaron's natural style brings its own rewards. With the tying run at second, Williams may walk on a pitch just below the knees. Aaron may choose to swing, and if he is on a good streak, it's a reasonable bet that the score will be tied. Over a year, it's probably a good team risk, but over the same year this tendency pulls Aaron's individual batting average down. To both Musial and Williams, walks are a measure of effectiveness. Aaron accepts them with bad grace. "I'd rather hit," he says.
Roger Kahn, "Beyond the boys of Summer," p. 97
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