On September 28, 1941, the Boston Red Sox played a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics. The Sox were well behind the first-place Yankees in the American League standings (in those days you had to win the league pennant to get to the World Series; there were no divisional playoffs or wild cards), so the games didn’t matter. Today’s stars might have begged off the second game, but not Ted Williams. The Splendid Splinter was hitting over .400, so he really had nothing to prove. But not only did he play both ends of the twin bill, he got six hits in eight at bats and ended the season with a .406 batting average. Nobody since —68 seasons —has managed to hit .400. In his honor, here’s a cocktail from the Boston restaurant No. 9 Park. Oh, by the way, Williams wore No. 9.
Makes 1 Drink
2 1/2 oz vodka
1 oz mint simple syrup
1 oz fresh lime juice
Mint leaves and lime wedge for garnish
In glass portion of a Boston Shaker, combine vodka, simple syrup, and lime juice. Fill glass with ice. Cap with metal portion of Boston Shaker and shake hard for 15 seconds. Strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with 2 mint leaves secured to rim of glass with a lime wedge.
