At the end of this year, the United States enters World War II by declaring war on the Empire of Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Baseball fans across the nation witnessed two of the most amazing individual achievements the game has ever known.

The two measures recorded during the 1941 campaign both stand to this day and are regarded by practically all to be unattainable in the game today.

1941 saw the great Joltin' Joe DiMaggio step up to the plate in 56 consecutive baseball games and hit safely to break a record that had stood since 1897 when Wee Willie Keeler totaled 45 consecutive games hitting safely over the course of the 1896 and 97 seasons.

The Splendid Splinter, Ted Williams, also treated baseball fans to a feat that has also barely been threatened since by having a season for the ages.