Athlete
Ted was born on February 7, 1947 in Vineland, NJ. and knew from age 8 he wanted to be a professional baseball player.
At Vineland High School, Ted excelled at playing the four major sports with baseball definitely his favorite. In ’66, he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st Round (11th player taken overall – just after the Phillies’ John Vukovich) in the Amateur Draft.
Assigned to the Dubuque (AA) Packers, Ted, an outfielder with a strong arm, hit .263 in 71 games, with 6 HR’s and 25 RBI’s in 262 AB’s. He played winter ball with future major leaguers Reggie Jackson, Cito Gaston and Rick Monday.
Promoted in ’67 to Pawtucket (AA) hitting .210 with 42 RBI’s in 132 games, his season was shortened when drafted into the Army to serve state-side in Louisiana.
Discharged in ’69, and working his way back into shape, Ted made the ’70 Cleveland Indians club and debuted vs. the Orioles on April 7, facing Dave McNally, going 0-2 with a BB. After only 50 plate appearances, Ted was sent to Wichita (AAA) hitting .326 with 12 HR’s and 57 RBI’s in 106 games.
After shuttling between AAA and Cleveland in ’71, Ted played winter ball in Venezuela with Rod Carew, Dave Concepcion and Graig Nettles.
Ted was traded to the expansion Texas Rangers (Washington Senators) in ’72 for Tommy McGraw after catching the eye of Manager Ted Williams. In his Rangers debut on April 28, Ted hit a game-winning 3-run HR, driving in Frank Howard and Tom Grieve. He played in 129 games in ’72, leading the team in HR’s with 14, hit .235 with 19 doubles and 50 RBI’s AND lead the American League with 10 Assists from right field!
Between ’73 and ’82 Ted played for the Rangers, Indians and San Diego Padres affiliates as well as several Mexican teams, before retiring to Hammonton, NJ. He returned to Texas in 2012, opened a youth baseball camp and was an assistant coach for his youngest son’s (Tim) college baseball team.
Ted, 76, had a younger brother, Lambert (1949 – 2022) and a grandson, Darren, 38, both who played professional baseball.