Ted Simmons
A grassroots campaign to get Ted Simmons inducted into the Hall of Fame has rarely drawn much attention. The switch-hitting catcher spent 21 years in the big leagues, and retired with more RBI than Johnny Bench, more runs scored than Gary Carter, more hits than Carlton Fisk, and a higher batting average than Yogi Berra. But his longevity has not obscured the fact that he was considered a mediocre defensive catcher, against whom baserunners frequently ran wild. With the stick however, Simmons accumulated 2,472 hits, the highest figure by a player who was primarily a catcher. He hit .300 sevent times, and was frequently among league leaders in hits, doubles, and intentional walks.
Quotes About Simmons
"All you ever hear is Bench and Munson and Fisk. Nobody ever talks about Simmons. He's the most underrated catcher. He's never got the recognition he deserves. But where can you find a catcher that can do all the things Simmons can do? He hits better than any of them, and he calls a great game. And who else in the league can catch as many games as he does?" — Pittsburgh manager Chuck Tanner on St. Louis catcher Ted Simmons, 1978
Played For
St. Louis Cardinals (1968-1980)
Milwaukee Brewers (1981-1985)
Atlanta Braves (1986-1988)
All-Time Rankings
Ted Simmons ranks #14 among the Top 50 all-time at C. Rankings ⇒
Born
Ted Lyle Simmons was born on August 9, 1949, in Highland Park, MI.
Batted: Both
Threw: Right
Primary Position: C
Primary Team: SLN
College: Michigan
Major League Debut
September 21, 1968
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1968
Ted Simmons
Al Oliver
Hal McRae
Dusty Baker
Richie Hebner
Bobby Bonds
Rollie Fingers
Andy Messersmith
Freddie Patek
Nicknames
Simba
If anyone knows how he acquired the nickname "Simba," let us know.
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1994 |
BBWAA |
17 |
3.7% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1981 American League Division Playoffs
1982 American League Championship Series
1982 World Series
Batting Feats
- April 17, 1975: Switch HR same game...
- June 11, 1979: Switch HR same game...
- May 2, 1982: Switch HR same game...
All-Star Selections
1972 NL
1973 NL
1974 NL
1977 NL
1978 NL
1979 NL
1981 AL
1983 AL
Learn More about Ted Simmons
Search Amazon.com for Books about Ted Simmons ⇒
Search for Ted Simmons at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
