Ted Abernathy

Infobox MLB retired
name=Ted Abernathy


width = 150
position=Relief pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=March 6, 1933
city-state|Stanley|North Carolina
deathdate=death date and age|2004|12|16|1933|3|6
city-state|Gastonia|North Carolina
debutdate=April 13
debutyear=1955
debutteam=Washington Senators
finaldate=September 30
finalyear=1972
finalteam=Kansas City Royals
stat1label=Saves
stat1value=148
stat2label=ERA
stat2value=3.46
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=765
teams=
*Washington Senators (1955–1957, 1960)
*Cleveland Indians (by|1963 – by|1964)
*Chicago Cubs (by|1965 – by|1966, by|1969 – by|1970)
*Atlanta Braves (by|1966)
*Cincinnati Reds (by|1967 – by|1968)
*St. Louis Cardinals (by|1970)
*Kansas City Royals (by|1970 – by|1972)
highlights=

Theodore Wade "Ted" Abernathy (March 6, 1933 - December 16, 2004) was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed.

A native from Stanley, North Carolina, Abernathy joined the majors after graduating from high school. He changed his pitching motion after shoulder surgery left his career in doubt, switching from a three-quarter delivery and becoming an effective sidearmer who developed a nasty submarine pitch that was almost unhittable.

Abernathy appeared in 681 games and picked up 148 saves during a 14-season career between by|1955 and by|1972, playing for the Washington Senators (1955-57, 1960), Cleveland Indians (1963-64), Chicago Cubs (1966, 1969-70), Atlanta Braves (1966), Cincinnati Reds (1967-68), St. Louis Cardinals (1970) and Kansas City Royals (1970-72). He compiled a 63-69 record with 765 strikeouts and a 3.46 ERA in 1147.2 innings.

In by|1965, Abernathy recorded a league-leading 31 saves with the Cubs, along with 104 strikeouts and a 2.57 ERA. He had 28 saves, 88 strikeouts, and a 1.27 ERA two seasons later with Cincinnati. In by|1968, Abernathy won 10 games and got 13 saves, and had 10 and 14 in by|1970.

Ted Abernathy died in Gastonia, North Carolina at the age of 71.

Highlights

*Twice "TSN" Reliever of the Year Award (1965, 1967)
*Twice led league in saves (1965, 1967)
*Three-time league leader in games pitched (1965, 1967-68)
*Led league in games finished (1965)
*His 148 saves ranks him 60th in All-Time list

ee also

*List of Major League Baseball saves champions
*List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

External links

*Career statistics from [http://mlb.com/stats/historical/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=110021 MLB]
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/A/Abernathy_Ted.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Abernathy.Ted.Obit.html The Deadball Era]
* [http://www.historicbaseball.com/players/a/abernathy_ted2.html Historic Baseball]