Ted Simmons

Infobox MLB retired
name=Ted Simmons
position=Catcher
bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1949|8|9
city-state|Highland Park|Michigan
debutdate=September 21
debutyear=by|1968
debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
finaldate=October 2
finalyear=by|1988
finalteam=Atlanta Braves
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.285
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=248
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=1,389
teams=
* St. Louis Cardinals (by|1968-by|1980)
* Milwaukee Brewers (by|1981-by|1985)
* Atlanta Braves (by|1986-by|1988)
highlights=
* 8x All-Star selection (1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983)
* Silver Slugger Award winner (1980)

Ted Lyle Simmons (born August 9, 1949, in Highland Park, Michigan) is a retired American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1968-80), Milwaukee Brewers (1981-85) and Atlanta Braves (1986-88). Simmons (nicknamed "Simba") was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He was the bench coach for the Brewers until September 15, 2008, when he was re-assigned to another position within the organization.

Career

In a 21-season career, Simmons compiled a .288 batting average with 2,472 hits, 248 home runs and 1389 RBI in 2456 games.

Highlights

*8-time All-Star (1972-74, 1977-79, 1981, 1983)
*Silver Slugger Award (1980)
*7-time hit .300 or more (1971-73, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983)
*Caught two no-hitters (Bob Gibson in 1971, Bob Forsch in 1978)
*Twice led the National League in intentional walks (1976-77). He ranks 15th in the All-Time list with 188.
*After his playing days were over, Simmons continued in the game as a front office executive. He served two seasons (1992-93) as general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but stepped down for health reasons. He also was Director of Player Development for both the Cardinals and San Diego Padres, and a scout at the Major League level for the Cleveland Indians. He was named the bench coach for the Milwaukee Brewers starting with the 2008 season.
*He was featured several times in the commemorative DVD for the 1982 Milwaukee Brewer's Harvey's Wallbangers.

Hall of Fame hopes

In 1993, only 17 baseball writers voted for Ted Simmons to get into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Being less than the 5% required to remain eligible, Simmons was taken off the ballot. Under the rules in effect at that time, he was thus permanently ineligible for Hall of Fame selection. In 2001, a change to the induction process restored the Hall of Fame eligibility of all players who had been dropped from past ballots.

Under the rules of the Committee of Baseball Veterans [ [http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/vetcom.jsp National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Hall of Fame Veterans Committee ] ] , Simmons will be given another chance to enter the Hall of Fame in the coming years. After 22 seasons from retirement, 1988 being his last, Simmons can be considered by the Veterans Committee. Since the Committee begins the process every two years (and in odd-numbered years), 2011 will be the first eligible year for Simmons, meaning he can appear on the ballot in that year. He will then be eligible for the life of the process.

Ted Simmons had 2472 career hits, which was ranked # 1 all time for a catcher, until 2008, when he was surpassed by Iván Rodríguez.

Baseball Executive

In 1992, Simmons was hired as General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He served in that position for only a year, retiring after suffering a heart attack in June 1993.

Coaching career

On October 30, 2007, Simmons signed a contract to become the bench coach of the Milwaukee Brewers. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3086992 ESPN - Ausmus gets one-year, $2M deal to return to Astros - MLB ] ]

On September 15, 2008, Simmons was re-assigned to an advisory role. [ [http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080915&content_id=3480423&vkey=pr_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil] ]

ee also

*List of major league players with 2,000 hits
*List of NL Silver Slugger Winners at Catcher
*Top 500 home run hitters of all time
*1982 World Series
*List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
*List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
*List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI

References

External links

* [http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/vetcom.jsp National Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee rules]
*baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=s/simmote01 |fangraphs=1011986 |cube=S/ted-simmons