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Ted Savage Passes Away

By Maury Ahram | January 15, 2023 at 12:22pm CDT

Former MLB outfielder Ted Savage has passed away, the Cardinals announced. He was 85 years old.

Savage was born in Venice, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. He attended school in nearby East St. Louis, Illinois where he was a three-sport star in baseball, football, and basketball. Savage would go on to play baseball for Lincoln University before joining the US Army. He would continue his baseball career with the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

After three years, Savage was discharged and signed a contract with the Phillies. He would make his major league debut with the club during the 1962 season, playing 127 games and slashing .266/.345/.373. Surprisingly, only one month after concluding his rookie campaign, he was traded to the Pirates. In Pittsburgh, injuries and a prominent outfield limited Savage to only 85 games during the 1963 season, and he wouldn’t make an appearance at the major league level during the 1964 season.

Savage returned to the majors in 1965 with the Cardinals and would have minor roles with the club in the 1965 and 1966 seasons before being sold to the Cubs midway through the 1967 season to the Cubs. He would spend the end of the 1967 season and part of the 1968 season with Chicago before joining the Dodgers. After another platoon role year with the Reds in 1969, Savage latched on with the Brewers ahead of his age-33 campaign and arguably put up his best numbers, hitting a strong .279/.402/.482 in 114 games with more walks (57) than strikeouts (44). It was only the second time in his career that he had earned more than 300 plate appearances in a season, the first being his rookie year. However, Savage was unable to recapture his strong 1970 season the next year, and, after a hand injury in July 1971, he would never return to the major league field. After two years playing in the Mexican league, Savage retired following the conclusion of the 1973 season.

Following his playing career, Savage would earn his Ph.D. in urban studies from St. Louis University, going on to spend nine years as Harris-Stowe State University’s athletic director. He returned to the Cardinals organization in 1987 as assistant director of community relations and minor league instruction, staying with the franchise for 25 years before retiring as director of target marketing in the Cardinals Care and community relations department.

MLBTR sends our condolences to Savage’s family, friends, loved ones, former teammates, and people with whom he crossed paths during his career.

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27 Comments

  1. PaulyMidwest

    2 years ago

    Rest in Peace Mr. Savage.

    5
    Reply
  2. 10centBeerNight

    2 years ago

    Rest in peace, Good Sir

    3
    Reply
  3. This one belongs to the Reds

    2 years ago

    RIP to a former Red. He went on to get a Ph.D. and contributed to both college athletics and MLB after his playing career. Well done.

    14
    Reply
    • User 899214610

      2 years ago

      thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Buzz Killington

        2 years ago

        @the great bambi It’s in the article

        Reply
    • GmanGoon

      2 years ago

      Well done Sir. Comments like this are so rare here.
      A talented man. Condolences to his family and friends and well done to MLBTR for sharing.

      Some believe that thinking of those that have passed sends healing.

      6
      Reply
  4. jorge78

    2 years ago

    RIP Ted…..

    Reply
  5. commentsopen

    2 years ago

    RIP

    Reply
  6. Monkey’s Uncle

    2 years ago

    Savage’s MLB career was s a great example of perseverance. R.I.P.

    3
    Reply
  7. eddiemathews

    2 years ago

    RIP the Savage Beast (a Strat-O-Matic nickname)

    5
    Reply
  8. Lefty_Orioles_Fan

    2 years ago

    Ted Savage made Jim Boutons Ball Four as well, sadly though he was stuck out on r hree pitches. Can’t win them all, may Ted Savage r a a t in peace

    1
    Reply
  9. BuyBuyMets

    2 years ago

    One of the last acquisitions to complete the high series of my 1967 Topps set and an original Brewer.
    RIP Ted

    4
    Reply
  10. Arnold Ziffel

    2 years ago

    RIP, to a man who set a standard with baseball and education.

    3
    Reply
  11. Arnold Ziffel

    2 years ago

    RIP, to a man who set a standard with baseball and educatio

    2
    Reply
  12. Schlitz

    2 years ago

    He was the 2nd best hitter on the 1970 Brewers team.

    6
    Reply
    • eddiemathews

      2 years ago

      to…Tommy Harper? (I always remember a TV ad from back in the day where Ernie Banks is shilling something, and refers to “my good friend, Tommy Harper”)

      1
      Reply
  13. Buuba ho tep

    2 years ago

    Rest in peace….too many boyhood idols are passing

    1
    Reply
  14. all in the suit that you wear

    2 years ago

    RIP

    1
    Reply
  15. HalosHeavenJJ

    2 years ago

    What a full life. Very few people manage one of serving their country, getting a PhD, or playing Major League Baseball.

    To do all three is astonishing.

    RIP.

    12
    Reply
    • nitnontu

      2 years ago

      Indeed a remarkable and productive life. Thanks for making the world a best place, Mr. Savage!

      2
      Reply
  16. CravenMoorehead

    2 years ago

    REST IN POWER

    4
    Reply
  17. Ron Hayes

    2 years ago

    Also had more HRs 12 than 2Bs 10 in 1970. Pretty good for someone who walked more than he SO.RIP

    1
    Reply
  18. Champs64

    2 years ago

    To one of the great names for a baseball player and very personable. Our sympathy to the Savage family. Found a way to be part of the game in very special ways.

    1
    Reply
  19. rememberthecoop

    2 years ago

    PHD! Very impressive man. RIP sir!

    6
    Reply
  20. miltpappas

    2 years ago

    Not a superstar, but a steady player who had a good career. Plus, he was an original Milwaukee Brewer. RIP, Mr. Savage.

    3
    Reply
  21. stgpd

    2 years ago

    TD was a fine man. He did great things for the community. He was very friendly to regular people like me and he will be missed

    Reply
  22. KJP

    5 months ago

    Late to this page, so we’ll see if anyone ever reads this. Family lore is that my father befriended Ted was playing in the Int’l league and Dad workiing at the Syracuse airport. Ted gave him an old glove, which Dad used for years playing softball, then my older brother used for years including sandlot, high school and Americal legion ball, until the day he left it in a dugout or team bus or somewhere. All the participants in this story have passed, so who knows. But i always thought it was true, and as a lifelong Cardinal fan, always liked Ted as a ballplayer and person. RIP!

    Reply

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