Ted Kluszewski

Lore & Background

Kluszewski was a four-time National League (NL) All-Star who hit at least .300 seven times, and 40 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons. He retired with a .298 lifetime batting average, 279 home runs, and 1,028 runs batted in (RBI) in 1,718 games. On August 25, 1959, the Chicago White Sox acquired Kluszewski from the Cincinnati Reds in return for pitcher Robert Sagers and outfielder Harry Simpson. The veteran hit .297 in 31 games and helped the "Go-Go White Sox" clinch the American League pennant. In six games versus the Los Angeles Dodgers in that year's World Series, Kluszewski hit .391 with three home runs and drove in 10 runs. Kluszewski ranks among the all-time Reds leaders in home runs (sixth), slugging percentage (sixth), on-base plus slugging percentage (eighth), and RBIs (ninth). In 1967, he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

In Their Own Story

The air in Crosley Field was thick with humidity and anticipation as the pitcher wound up for the final out. Ted Kluszewski stepped into the batter's box, his massive frame filling the space between home plate and first base. He adjusted his helmet, eyes locked on the incoming fastball. With a swing that generated a crack like a gunshot echoing off the brick walls of the park, he sent the ball soaring deep into the left-field stands. The crowd erupted, a sea of red caps rising in unison to celebrate another moment of magic from their giant.

Reader's Guide

Kluszewski was born of Polish descent in Summit, Illinois. He was a star football and baseball player at Argo Community High School. He went on to Indiana University in Bloomington, where he also played both sports. In 1945, he was part of the Hoosiers football powerhouse that finished with a 9–0–1 record. The same year he hit .443 with their baseball team. Due to wartime travel restrictions, the Cincinnati Reds trained at Indiana University from 1943 to 1945. As a student-athlete, Kluszewski drew the attention of Reds groundskeeper Matty Schwab, who saw him launch several balls over a 500-plus-foot distance. He waited until after graduation in 1946 to sign. After producing .325 and .377 batting averages in two minor league seasons, he was promoted. Early in the 1948 season, the 6 ft 2 in, 225-pound Kluszewski became a regular player. He cut off both sleeves of his jersey because they constricted his biceps and limited his swing. In 1947, he earned a spot on the Opening Day roster and recorded his first hit on Sept. 23 at Crosley Field, an RBI single off Chicago Cubs starter Hank Wyse. One year later, he nailed down the starter job for nine seasons. In 10 of his 15 major league seasons, he walked (492) more often than he struck out (365). In 1953, he hit 40 homers and struck out 34 times. In 1954 he hit 49 homers against 35 strikeouts. In 1955 he hit 47 home runs and struck out 40 times, the last time a major leaguer has hit 40 homers and struck out 40 or fewer times in the same season. From 1953 through 1956 he was named to the NL All-Star roster each season, hit 171 home runs (more than any player in the big leagues), and drove in more than 100 runs each season with a league-high 141 RBI in 1954. He became the first and only player in MLB history to hit 35 or more homers in four seasons with fewer strikeouts than homers. He led NL first basemen in fielding percentage five straight years (1951–1955), a major league record. In 1,479 games, he compiled a career .993 fielding percentage. In 1954 he was the NL MVP runner-up, leading the league in home runs (49) and RBI (141) and finishing fifth in batting average (.326). In 1956, a back issue flared up; he aggravated the injury early in the next season. He returned to action on June 12 but was slow to recover. On December 28, 1957, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Dee Fondy. In 1959, he appeared in 6

Did You Know?

• Kluszewski was a four-time NL All-Star who hit at least .300 seven times.
• He hit 40 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons (1953–1955).
• In 1954 he led the league with 49 home runs and 141 RBI.
• He is the only player in MLB history to hit 35+ homers in four seasons with fewer strikeouts than homers.
• His number 18 was retired by the Reds in 1998.