Ted Abernathy

Ted Abernathy
Relief pitcher
Born: March 6, 1933 Stanley, North Carolina
Died: December 16, 2004(2004-12-16) (aged 71) Gastonia, North Carolina
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 13, 1955 for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 1972 for the Kansas City Royals
Career statistics
Win-loss record	63-69
Saves	148
Earned run average	3.46
Strikeouts	765
Teams
Washington Senators (1955–1957, 1960) Cleveland Indians (1963–1964) Chicago Cubs (1965 – 1966) Atlanta Braves (1966) Cincinnati Reds (1967–1968) Chicago Cubs (1969–1970) St. Louis Cardinals (1970) Kansas City Royals (1970–1972)

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

A native of Stanley, North Carolina, Abernathy 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 submarine pitch.

Abernathy appeared in 681 games and picked up 148 saves during a 14-season career between 1955 and 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 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 1968, Abernathy won 10 games with 13 saves, and had 10 wins and 14 saves in 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 69th on all-time list
• First player to record 30 saves in one season (1965)

See also

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

External links

• Career statistics from MLB
• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Baseball Library
• The Deadball Era
• Historic Baseball