Ted Toles Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ted Toles Jr. |
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| Pitcher / Outfielder | |||
| Born: December 4, 1925 Braceville, Ohio |
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| Died: April 4, 2016 (aged 90) Warren, Ohio |
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Theodore Toles Jr. (born December 4, 1925 – died April 4, 2016) was an American baseball player. He was a talented pitcher and outfielder. Ted played in the Negro Leagues and later in the Minor Leagues. He was a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from both sides. He threw the ball with his left hand.
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Ted's Baseball Journey
Ted Toles Jr. grew up in Braceville, Ohio. He was a very smart student and was the top student, or valedictorian, of his high school class. Before starting his baseball career, Ted served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
Ted began his professional baseball journey in 1946. He joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords team. After one year, he played for other teams like the Newark Eagles, Jacksonville Eagles, and Cleveland Buckeyes. This was between 1947 and 1949.
His best year was 1946. As a pitcher, he won 18 games and lost only 7. He also played as an outfielder sometimes. When he batted, he hit for a .350 average. Later that year, he was invited to play with the Jackie Robinson All-Stars. He toured with them on the West Coast.
Moving to the Minor Leagues
In 1950, Ted joined the Eston Ramblers. After that, he played for teams linked to Major League Baseball clubs. These included the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Athletics. He played for these Minor League teams from 1951 to 1953. Some of these teams were the New Castle Indians (1951), Magic Valley Cowboys (1952), Trois-Rivières Yankees, and St. Hyacinthe A's (1953).
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, Ted Toles Jr. worked for a steel company in Youngstown, Ohio. He worked there for over 30 years before he retired.
Sharing His Story
After retiring, Ted traveled around the country. He spoke to young baseball players about his experiences. He shared how baseball helped shape his life. He also met up with old teammates and made new friends. He finally received the recognition he deserved for his contributions.
Ted received many awards and honors. He was recognized by the Ebony Sports Museum Lifeline All Sport Hall of Fame in 2001. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP in 2008. He even had his own baseball card made by Topps Allen & Ginter in 2007. A bobblehead doll was made in his honor in 2009.
Special Moments
In July 2014, Ted was invited to Miller Park. This was for an annual Negro League Tribute Night. He threw out the first pitch at a Milwaukee Brewers home game. In February 2015, he visited New Castle, Pennsylvania. This was over 60 years after he played for the New Castle Indians.
During his visit, Ted promoted his book. It was called Living on Borrowed Time: The Life and Times of Negro League Player Ted Toles Jr.. He wrote it with Michael T. Swank in 2014. He also talked about a special day in 1951. It was called Ted Toles Night when the Indians honored him.
A Part of History
Even though Ted played after the main era of the Negro Leagues, he played with famous players. He played alongside future Hall of Famers like Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby, and Satchel Paige. They played in games against Major League Baseball All-Star teams. Ted was part of a very important change in the 20th century. This was the integration of organized baseball, which ended segregation in the sport.
Ted Toles Jr. passed away in 2016 in Warren, Ohio. He was 90 years old.
