On this day in 1949, Ted Simmons was born in Highland Park, Michigan. He hadn't even turned 18 when the Cardinals selected him with the tenth overall pick in the 1967 draft, and he made his major league debut a month after turning 19 the following season.
Simba, as he would come to be known, played in 1564 games over 13 seasons as a Cardinal, the 13th most in that franchise's 130 year history. But after all that time and all those games, the Cards traded him to the Brewers on November 12, 1980. He came along with Rollie Fingers in exchange for outfielders Sixto Lezcano and David Green and pitchers Dave LaPoint and Lary Sorensen.
Splitting time between catcher and DH, Simmons played in 665 games over five seasons as a Brewer, hitting .262/.311/.399 with 66 home runs. He's 23rd on the Brewer all time list for hits with 666, 20th in RBI with 394 and tied for 22nd in doubles with 132.
Simmons turns 62 today. With help from Brewerfan.net and the B-Ref Play Index, we'd also like to wish a happy birthday today to:
- Wisconsin Timber Rattler Mike Brownstein, who turns 24.
- 2008 Brewer Mike Lamb, who turns 36.
- 1995-99 Brewer Scott Karl, who turns 40.
- 1994-95 and 2000 Brewer Bob Scanlan, who turns 45.
- 1986 and 1988 Brewer Jim Adduci, who turns 52.
- Seattle Pilot Gary Timberlake, who turns 63.