On this day in 1937, Theodore Edmund Savage was born in Venice, Illinois. The Phillies signed him as an amateur free agent in 1960 and he made his big league debut with them as a 25-year-old in 1962, beginning a long and winding major league career.
Savage had spent a year as a Phillie, another as a Pirate, three with the Cardinals, two with the Cubs and single years with the Dodgers and Reds when the Brewers claimed him off waivers in April of 1970. He was 33 years old and a career .224/.316/.337 hitter but Savage had the best year of his career in Milwaukee, batting .279/.402/.482 with 12 home runs in 114 games. He split time between all three outfield positions and made 43 pinch hit appearances for the inaugural Brewers.
Despite the fact that Savage had the best year of his career the Brewers were a 36-77 team when he played in 1970, and a 29-20 team when he didn't. He appeared in just 14 games for the team in 1971 before moving along to Kansas City, where he finished his career. You can see Savage in a Brewer uniform here as part of The Virtual Card Collection.
Savage turns 75 today. With help from Brewerfan.net and the B-Ref Play Index, we'd also like to wish a happy birthday to:
- Helena Brewer Kenny Allison, who turns 22.
- 1991 Brewer Jim Olander, who turns 49.