| Birthdate | 9/10/1924 |
| Death Date | 3/29/1988 |
| Debut Year | 1947 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Angels, Pirates, Reds, White Sox |
| Position | First Base |
There are 10 seasons in MLB history that a batter recorded 40+ HRs with more homers than Ks; Ted Kluszewski did it each year from 1953-55.
Ted Kluszewski’s first big league season of 1947 was unremarkable. He made his debut on April 18 and appeared in just 9 games. Eight of them included a pinch-hitting appearance.
In ’48 Big Klu forced his way into the Cincinnati lineup, playing 113 games including 98 as the Reds first baseman. Then in 1949, he began a run of seven straight seasons with at least 500 plate appearances.
With increased playing time came great production. From 1949 through the next ten seasons the Reds star hit .304 with a .511 slugging percentage.
In the first 7 years of the 1950s Big Klu averaged 32 homers and 105 RBI per season. From 1950-1956 he made four All Star teams and received votes in MVP balloting six times.
Known for his huge biceps, Kluszewski had his greatest season in 1954. He had career bests in average (.326), homers (49), and RBI (141). It was the middle of three consecutive years with at least 40 home runs. His .642 slugging percentage and 1.049 OPS in ’54 remain single-season Reds franchise records (minimum 100 games played).
Klu finished second to batting champ Willie Mays for the Most Valuable Player Award.
In December of ’57 the Reds traded Kluszewski to the Pirates. He hit .284 in Pittsburgh before getting dealt to the White Sox in August of ’59. That year he helped Chicago reach the World Series against Los Angeles. In the Fall Classic, Klu hit .391 with three homers and ten RBI in the six-game loss to the Dodgers.
The Angeles plucked Kluszewski in the expansion draft in December of 1960. He hit 15 homers for the 91-loss Angeles in final big league season.
When his 15-year playing career ended, Kluszewski totaled 279 homers, 1,028 RBI, a .298 batting average and 128 OPS+. The year after he hung up his spikes Kluszewski was elected to the Reds Hall of Fame.
In the collection is this government postcard from 1956 signed neatly by Kluszewski.
The back of the card signed by Ted Kluszewski reveals a USPS postmark of January 18th, 1956 from Cincinnati. Big Klu was about to enter the final of his four consecutive All Star seasons.
Kluszewski played 11 seasons for the Reds, parts of two seasons with both the White Sox and Pirates, and finished up with the expansion LA Angels in 1961.
He had 5 seasons with at least 25 homers, three with 40 or more bombs. Five times he topped the 100-RBI plateau. Kluszewski owns three of the ten MLB 40-homer seasons that featured more home runs than strikeouts.
Some believe his career warrants another look by the Veterans Committee.
Ted Kluszewski made the postseason just once in his 15-year big league career. That came in 1959 for skipper Al Lopez and the Chicago White Sox. Klu made the most of his time on baseball’s biggest stage.
In the six-game tilt, Kluszewski went 9-for-23 with a walk, a double, three homers, and ten RBI. The 35-year old posted Fall Classic slash line of .391/.440/.826 in a losing effort against the Dodgers.
Shown here are two Topps baseball cards autographed showing Hall of Fame manager Lopez. Both the 1962 and 1958 editions feature him in a White Sox uniform.
Yogi Berra had a way with words. Just ask his battery mate of 12 seasons Whitey Ford.
One of the pitcher’s favorite tales to tell was “Yogi Berra and the four-ball story”. Ford delivered it many times.
Like many of the best baseball stories, this one is a mixture of truth and fantasy.
It’s a quick and easy read that’s sure to give you a chuckle.
Read More >"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball…"
~Jacques Barzun, 1954
Followed Big Klu in 1959 when White Sox picked him up for the pennant drive and WS against the Dodgers. Favorite memory is when Klu hit a grand slam HR in that series only to have it called back because the umpire had called a late time out. The series went down hill from there for the Sox.
Other than the Dodger players Big Klu was one of my favorites growing up. When playing Home Run Derby I was always him.
When he passed I went out and bought his baseball card and framed it