Ted Abernathy

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

A native from Stanley, North Carolina, Abernathy joined the majors after graduating from high school. He 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 nasty submarine pitch that was almost unhittable.

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 and got 13 saves, and had 10 and 14 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 60th in All-Time list

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
• Baseball Library
• The Deadball Era
• Historic Baseball