A Savage was Born on this Date in 1936

On This Date in Cardinal History:         Ted Savage — A Life Well Played

On February 21, 1936, in Venice, Illinois, Ephesian “Ted” Savage was born. The baseball world would come to know him simply as Ted Savage — outfielder, Cardinal, mentor, and servant to the game.

Savage made his Major League debut on April 9, 1962 with the Philadelphia Phillies in a 12–4 road win over the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field. His career would span parts of 10 seasons (1962–1971), including three years in St. Louis from 1965–1967 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Over 642 Major League games, Savage compiled a .233 batting average with 34 home runs and 163 runs batted in. He wasn’t a headline-grabber. He was the kind of player every club needs — steady, professional, ready when called. His final career hit came fittingly against left-hander Tommy John, a single that quietly closed the book on his playing days.

But Ted Savage’s real legacy began after the box scores stopped printing his name.

Following his baseball career, Savage earned a PhD in urban studies from Saint Louis University. He spent nine years as athletic director at Harris–Stowe State University in St. Louis before returning to the Cardinals organization in 1987 as assistant director of community relations and a minor-league instructor.

For 25 years, Savage became a bridge between the Cardinals and the community. He eventually retired in 2012 as director of target marketing in the Cardinals Care and community relations department. In 2013, the 24th annual Cardinals Care golf tournament he had long hosted was renamed the Ted Savage RBI Golf Classic, supporting the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program — a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to growing the game at the grassroots level.

Honors followed. In 2006, Savage was inducted into the Lincoln University Alumni Hall of Fame. The Buffalo Bisons inducted him into their team Hall of Fame in 2016.

Savage passed away on January 12, 2023, at the age of 85.

I had the privilege of knowing Ted Savage, though not very well. What struck me was his quiet professionalism and the way he carried himself. He wasn’t loud. He didn’t seek attention. He simply showed up, did his job, and treated people with respect. In every interaction I witnessed, he was a class act — the kind of man who represented the Cardinals organization with dignity long after his playing days ended.

In an era that often celebrates flash over foundation, Ted Savage reminds us that baseball’s backbone has always been built on character. He wore the uniform with pride. He served the organization with loyalty. And long after his final at-bat, he continued strengthening the game in St. Louis and beyond.

That’s a life well played.

Background Research Sources - HistoryofCardinals.com

Photo Credit - MLB.com