George Theodore

George Basil Theodore (born November 13, 1947 in Salt Lake City, Utah) is a retired Major League Baseball player. Nicknamed "The Stork," the 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), 190 lb (86 kg) Theodore played outfield for the New York Mets in 1973 and 1974. He is probably best remembered for a brutal collision in left-center field with Don Hahn in a game against the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium on July 7, 1973. As a result of the collision, Ralph Garr scored an inside-the-park home run, and Theodore dislocated his hip and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.

George Theodore
Theodore, circa 1968
Outfielder
Born: (1947-11-13) November 13, 1947
Salt Lake City, Utah
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 14, 1973, for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1974, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average.219
Hits42
Home runs2
Teams

He is also remembered for his offbeat personality and idiosyncratic interviews. For example, he once remarked, "I've been trying transcendental meditation, and that helps me be passive and wait on the curve. I've got to find something else to hit the slider."[1]

After his baseball career, Theodore returned to Utah, got a master's degree in social work, and worked for 38 years as a counselor to elementary school students. In 2016, South Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce named him Educator of the Year.[2]

On September 28, 2008, Theodore returned to Shea Stadium for the stadium's closing ceremony. To this date, he is recognized as the only player in Mets history who was born in the state of Utah.[3]

References
  1. Zervos, D. (1998) Baseball's Golden Greeks Aegean Books International, pp.247-8
  2. About Utah: A champion on and off the field. Deseret News. Retrieved on July 21, 2016.
  3. 39 MLB players born in Utah. Baseball Reference. Retrieved on July 21, 2016.
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