Ted Davidson

Thomas Eugene Davidson (October 4, 1939 – September 1, 2006) was an American professional baseball player. He was a left-handed relief pitcher who appeared in Major League Baseball pitcher from 1965 to 1968 for the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves. He was called "Ted" after the initials of his first, middle, and last names.[1]

Ted Davidson
Pitcher
Born: (1939-10-04)October 4, 1939
Las Vegas, Nevada
Died: September 1, 2006(2006-09-01) (aged 66)
Bullhead City, Arizona
Batted: Right Threw: Left
MLB debut
July 24, 1965, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
July 28, 1968, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
Win–loss record11–7
Earned run average3.69
Innings pitched195​1⁄3
Teams

After attending Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California, he was signed by the Reds as an amateur free agent in 1960 and made his Major League debut at age 25 on July 24, 1965. In a 4–2 Reds loss to the Houston Astros at the Astrodome, Davidson relieved Reds pitcher Jim Duffalo with two outs and immediately induced future Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan to ground into a double play. In his first game, Davidson pitched 2​2⁄3 innings, giving up no runs and striking out four batters.[2][3]

Apart from one start during his rookie 1965 season, Davidson was used as a left-handed relief specialist.

After a solid 1966 season, Davidson nearly lost his life in March 1967 after his estranged wife confronted him in a bar and shot him three times with a small-caliber pistol, once in the left abdomen and twice in the right chest.[4] At the time, it was reported that Davidson's wife was to be charged with assault to commit murder.[5] However, the charge was dismissed when Ted Davidson failed to appear in court on two occasions, the last time being April 25, 1967 (at which time both Mary Ruth Davidson and her attorney did appear).[6] Davidson recovered from his wounds and was back playing by June of the same year but his effectiveness was not the same as it was prior to the shooting.

He was traded along with Milt Pappas and Bob Johnson by the Reds to the Atlanta Braves for Tony Cloninger, Clay Carroll and Woody Woodward on June 11, 1968.[7]

In 34 career plate appearances, Davidson failed to register a hit, striking out 19 times.

He died at age 66 on September 1, 2006 in Bullhead City, Arizona.[2]

References
  1. Spink, C.C. Johnson, ed., The 1965 Official Baseball Register. St. Louis: The Sporting News, 1965, p. 210
  2. "Ted Davidson Statistics and History". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  3. "Jul 24, 1965, Reds at Astros Play by Play and Box Score". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. July 24, 1965. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  4. Brotz, Kevin (May 3, 2010). "The Great 1965 Topps Project: #243 Reds Rookie Stars: Ted Davidson and Tommy Helms". 1965topps.blogspot.com. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  5. "Ted Davidson Leaves Hospital". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. United Press International (UPI). March 24, 1967. p. 3-C. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  6. "Davidson Charge Dismissed In Tampa". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. April 26, 1967. p. 3-C. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  7. "Pappas Traded in Big Deal for Atlanta Pitcher," The Cincinnati Enquirer, Wednesday, June 12, 1968. Retrieved April 30, 2020
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