Ted Kluszewski Chicago White Sox
Career: Klu was a star slugger in Cincinnati for a decade before finishing up his career with the Pirates, He was known for his 'guns' and he wore the sleeveless Reds' jerseys with torn undershirts that showed them off. White Sox and Angels as his career wound down. He was a four time NL All Star and the NL MVP runner-up in 1954 as he led the league with 54 homers and 141 RBI. He hit three homers in the 1959 World Series. He was pretty nifty in the field as well. He led the NL in fielding % for five consecutive years.
Kluszewski remained in the game after his playing days. He was the Reds' batting coach under Sparky Anderson and later served as the franchise's minor league hitting instructor.
In 1960: He was fighting the back problems that plagued his last years in the bigs but he was still able to put up a .293 average with a .364 OBP as a part time starter for the Sox.
WikiFacts: From his NY Times obit:
Theodore Bernard Kluszewksi was born in Argo, Ill., on Sept. 10, 1924. The Reds discovered Kluszewski at Indiana University, where he played football and baseball. The Reds held spring training at the university from 1943 to 1945.The Card: Another portrait shot but the colors are bright and I like the combo and th Flying Sox' logo. Damn, I wish every card had been printed on the cream colored cardboard.
Kluszewski drew the Reds' attention because he was hitting line drives that broke through a wooden outfield fence. He signed for a $15,000 bonus in 1946 and was assigned to the Columbia team in the Sally League.
Bonus pics of Big Klu:
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