Ted Lepcio Explained

Ted Lepcio
Position:Infielder
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:28 July 1929
Birth Place:Utica, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Dedham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:April 15
Debutyear:1952
Debutteam:Boston Red Sox
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 11
Finalyear:1961
Finalteam:Minnesota Twins
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.245
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:69
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:251
Teams:

Thaddeus Stanley "Ted" Lepcio (July 28, 1929 – December 11, 2019) was an American professional baseball utility infielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, and Minnesota Twins.[1]

Lepcio attended Seton Hall University. A one-time semi-professional baseball player in Oneida, New York, he was signed by the Boston Red Sox, as an amateur free agent, in 1951. Lepcio played his first MLB game, in 1952, and would play most of his professional career with the Red Sox. He was generally a utility infielder who could play second base, third base, or shortstop. Lepcio's best year was 1956, when he hit 15 home runs, nine of which came in an eighteen-day stretch.[1] He is mentioned in Jimmy Piersall's book, Fear Strikes Out, as his roommate during the 1952 season, when Piersall had to be hospitalized with mental issues. Lepcio often saved Piersall from being beaten up by his own teammates.[2]

On July 13, 1961, Lepcio hit a grand slam in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians, which would turn out to be the deciding factor in the Twins' 9 to 6 victory.[3] After Lepcio retired, following the 1961 season, he became a vice president of sales with St Johnsbury Trucking Co Inc, a New England trucking company. He also remained active in baseball and often chaired Red Sox events.[4] He died on December 11, 2019, in Dedham, Massachusetts.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ted Lepcio Stats. 2019. Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com. April 28, 2019.
  2. Book: Fear strikes out: the Jim Piersall story. Piersall. Jimmy. Hirshberg. Al. Jim Piersall. 1999. University of Nebraska Press. Lincoln, Nebraska. 0-8032-8761-5 . 137. August 31, 2011.
  3. News: Ted Lepcio's Grand Slam Sparks Twins' 9–6 Win. Associated Press. Hartford Courant. July 14, 1961.
  4. Web site: A player in his day. Thomas, Jack. April 14, 2005. Boston Globe. August 31, 2011.
  5. Web site: Ted Lepcio Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac . www.baseball-almanac.com . 22 December 2019.