Ted Kluszewski
First Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1947-1961)
Ted Kluszewski was a first baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1947 to 1961 for 4 teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, a span of 15 seasons. In 1,718 career games, he hit .298 with 1,766 hits, 279 home runs, and 1,028 RBI. Ted Kluszewski was a 4-time All-Star. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 19,859.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- First Baseman
- Bats / Throws
- L / L
- Height / Weight
- 6'2" / 225 lb
- Died
- 3/29/1988 in Cincinnati, OH, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1947-04-18
- Last Game
- 1961-10-01
- Awards
- 4× All-Star
Full name: Theodore Bernard Kluszewski
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,718 | 5,929 | 848 | 1,766 | 290 | 29 | 279 | 1,028 | 20 | 492 | 365 | .298 | .353 | .498 | .850 | 19,859 |
Career AVG .298 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — +14.7% above league average.
Career OBP .353 vs. league average .333 across their career seasons — +6.1% above league average.
Career SLG .498 vs. league average .389 across their career seasons — +27.9% above league average.
Career OPS .850 vs. league average .722 across their career seasons — +17.8% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | CIN | NL | 9 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .100 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1948 | CIN | NL | 113 | 379 | 49 | 104 | 23 | 4 | 12 | 57 | 1 | 18 | 32 | .274 | .263 (+4%) | .340 (-10%) | .379 (+19%) | .719 (+5%) | 178.5 |
| 1949 | CIN | NL | 136 | 531 | 63 | 164 | 26 | 2 | 8 | 68 | 3 | 19 | 24 | .309 | .262 (+18%) | .343 (-3%) | .384 (+7%) | .727 (+2%) | 28.0 |
| 1950 | CIN | NL | 134 | 538 | 76 | 165 | 37 | 0 | 25 | 111 | 3 | 33 | 28 | .307 | .265 (+15%) | .346 (+1%) | .401 (+28%) | .747 (+15%) | 1474.3 |
| 1951 | CIN | NL | 154 | 607 | 74 | 157 | 35 | 2 | 13 | 77 | 6 | 35 | 33 | .259 | .260 (-1%) | .336 (-10%) | .385 (avg) | .721 (-5%) | -611.0 |
| 1952 | CIN | NL | 135 | 497 | 62 | 159 | 24 | 11 | 16 | 86 | 3 | 47 | 28 | .320 | .252 (+27%) | .326 (+17%) | .369 (+38%) | .696 (+28%) | 2615.3 |
| 1953 | CIN | NL | 149 | 570 | 97 | 180 | 25 | 0 | 40 | 108 | 2 | 55 | 34 | .316 | .264 (+20%) | .335 (+13%) | .397 (+44%) | .733 (+30%) | 3431.5 |
| 1954 | CIN | NL | 149 | 573 | 104 | 187 | 28 | 3 | 49 | 141 | 0 | 78 | 35 | .326 | .261 (+25%) | .333 (+22%) | .390 (+65%) | .723 (+45%) | 5294.1 |
| 1955 | CIN | NL | 153 | 612 | 116 | 192 | 25 | 0 | 47 | 113 | 1 | 66 | 40 | .314 | .258 (+21%) | .332 (+15%) | .393 (+48%) | .726 (+33%) | 4149.2 |
| 1956 | CIN | NL | 138 | 517 | 91 | 156 | 14 | 1 | 35 | 102 | 1 | 49 | 31 | .302 | .258 (+17%) | .331 (+9%) | .397 (+35%) | .728 (+23%) | 2372.0 |
| 1957 | CIN | NL | 69 | 127 | 12 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 5 | .268 | .257 (+4%) | .323 (-7%) | .391 (+19%) | .715 (+7%) | 119.0 |
| 1958 | PIT | NL | 100 | 301 | 29 | 88 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 0 | 26 | 16 | .292 | .257 (+13%) | .324 (+7%) | .394 (+2%) | .719 (+4%) | 255.1 |
| 1959 | PIT | NL | 60 | 122 | 11 | 32 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 14 | .262 | .256 (+2%) | .323 (-10%) | .392 (+5%) | .715 (-2%) | -80.1 |
| 1959 | CHA | AL | 31 | 101 | 11 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 10 | .297 | .256 (+16%) | .323 (+8%) | .392 (+1%) | .715 (+4%) | -80.1 |
| 1960 | CHA | AL | 81 | 181 | 20 | 53 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 39 | 0 | 22 | 10 | .293 | .255 (+15%) | .323 (+12%) | .387 (+10%) | .711 (+11%) | 387.6 |
| 1961 | LAA | AL | 107 | 263 | 32 | 64 | 12 | 0 | 15 | 39 | 0 | 24 | 23 | .243 | .258 (-6%) | .328 (-8%) | .399 (+15%) | .727 (+5%) | 163.8 |
| Career · 16 seasons | 1,718 | 5,929 | 848 | 1,766 | 290 | 29 | 279 | 1,028 | 20 | 492 | 365 | .298 | — | — | — | — | 19,697 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1718 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 874 | 2988 | 441 | 898 | 162 | 556 | .301 |
| Away | 844 | 2940 | 405 | 868 | 117 | 472 | .295 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-10-01 | LAA | CLE | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961-09-26 | LAA | TEX | L | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961-09-24 | LAA | DET | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961-09-23 | LAA | DET | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961-09-22 | LAA | DET | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961-09-20 | LAA | DET | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961-09-08 | LAA | CHW | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961-09-05 | LAA | KC1 | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961-09-05 | LAA | KC1 | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961-09-04 | LAA | KC1 | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1481 | 668 | 12652 | 799 | 97 | 1269 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | CIN | 1B | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1948 | CIN | 1B | 98 | 0 | 833 | 65 | 9 | 60 |
| 1949 | CIN | 1B | 134 | 0 | 1140 | 65 | 14 | 109 |
| 1950 | CIN | 1B | 131 | 0 | 1123 | 61 | 15 | 101 |
| 1951 | CIN | 1B | 154 | 0 | 1381 | 88 | 5 | 115 |
| 1952 | CIN | 1B | 133 | 0 | 1121 | 66 | 8 | 116 |
| 1953 | CIN | 1B | 147 | 0 | 1285 | 58 | 7 | 149 |
| 1954 | CIN | 1B | 149 | 149 | 1237 | 101 | 5 | 166 |
| 1955 | CIN | 1B | 153 | 153 | 1388 | 86 | 8 | 153 |
| 1956 | CIN | 1B | 131 | 130 | 1166 | 89 | 13 | 110 |
| 1957 | CIN | 1B | 23 | 19 | 161 | 15 | 2 | 11 |
| 1958 | PIT | 1B | 72 | 72 | 591 | 36 | 4 | 62 |
| 1959 | PIT | 1B | 20 | 20 | 151 | 12 | 0 | 14 |
| 1959 | CHA | 1B | 29 | 29 | 220 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
| 1960 | CHA | 1B | 39 | 37 | 325 | 19 | 1 | 38 |
| 1961 | LAA | 1B | 66 | 59 | 520 | 28 | 6 | 51 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1479 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1955 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1954 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University-Bloomington | Bloomington | IN | 1944, 1945 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 14th | 18.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1955 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 111.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1954 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 2nd | 217.0 | 336 | 7 |
| 1953 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 7th | 69.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1952 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 17th | 16.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1950 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 18th | 14.0 | 336 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Ted Kluszewski (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Ted Kluszewski
Ted Kluszewski: the record in brief
Between the debut on April 18, 1947 and the final game on October 1, 1961, Ted Kluszewski built the record summarized on this page. By club, Kluszewski's seasons break down as the Cincinnati Reds (1947 through 1953), the Cincinnati Redlegs (1954 through 1957), the Pittsburgh Pirates (1958 to 1959), the Chicago White Sox (1959 through 1960), and the Los Angeles Angels (1961). Kluszewski, born on September 10, 1924, in Argo, IL, USA, is listed as a first baseman and both batted and threw left-handed. The bio gives 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds. Kluszewski died on March 29, 1988, in Cincinnati, OH, USA. Kluszewski's full given name, per the bio, is Theodore Bernard Kluszewski.
Kluszewski collected 1,766 hits in 5,929 at bats across 1,718 games, good for a .298 batting average, plus 279 homers, 1,028 runs batted in, and 20 stolen bases. Kluszewski's career OPS of .850 combines a .353 on-base mark with .498 slugging. Kluszewski's .298 average ran 14.7% above the .260 that the league posted over the same seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ted Kluszewski
- What years did Ted Kluszewski play?
- Ted Kluszewski played in Major League Baseball from 1947 to 1961.
- Was Ted Kluszewski a pitcher?
- No. Ted Kluszewski was a position player (First Baseman).
- How many home runs did Ted Kluszewski hit?
- Ted Kluszewski hit 279 career home runs with 1,766 hits.
- What teams did Ted Kluszewski play for?
- Ted Kluszewski played for 4 teams: the Cincinnati Redlegs (1947–1957), the Pittsburgh Pirates (1958–1959), the Chicago White Sox (1959–1960), and the Los Angeles Angels (1961).
- Did Ted Kluszewski win an MVP award?
- No. Ted Kluszewski did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Ted Kluszewski win?
- Ted Kluszewski was selected to 4 All-Star Games.
- What were Ted Kluszewski's career stats?
- In 1,718 games, Ted Kluszewski had 1,766 hits, 279 home runs, 1,028 RBI, 848 runs, and 20 stolen bases, with a .298 batting average.
- What position did Ted Kluszewski play?
- Ted Kluszewski played primarily as a first baseman, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Ted Kluszewski and how much did he weigh?
- Ted Kluszewski was listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 225 pounds.
- How many home runs did Ted Kluszewski hit each season?
- Ted Kluszewski's home runs by season: 0 in 1947, 12 in 1948, 8 in 1949, 25 in 1950, 13 in 1951, 16 in 1952, 40 in 1953, 49 in 1954, 47 in 1955, 35 in 1956, 6 in 1957, 4 in 1958, 4 in 1959, 5 in 1960, and 15 in 1961. His most in one season was 49, in 1954.
- What was Ted Kluszewski's career batting average?
- Ted Kluszewski batted .298 over his career, with 1,766 hits in 5,929 at bats.
- How many RBI did Ted Kluszewski have?
- Ted Kluszewski drove in 1,028 runs in his career.
- Is Ted Kluszewski in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Ted Kluszewski has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- How many All-Star Games did Ted Kluszewski make?
- Ted Kluszewski was selected to 4 All-Star Games.