Ted Cox

William Ted Cox

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 195 lb.
• High School Midwest City High School
• Debut September 18, 1977
• Final Game October 4, 1981
• Born January 24, 1955 in Oklahoma City, OK USA
• Died March 11, 2020 in Oklahoma City, OK USA

BR page

Biographical Information

“I’ve always been able to hit... but this? I didn’t expect anything like this at all. I still can’t figure it out.” - Ted Cox, on his fast start

Ted Cox burst onto the major league scene by beginning his career with six hits in his first six at bats with the Boston Red Sox in 1977. Debuting September 18th, he was 4-for-4 with three runs scored against the Baltimore Orioles, then 2-for-4 against the New York Yankees a day later. He was hyped a great deal after his smashing debut, hitting .362/.393/.500 in 13 games, coupled with winning the International League MVP award (.334/.396/.531 in 95 games with the Pawtucket Red Sox).

He was one of the key players obtained by the Cleveland Indians when they traded future Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley to the Red Sox the following spring, but his career petered out quickly. Ted was a man without a position on the field, and hit only .224 with no power in two full seasons with Cleveland in 1978 and 1979. He was a semi-regular third baseman for the Seattle Mariners in 1980, batting .243 in 83 games, then finished his big league career with 16 games (.300/.364/.500) for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981.

Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2019, he passed away in 2020 at 65.

Notable Achievements

• 1977 MVP International League Pawtucket Red Sox

Records Held

• Consecutive hits from start of career, 6, 1977.
• Consecutive times on base from start of career, 7, 1977. This includes one walk. (Jay Bruce is the only other player with 6 in the last 80 years.)

Related Sites

• Ted Cox at the SABR Bio Project