Ted Downs

Edward Henry Downs II
(Ted)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 155 lb.
• School University of Wisconsin, North Dakota State University
• High School Proctor (MN) High School

• Born April 7, 1921 in Proctor, MN USA
• Died April 6, 2009 in Edina, MN USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Ted Downs graduated from Proctor High School in 1939. He played baseball and basketball for the Rails. His 1938 basketball team was the Region 7 Runner Up, having lost the regional championship game in overtime to Virginia (MN) High School and future NBA player, Johnny Norlander. Downs then played baseball and basketball for the University of Wisconsin, and his 1941 Badgers basketball team won the NCAA National Championship.

Downs played professional baseball in 1943 for the Duluth Dukes of the Twin Ports League, the only Class E league in the history of Organized Baseball. He played second base and Norlander played first base.

He taught and coached sports at Lake Mills High School, Edgerton (WI) High School, and La Crosse (WI) High School for a combined 10 years before beginning a 32-year career as an educator and coach at Edina High School. Among his coaching accomplishments was leading Edina's baseball team to a 1957 state tournament appearance.

Downs, who earned a master's degree from North Dakota State University, received the 1987 Edina Excellence in Education Award as a guidance counselor. He was elected to the Edina Hall of Fame as an educator in 2007 and the Edina Sports Hall of Fame as a coach in 2008. He is also a member of the Proctor Hall of Fame and the Proctor Baseball Hall of Fame.

Related Sites

• Edina Sports Hall of Fame page
• Proctor Baseball Hall of Fame page
• Find a Grave page