Ted Lewis

Edward Morgan Lewis
(Parson)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10½", Weight 158 lb.
• School Marietta College, Williams College
• Debut July 6, 1896
• Final Game September 26, 1901
• Born December 25, 1872 in Machynlleth, Wales
• Died May 23, 1936 in Durham, NH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Ted Lewis was part of the reason why the Boston Beaneaters were one of the strongest teams in the 1890s. He and Kid Nichols were part of the rotation in 1897, and were joined by Vic Willis in 1898. Lewis had his best year in 1898 when he went 26-8 on a team that was 102-47 under manager Frank Selee.

Lewis was the second of three players in the major leagues from Wales. His family moved to Utica, NY, when he was eight.

Before college, Lewis worked in a department store as a bundle boy, and as a surveyor's helper. At Marietta College, he paid for tuition by working as a letter carrier, hotel clerk, and janitor. He transferred to Williams College in 1893.

Although a college graduate, Lewis was reported to be extremely popular with his teammates on the Boston Beaneaters. Unlike many baseball players, Lewis did not drink or play on Sundays; he prayed and read the Bible daily, and invited his teammates to prayer meetings. In 1899, he earned his Masters from Williams.

Lewis was briefly a pitching coach at Harvard University during his time with the Boston Red Sox. After retiring, he taught elocution at Columbia University and oratory at the Yale Divinity School. He taught at Massachusetts Agricultural College (now the University of Massachusetts) from 1911 to 1927, rising to president of the college. He then served as president of the University of New Hampshire until his death; UNH's sports teams still play at Lewis Field.

Lewis unsuccessfully ran for Congress as a Democrat in 1910 and 1914. At his funeral, his pallbearers included Fred Tenney.

Notable Achievements

• NL Winning Percentage Leader (1898)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 4 (1897-1899 & 1901)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1897 & 1898)
• 25 Wins Seasons: 1 (1898)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 5 (1897-1901)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1898 & 1901)

Sources

• "The Pitching Professor" by Rory Costello: The National Pastime 21 (SABR 2001)

Further Reading

• Rory Costello: "Ted Lewis", in Bill Nowlin, Maurice Bouchard and Len Levin, eds.: New Century, New Team: The 1901 Boston Americans, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2013, pp. 109-113. ISBN 978-1-933599-58-8

Related Sites

• Ted Lewis at the SABR Bio Project