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Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 07:52 am
by OldRed
Ted Savage was born on February 21, 1937, in Venice, Illinois — a community across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. He grew up in nearby East St. Louis, Illinois, attending Lincoln High School, where he distinguished himself as a three-sport star in baseball, basketball, and football. After high school, he attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, before serving three years in the U.S. Army — a path that helped shape both his athletic and personal discipline.
Savage went on to have a nine-season career in Major League Baseball, debuting in 1962 and playing for eight different teams over the years. But beyond the field, his upbringing in East St. Louis — a community facing significant social and economic challenges — instilled in him a commitment to giving back. After retiring, he used his education (earning a Ph.D. in urban studies) and his experience to invest deeply in community and youth work, helping bring programs and opportunities to underserved communities.
Re: Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 08:12 am
by Talkin' Baseball
Thanks for the post.
Re: Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 08:28 am
by redbirdfan51
Truly, a man that has used his success and celebrity in helping others. God bless Ted Savage.
Re: Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 10:14 am
by Voldemort
Ted and I were friends. So important to him as one who worked for/with the Cardinals was the RBI Program. (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities.) Most people know about his golf tournament, and it was originally called the Cardinals Care Golf Tournament. This tournament was established around the time that I got to know him. (1990) I first met him in 1988. Ted was just getting started in his role in community relations. I think he started working in community relations in 1987. I communicated with Ted when I was chosen to coach baseball in the former Soviet Union. Ted would ask me to collect ball gloves, but he really wanted any good equipment so he could donate that equipment through the RBI Program. In contacting various high school coaches for equipment, we always seemed to be able to get some quality equipment for Ted. Every now and then, Ted would get a message to me that he would leave tickets for me. On one of those dates, and unknown to us, Ted had Channel 5 show up to film my daughter at the game. We have an old VCR tape of her at that game. It is a classic since she had her Barney clothing on.
Ted Savage was a great man. He truly cared for others and worked hard at his job. A lot of underprivileged kids benefited from his efforts. The Cardinals benefited from having Ted Savage represent them.
Re: Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 10:40 am
by Talkin' Baseball
Voldemort wrote: ↑02 Dec 2025 10:14 am
Ted and I were friends. So important to him as one who worked for/with the Cardinals was the RBI Program. (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities.) Most people know about his golf tournament, and it was originally called the Cardinals Care Golf Tournament. This tournament was established around the time that I got to know him. (1990) I first met him in 1988. Ted was just getting started in his role in community relations. I think he started working in community relations in 1987. I communicated with Ted when I was chosen to coach baseball in the former Soviet Union. Ted would ask me to collect ball gloves, but he really wanted any good equipment so he could donate that equipment through the RBI Program. In contacting various high school coaches for equipment, we always seemed to be able to get some quality equipment for Ted. Every now and then, Ted would get a message to me that he would leave tickets for me. On one of those dates, and unknown to us, Ted had Channel 5 show up to film my daughter at the game. We have an old VCR tape of her at that game. It is a classic since she had her Barney clothing on.
Ted Savage was a great man. He truly cared for others and worked hard at his job. A lot of underprivileged kids benefited from his efforts. The Cardinals benefited from having Ted Savage represent them.
That's cool.
Re: Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 12:04 pm
by swatski
Did he pass away?
Re: Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 12:08 pm
by OldRed
swatski wrote: ↑02 Dec 2025 12:04 pm
Did he pass away?
February 21, 1937 – January 12, 2023
I just ran across the tribute to him and wanted to pass it on.
Re: Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 16:13 pm
by MIDMOBIRDTWO
Met him once at a benefit card show for Lincoln University. He was funny and interesting to talk to.
Re: Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 19:41 pm
by butsir01
Voldemort wrote: ↑02 Dec 2025 10:14 am
Ted and I were friends. So important to him as one who worked for/with the Cardinals was the RBI Program. (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities.) Most people know about his golf tournament, and it was originally called the Cardinals Care Golf Tournament. This tournament was established around the time that I got to know him. (1990) I first met him in 1988. Ted was just getting started in his role in community relations. I think he started working in community relations in 1987. I communicated with Ted when I was chosen to coach baseball in the former Soviet Union. Ted would ask me to collect ball gloves, but he really wanted any good equipment so he could donate that equipment through the RBI Program. In contacting various high school coaches for equipment, we always seemed to be able to get some quality equipment for Ted. Every now and then, Ted would get a message to me that he would leave tickets for me. On one of those dates, and unknown to us, Ted had Channel 5 show up to film my daughter at the game. We have an old VCR tape of her at that game. It is a classic since she had her Barney clothing on.
Ted Savage was a great man. He truly cared for others and worked hard at his job. A lot of underprivileged kids benefited from his efforts. The Cardinals benefited from having Ted Savage represent them.
Thank you, very much, for posting this. Got to see Ted play a bit for the Cards in the sixties. Very few were as fit as he was.
Re: Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 19:52 pm
by cbcloud
...Great post... I love these cameos of former Cardinal players, some that bring back memories, and some that educate me about players I've never heard of. Keep 'em coming...
Re: Ted Savage
Posted: 02 Dec 2025 22:31 pm
by Cusecards
butsir01 wrote: ↑02 Dec 2025 19:41 pm
Voldemort wrote: ↑02 Dec 2025 10:14 am
Ted and I were friends. So important to him as one who worked for/with the Cardinals was the RBI Program. (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities.) Most people know about his golf tournament, and it was originally called the Cardinals Care Golf Tournament. This tournament was established around the time that I got to know him. (1990) I first met him in 1988. Ted was just getting started in his role in community relations. I think he started working in community relations in 1987. I communicated with Ted when I was chosen to coach baseball in the former Soviet Union. Ted would ask me to collect ball gloves, but he really wanted any good equipment so he could donate that equipment through the RBI Program. In contacting various high school coaches for equipment, we always seemed to be able to get some quality equipment for Ted. Every now and then, Ted would get a message to me that he would leave tickets for me. On one of those dates, and unknown to us, Ted had Channel 5 show up to film my daughter at the game. We have an old VCR tape of her at that game. It is a classic since she had her Barney clothing on.
Ted Savage was a great man. He truly cared for others and worked hard at his job. A lot of underprivileged kids benefited from his efforts. The Cardinals benefited from having Ted Savage represent them.
Thank you, very much, for posting this. Got to see Ted play a bit for the Cards in the sixties. Very few were as fit as he was.
+1
Thanks very much for the post/info.
The Ted Savages of the world should get more attention.
Instead of some of the selfish imbeciles in the world.