Ted Simmons life journey is more than a story of baseball skill. It is proof of the power of family, persistence, and lifelong commitment.
Born in 1949, Ted grew up in a supportive household where his parents and older brothers fueled his love for sports.
From childhood games to the bright lights of Major League Baseball, his family’s support never weakened.
Even in love, his roots ran deep. Ted met his wife, Maryanne, in seventh grade. Their bond has lasted for over fifty years.
Here’s everything that you need to know about him.
Ted Simmons Quick Facts
Wiki and Bio | |
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Full Name | Ted Lyle Simmons |
Nick Name | Simba |
Profession | Former Baseball Player, Coach, Executive |
Famous as | MLB Catcher, Hall of Famer |
Age | 75 years old |
Date of Birth | August 9, 1949 |
Birthplace/Hometown | Michigan, United States |
Nationality | American |
Sexuality | Straight |
Gender | Male |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Update soon |
Sun Sign (Zodiac Sign) | Leo |
Height (in feet) | 5’10” |
Height (in centimeters) | 178 cm |
Weight (in pounds) | 192 lbs |
Weight (in kilograms) | 87 kg |
Body Measurements (in inches) | 44-34-40 |
Body Measurements (in centimeters) | 112-86-102 |
Shoe Size in US | Approx. 10 US |
Tattoo Details | No known tattoos |
Eye Color | Brown |
Hair Color | Brown |
Parents | William Finis “Bill” Simmons, Bonnie Sue Simmons |
Siblings | Jim Simmons, Ned Simmons |
Relationship Status | Married |
Dating History | Maryanne Ellison Simmons |
Partner | Maryanne Ellison Simmons |
Children | Mary Ann Simmons, Matthew Simmons |
Highest Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree |
School | Southfield High School, Michigan |
Alma Mater | University of Michigan |
Hobbies & Favorites | Baseball, Music, Traveling |
Favorite Celebrities | Update soon |
Dream Holiday | Update soon |
Favorite Color | Update soon |
Interests | Sports, Coaching, Management |
Net Worth | $3 million as of 2025 |
Salary & Earnings | Update soon |
Update soon | |
Update soon |
Ted Simmons Wiki, Age, Parents
Michigan, United States marks the birth of former baseball player Ted Lyle Simmons on August 9, 1949.
Today, Ted Simmons is 75 years old.
Ted’s father, William Finis (also known as Bill), and his mother, Bonnie Sue Simmons gave birth to him.
Ted is the youngest of three children.
His older brothers are named Jim and Ned.
From a very young age, Simmons showed interest in sports, and his family encouraged him, especially his brothers.
The whole family always encouraged Ted to follow his career in sports.
High School and College
As a young boy, Simmons joined Southfield High School in his hometown, Michigan.
While at Southfield High School, Simmons played baseball and football and became a star.
His popularity and skill as a great baseball player attracted him lots of attention.
In 1967, Simmons graduated from high school.
After he graduated, the St. Louis Cardinals signed Simmons immediately, but he continued studying.
In late 1967, Simmons joined the University of Michigan.
However, because his career started rising, he did not graduate with the 1971 class.
Instead, Ted graduated from the University of Michigan in 1996.
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Ted Simmons Wife, Married Life
One of the most well-known catchers in MLB history, Ted Simmons enjoys a marriage that has lasted for over five decades.
In May 1970, at the age of 21, Ted Simmons married Maryanne Ellison Simmons.
Simmons met Maryanne when he was in 7th grade.
After years of dating, the high school sweethearts married.
From their marriage, Ted and Maryanne welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 1971.
They named her Mary Ann.
The Simmons couple also have another child, a son named Matthew Simmons.
Both Mary Ann Simmons and Matthew Simmons are married.
Professional Baseball Career
After Ted graduated from high school, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Simmons in their 10th overall amateur player draft list.
They awarded him a $50,000 signing bonus.
After playing for the Cedar Rapids Cardinals and Modesto Reds, Simmons made his major league debut at the age of 18.
After hitting an impressive .373 with a 1.025 OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging), Simmons earned a permanent spot in the major leagues.
In 1980, Simmons had a disagreement with new manager Whitney Herzog when he refused to move to first base.
After the disagreement, the Milwaukee Brewers traded Simmons.
Ted played with the Milwaukee Brewers until the end of the 1988 season.
In 1988, Simmons retired from playing at the age of 39.
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In 1992, Simmons joined baseball as the general manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
However, after he suffered a heart attack in 1993, he left the position.
Later, Simmons served as Director of Player Development for the Cardinals and San Diego Padres.
In 2008, Simmons served as bench coach for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bud Black.
Later, in 2010, the Seattle Mariners hired Simmons as senior advisor to the general manager.
Tim Simmons Stats
Nickname: Simba
Age: 75 years old.
Height: 5.10 feet.
Weight: 87 kg (In active years).
Number of years played: 21 Years.
Number of gamed played: 2,456 games played.
Number of hits: 2,472 hits in 8,680 bats.
Number of home runs: 248 home runs.
Major League Career: 2,472 hits, 483 doubles.
Number of Shutouts caught: 122 shutouts.
Ted Simmons Hall Of Fame
When it comes to the Hall of Fame, Simmons faces a tricky road.
In 1994, Hall of Fame voters elected Simmons.
However, officials dismissed his election at that time because his first ballot received less than 5% of the vote.
This led the Baseball Writers’ Association of America to deem Simmons ineligible for future elections.
In 2017, the Veterans Committee elected Simmons again, but he fell one vote short of induction.
In December 2019, Modern Baseball Hall of Fame voters gave Simmons 13 out of 16 votes and elected him for Cooperstown.
Organizers planned his induction event for July 26, 2020.
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Hall Of Fame Update
On Wednesday, September 8, 2021, Ted Simmons entered the Baseball Hall of Fame.
On that Wednesday in Cooperstown, New York, Simmons finally received his long-overdue induction.
The MLB legend delivered a heartfelt speech and acknowledged his fellow players.
Ted said, “I have spent lots of time in all of these baseball families. They have affirmed and included me. I have lived within many families and am about to step into baseball’s most elite family. I am incredibly humbled.”
Furthermore, Simmons thanked his wife Maryanne at the end of his speech and called her his equal.
He said, “Maryanne, my partner, my companion, my equal: She remains the same girl that listened with me, not so long ago, to the lyrics written by some pretty great people in the past. And those words: And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make. Peace and love, sweetheart. We finally got here.”
Every MLB fan rejoices over Simmons’ induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Ted Simmons Net Worth
Simmons played for 21 years as a major league player.
His role as a catcher and his habit of breaking records made him one of the most famous catchers in the world.
At the moment, Ted Simmons boasts a large net worth.
Reportedly, Ted Simmons has a net worth of $3 million as of 2025.
He built such a large net worth because he never stopped working.
Even after retiring from professional play, he served as a coach and general manager for big teams.
On my 16th. Birthday, I sent Ted Simmons a birthday card & he called to wish me a Happy Birthday back in 1973.
We would love to get a personal message of congratulations to Ted and MaryAnne on Ted’s admission to the Hall of Fame. We haven’t seen Ted or MaryAnne since my wife and MaryAnne were roommates and the 4 of us were friends at the University of Michigan in the late 1960’s. Is there away you can help us get this massage to the both of them?
Congratulations, Ted, on a terrific career and to you and MaryAnne on a long and wonderful marriage. You have us by a year
Doug and Ellie (Chattman) Callander.
Ted,
I played for Bloomfield Hills HS and graduated the same year as you. I had the pleasure of playing one baseball game against you and one football scrimmage. Both of these were in our senior year. You carried yourself like a professional even then. Also I had the “pleasure “ of tackling you and your knee gave me a concussion.
You exceeded my expectations!
Thanks for the memories
ted i hope you remember me JIMMYS ICE CREAM TRUCK
I WATCHED THE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION AND HAVE FOLLOWED YOU WHEN YOOU WERE
12 YEARS OLD PLAYING FOR THE GIANTS AND MR DANIELS
I USED TO GIVE YOU FREE ICE CREAM BECAUSE YOU NEVER HAD MONEY
[T WAS MY PLEASURE.
I SPONSERED A LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM SO I COULD SELL ICE CREAM MR MASTERS
YOU WERE THE BEST IN EVERYTHING
IM 84 NOW GOOD LUCK
I am a N.Y. Mets fan since 1967 but Ted is my favorite player. When in High School I went to Shea to see the Mets-Cardinals with two of my best friends
Mike DeStefano and Bobby Thornton. We had general admission seats but managed towards the end of the game to sneak down to field level 3 rows behind the Cards dugout. The Mets are ahead but the Cards load the bases and Ted comes up to the plate. The Mets bring in starting pitcher Jon Matlack to relieve. Mike and Bobby ask me what do you want to see happen? I say in the instance I hope Matlack gets him out then Ted hits a grand slam beating the Mets. Mike doesn’t talk to me for the rest of the day and Bobby for the next week. Now move forward to Monday June 11th 1979 I am out in LA on vacation b/c I promised my youngest cousin Audrey I would go to her HS graduation when we were little kids. I spent 10 days with my family in LA and my cousin Steve who worked fo KABC managed to get 2 tickets to that nights game Dodgers-Cards. Ted hits a 2 run homer in the game but the Cards are loosing in the 9th. Ted comes up with the bags bulging. I am at the game with my younger cousin Kurt who’s 18 I’m 20 I say to Kurt “he’s going to hit a home run”! Kurt says “come on Johnny he already hit one he’s not gonna hit another”! I replied “Kurt trust me he’s gonna hit a grand slam”! Next thing Ted kissed one out over the fence! I got up out of my seat clapping and cheering then while still in his seat Kurt grabs my shoulder shoves me dow in the seat and says “Johnny sit down were at Dodger Stadium you wanna get out of here alive?” I was so happy to see Simba make it into the HOF – my best to Ted his family and the rest of All you fans of Ted out there!
Ted,
My dad, Wiley Tooley was a boyhood friend of George Kissell. They lived next door to each other in St Petersburg, Fl. George asked my dad if he could help out in spring training at Al Lang field. This was in the early 70’s I believe, I was a college student at the time. My dad mostly helped out with the pitching machines.
Just wanted to let you know how much my dad thought of you. When I came to spring training practice he pointed you out, saying “there’s a future hall of famer.”
I remember watching coaches one day throwing you balls in the dirt and out of the strike zone for about an hour.
My dad had quite the first day running the pitching machines…a relief pitcher Scipio Spinks put 2 balls at once into the pitching machine when Lou Brock was batting. The balls sprayed in different directions, Lou charged him, they had to be separated!
I’m retired now, living in Saratoga, NY and Clearwater, Fl
I’ll always have fond memories of Al Lang field with my dad and George.
Best of luck to you and your family.
Kirk Tooley
I played against Ted in the federation league in Detroit 1965-67.
I pitched for Ludington News and helped promote Ted to the big league with a few home run pitches. Very lucky to play against a hall of famer.