George Theodore

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George Theodore
Outfielder
Born: (1947-11-13) November 13, 1947
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 14, 1973, for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1974, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average.219
Hits42
Home runs2
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

George Basil Theodore (born November 13, 1947) is an American former Major League Baseball player. Nicknamed "the Stork", the 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), 190 lb (86 kg) Theodore played outfield for the New York Mets in 1973 and 1974. He is probably best remembered for a brutal collision in left-center field with Don Hahn[1]

His offbeat personality and idiosyncratic interviews made Theodore a fan favorite with Mets fans.[2] For example, he once remarked, "I've been trying transcendental meditation, and that helps me be passive and wait on the curve. I've got to find something else to hit the slider."[3]

Early years

Theodore during his college days, circa 1968

The Salt Lake City native played basketball as well as baseball at Skyline High School.[4] He was drafted by the Mets in the 31st round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft[5] out of the University of Utah.[6]

Minor league teammate Jim Gosger, who came over to the Mets as the player to be named later in the deal that sent Greg Goossen to the Seattle Pilots, is credited with dubbing Theodore "The Stork", though Theodore disputes the longtime story that Gosger came up with the nickname when seeing him holding a teammate’s baby.[7]

He batted .306 with 52 home runs & 285 Runs batted in over four seasons in the Mets' farm system, including earning California League "Player of the Year" honors for the Visalia Mets in 1971 (.333/.417/.584 with 28 HR & 113 RBIs).[8]

New York Mets

Theodore earned a bench job with the 1973 Mets.[9] He made his major league debut as a late inning defensive replacement for Willie Mays on April 14. In his only at bat, Philadelphia Phillies ace Steve Carlton struck him out.[10] His first hit was a double off the Chicago Cubs' Burt Hooton on April 19.[11]

His first major league home run was a three run shot off the Montreal Expos' Balor Moore on the 4th of July.[12] Three days later, Theodore suffered a season ending injury, colliding with center fielder Don Hahn on a fly ball off the bat of the Atlanta Braves' Ralph Garr. As a result of the collision, Garr scored an inside-the-park home run.[13] Theodore dislocated his left hip and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.[14]

He returned for one game in September,[15] and went 0 for 2 in two games of the World Series against the Oakland Athletics.[16]

Theodore has a rough 1974 season (.158/.247/.211). His one home run and RBI was the first of back-to-back-to-back shots with Rusty Staub and Cleon Jones off the San Diego Padres' Lowell Palmer.[17] Theodore spent one final season in the minors for the Mets before retiring.

Private life

Theodore met his wife, Sabrina, during the 1974 season. They met after he called her to thank her for the portrait of Theodore she drew and sent him. Sabrina teaches art at Uintah Elementary and Oakridge Elementary in Salt Lake City.[18]

After his baseball career, Theodore returned to the University of Utah and earned a Master of Social Work degree in 1978.[19] He went on to work for 38 years as a social worker for Granite School District, mostly at Lincoln Elementary in South Salt Lake. In 2016, South Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce named him Educator of the Year.[20]

On September 28, 2008, Theodore returned to Shea Stadium for the stadium's closing ceremony. Theodore was interviewed during a game by the TV broadcasters on April 16, 2023, when the Mets played the A's in Oakland for a 1973 World Series reunion segment.

References

  1. Ladson, Bill (February 10, 2023). "'The Stork' Left Indelible Impact on 1973 Mets". MLB.com.
  2. Kernan, Kevin (July 10, 2010). "Amazin' 'Stork' Continues to Provide Hope". New York Post.
  3. Zervos, Diamantis (1998). "Baseball's Golden Greeks: The First Forty Years, 1934-1974". Aegean Books International. p. 247-248.
  4. Sorensen, Mike (May 17, 1979). "Where Are They Now? George Theodore". Deseret News. p. 2E.
  5. Martin, Buddy (March 6, 1974). "Scorpio Ascending, Stork's Moving Up". St. Petersburg Times. p. C1.
  6. Sheya, Norm (April 11, 1968). "Sun Kissed Yutes Ready". Deseret News. p. 4C.
  7. "A Stork Hopes for Delivery of Pension Redress". Throneberry Fields Forever. September 15, 2023.
  8. Checketts, Brent (July 24, 1973). "Theodore's Beating Long Shot Odds". Deseret News. p. B9.
  9. "Mets Need Help for Willie in Centerfield". Portsmouth Daily Times. March 15, 1973.
  10. "Philadelphia Phillies 7, New York Mets 3". Baseball-Reference.com. Veterans Stadium. April 14, 1973.
  11. "Chicago Cubs 7, New York Mets 0". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. April 19, 1973.
  12. "Montreal Expos 7, New York Mets 5". Baseball-Reference.com. Jarry Park Stadium. July 4, 1973.
  13. "Atlanta Braves 9, New York Mets 8". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. July 7, 1973.
  14. "Boston Red Sox Resurge Dave Stockton Leads Open". The Robesonian. July 8, 1973. p. 1B.
  15. "New York Mets 4, Pittsburgh Pirates 3". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium. September 20, 1973.
  16. "1973 World Series: Oakland Athletics over New York Mets (4-3)". Baseball-Reference.com. Shea Stadium & Oakland Coliseum. October 13–21, 1973.
  17. "New York Mets 10, San Diego Padres 2". Baseball-Reference.com. San Diego Stadium. July 20, 1974.
  18. Nozawa, Jennifer (November 2, 2015). "Finding Fans on the Field in the Classroom". University of Utah College of Social Work.
  19. Nozawa, Jennifer (Fall 2016). "The Stork". Continuum. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  20. Benson, Lee (April 17, 2016). "About Utah: A champion On & Off the Field". Deseret News.