Ted Simmons
Ted Simmons was not only lucky to be selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the tenth overall pick during the 1967 amateur player draft, but he had earned it. While it took him some time to catch up with the pace of the MLB, he has the time of his career between 1971 and 1980, during which he was one of the best catchers in the league.
Simmons also played for the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atalanta Braves and led all catchers in career hits and doubles upon retirement. He didn’t leave empty-handed, though, with eight All-Star selections and a Silver Slugger Award.
