Ted Simmons is considered one of the greatest offensive catchers of all time, known for his powerful bat and durability behind the plate. As a result, Simmons has been featured on numerous baseball cards over the years documenting his impressive 21-year MLB career from 1968-1988. Some of his most notable baseball cards include:
1971 Topps (#288) – Simmons’ first major baseball card features him as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. In the photo, he is wearing the classic powder blue Cardinals uniform from the early 1970s with the bird logo across the chest. This card captures Simmons early in his career as a young 24-year old catching prospect for the Cardinals. While he had only played in 16 games in 1971 at the time of the photo shoot, this rookie card marked Simmons’ debut on the baseball card market.
1974 Topps (#244) – By 1974, Simmons had become the Cardinals’ full-time catcher, batting .307 with 16 home runs and 82 RBI in his first full season as a starter. This card captures Simmons in the prime of his Cardinals career, showcasing his batting stance from a three-quarter side angle view. The photo shows Simmons’ muscular build and strength that served him so well as a power hitting catcher. It remains one of the more popular Simmons cards from his St. Louis days due to capturing him at the height of his abilities with the Cardinals.
1977 Topps (#159) – After being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976, Simmons’ 1977 Topps card was the first to feature him in a Brewers uniform. The card photo pictures Simmons from a high angle as he crouches behind the plate wearing the classic 1977 Brewers uniform. This marked Simmons’ first season in Milwaukee where he would become a franchise icon, batting .293 with career-highs of 35 home runs and 105 RBI in 1977 to earn his only All-Star selection. Due to capturing Simmons in a new uniform at the peak of his Brewers career, this card remains among the most iconic from his playing days.
1982 Fleer (#244) – By 1982, Simmons was 35 years old but still producing at a high level for the Brewers. This Fleer card captured Simmons in the twilight of his career but shows he still looked the part of a professional catcher. With his catcher’s mask on and crouched down ready to receive the pitch, the card highlights Simmons’ trademark defensive skills that kept him in the lineup so late in his career. While not one of his most prominent rookie cards, Simmons’ 1982 Fleer provides a glimpse of his impressive longevity and durability at an older age that few catchers could match.
1985 Donruss (#316) – Simmons’ final season was 1988 split between the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers, but his 1985 Donruss card showcases him in his second stint with the Brewers earlier in the decade. At this point in his career nearing 40 years old, Simmons had lost some mobility but could still produce at the plate as evidenced by his .300 batting average with Milwaukee in 1984. This card captured one of Simmons’ later playing years but highlights how he remained an effective batsman even deep into his 30s, a true testament to his hitting abilities.
Overall, Ted Simmons established himself as one of the most unique offensive catchers in baseball history by combining rare power and consistency at the plate with a durable defensive career that spanned over two decades. His collection of baseball cards embody Simmons’ evolution from a young catcher prospect to grizzled veteran, while also capturing pivotal moments throughout his 21 seasons patrolling baseball’s toughest position in the National League. For casual fans or serious collectors alike, Ted Simmons’ baseball cards serve as a baseball card historian’s delight in chronicling the illustrious career of one of the game’s greatest offensive catchers.
