Ken Tatum – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ken Tatum’s time in Major League Baseball was short, but you can’t deny it left a mark. This right-handed relief pitcher from Alexandria, Louisiana, played six seasons between 1969 and 1974, suiting up for the California Angels, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago White Sox.

Tatum exploded onto the scene in 1969, putting together a stellar rookie campaign that landed him fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. He put up a sparkling 1.36 ERA and notched 22 saves for the Angels. Early on, he looked like one of baseball’s most promising young relievers. But then a beaning incident in 1970 changed everything and eventually pushed him toward early retirement.

Let’s take a look at Tatum’s journey, starting with his college days at Mississippi State and following his rise and sudden fall in the majors. His story really shows how fast things can change in pro baseball, from being a rookie sensation to experiencing a career-altering moment and retiring at just 30.

Ken Tatum’s Early Life and Education

Kenneth Ray Tatum was born on April 25, 1944, in Alexandria, Louisiana, while his father served in the Army. After losing his mom at age two, his grandparents in Birmingham, Alabama, raised him until he reunited with his dad and attended Mississippi State University on a baseball scholarship.

Family Background and Childhood in Alexandria, Louisiana

Ken Tatum entered the world on April 25, 1944, in Alexandria, Louisiana. His father, Ray Tatum, was stationed there with the Army at the time.

“I guess that’s where my dad was stationed,” Ken Tatum said in a 2018 interview. Tragedy hit early—Ken’s mother died when he was just two.

Ray Tatum had a unique way of courting Ken’s mother, who lived in Hickory, Mississippi. He’d toss letters off the train as it passed right behind her house.

After his mom passed away, Ken’s grandparents in Birmingham, Alabama, stepped in to raise him. “I called my dad ‘Ray’ and my grandparents ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad,'” Tatum remembered. Five or six uncles and aunts pitched in to help care for him during those early years.

Life changed again when Ken reached third grade. His dad remarried, and the family moved to Midfield, about 15-20 miles southwest of Birmingham. Ray Tatum worked as an accountant for a trucking firm, and Ken got two half-brothers from the new marriage.

College Baseball at Mississippi State University

Ken Tatum took a baseball scholarship to Mississippi State University after he graduated from Jones Valley High School in Birmingham. At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, he became a force on the mound for the Bulldogs.

He played both baseball and basketball in high school, and he stayed busy with Little League, Pony League, Colt League, and American Legion baseball. At Mississippi State, Tatum racked up a 28-9 record as a varsity pitcher.

He earned All-Southeastern Conference honors in both 1965 and 1966. His senior year stood out; he led the conference in ERA and went 10-2 in 1966.

The Bulldogs won the SEC title both years Tatum made All-Conference. He played a big part in the playoffs, beating Auburn twice in 1965 and Tennessee State twice in 1966.

After the 1965 championship, his teammates carried him off the field. Tatum said beating Auburn and Alabama twice each in conference play was his most satisfying college experience.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education, laying the groundwork for his plans after baseball.

MLB Drafts and Signing with the California Angels

Ken Tatum’s college performance caught the eye of several MLB teams. The Milwaukee Braves picked him in the 21st round of the June 1965 draft, with scout Dixie Walker making the call. Tatum decided to stay in school for his senior year.

The Detroit Tigers tried next, selecting him in the sixth round of the January 1966 secondary draft. Tatum still didn’t sign, choosing to finish college. That patience paid off when the California Angels took him in the second round of the June 1966 secondary draft.

Scout Roy Lee “Red” Smith handled the Angels’ side of things. “I didn’t know him personally… He just contacted me and we met,” Tatum recalled. This time, the timing worked, and Tatum signed with the Angels on June 28, 1966.

The Angels quickly sent him off to Davenport, Iowa, to join the Quad City Angels in the Single-A Midwest League. In nine games, covering 30 innings, he put up a 1-2 record with a 3.30 ERA—his professional career was underway.

Major League Debut and California Angels Career

Ken Tatum made his MLB debut on May 28, 1969, with the California Angels. They’d shifted him from starter to relief pitcher, and that move paid off. His rookie season was electric—a 1.36 ERA and 22 saves made him one of the league’s best relievers.

Transition from Minor Leagues to Relief Pitcher

Tatum started the 1969 season with the Hawaii Islanders, posting a 3-0 record in Triple-A. The Angels called him up in May after manager Bill Rigney was replaced by Lefty Phillips following the team’s rough 11-28 start.

The Angels decided to convert Tatum from a starter to a reliever. Over his six MLB seasons, he started only two games out of 176 appearances.

This new role suited him. He made his first big league appearance on May 28, 1969, against the Cleveland Indians. Tatum came in for the seventh inning and struck out the first two batters he saw.

He got a fly ball to left to finish off a scoreless inning. In his first three games, he faced five batters and retired every one of them.

That hot start showed he could be a reliable bullpen option for the struggling Angels.

Rookie Season Highlights and Accolades

Tatum’s 1969 rookie year put him on the map as one of the league’s top relievers. He finished with a 7-2 record, 22 saves, and a fantastic 1.36 ERA in 45 games.

His save total ranked second in the league that year. Tatum’s ERA led all American League relievers in 1969.

He inherited 47 baserunners and only allowed 11 to score, showing he thrived under pressure.

He put together two impressive scoreless streaks—24 consecutive innings from June 10 to July 12, and another 17-inning run from August 8 to September 1.

Tatum ended up fourth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. His 4.8 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) actually beat out winner Lou Piniella’s 2.1 WAR. At that point, no reliever had ever won the award.

Baseball Reference notes Tatum even contributed at the plate, hitting .286 with two solo home runs in 24 plate appearances. Angels manager Lefty Phillips called him “the best relief pitcher in baseball.”

Memorable Games and Key Performances

Tatum picked up his first major league win on May 31, 1969, after facing just three batters. He didn’t give up a run until his fifth appearance, on June 8.

He kept his next earned run off the board until July 13, his 19th appearance. One of his standout games came on July 27 against the Yankees, when he threw 6⅓ innings of relief and allowed only two runs in a 5-4 Angels victory.

That outing bumped his record to 3-0 for the year. By the end of July 1969, Tatum sat at 3-0 with seven saves and a 0.95 ERA.

His steady work helped the Angels climb from last place up to third in the standings. The 1970 season got off to a strong start too, with a 1.00 ERA through his first 20 games.

But things changed on May 31, when he hit Baltimore’s Paul Blair in the face with a pitch. Blair suffered multiple fractures to his nose and eye socket.

After that, Tatum seemed less willing to pitch inside. His ERA climbed from 1.00 at the end of May to 2.94 by the end of the season, but he still finished with a solid 7-4 record and 17 saves.

Boston Red Sox Tenure

Ken Tatum landed with the Boston Red Sox in October 1970, part of a six-player deal that sent Tony Conigliaro to the Angels. Tatum became a key bullpen arm for Boston, mostly as a relief pitcher to back up the team’s closer, Sparky Lyle.

Trade from Angels to Red Sox

The California Angels traded Ken Tatum to the Boston Red Sox on October 11, 1970, just ten days after the season wrapped up. It was a big six-player trade—Tatum, Jarvis Tatum, and Doug Griffin went to Boston.

In return, the Angels got Ray Jarvis, Jerry Moses, and slugger Tony Conigliaro. Conigliaro had also suffered a serious beaning injury in 1967, making the swap especially interesting.

Red Sox GM Dick O’Connell explained their thinking: “We had to get bullpen help,” he said. They wanted Tatum to pair with lefty reliever Sparky Lyle in the bullpen.

The Angels might have seen some warning signs in Tatum’s performance. His ERA had jumped from 1.00 at the end of May 1970 to 2.94 by the end of the year, partly because of the psychological toll after injuring Baltimore’s Paul Blair.

Role as a Relief Pitcher in Boston

Tatum kept working as a relief pitcher with the Red Sox, sticking to his bullpen role. He came into games mostly as a closer or setup man, working alongside Sparky Lyle.

He worked exclusively out of the bullpen in Boston. According to Baseball Reference, only two of his 176 career games were starts, and both happened before he joined the Red Sox.

During his Boston stint, Tatum still dealt with the mental fallout from the Blair beaning. In early 1974, he admitted the incident affected his pitching for a while, though he felt he’d moved past it.

Key Role Details:

• Relief pitcher
• Worked with Sparky Lyle in bullpen
• Focused on late-inning situations
• Right-handed complement to Lyle

Tatum also kept up with his education while playing in Boston. He attended Northeastern University and earned a Master’s degree in secondary school administration.

Notable Performances and Stats

Tatum’s numbers with the Red Sox showed the lingering effects of his struggles after the Blair incident. His ERA and strikeout totals reflected a drop-off from his rookie year.

He tallied 156 strikeouts over his six-year career, including his Boston years. The season-by-season breakdown shows his strikeout rate dropping from his early Angels days.

Boston put Tatum on the disabled list on June 9, 1972, and he stayed there until July 19. That injury limited his playing time and effectiveness.

The Red Sox traded him, along with Reggie Smith, to the St. Louis Cardinals on October 26, 1973. In exchange, Boston got Rick Wise and Bernie Carbo.

Boston Red Sox Career Summary:

• Years: 1971-1973
• Relief pitcher
• Disabled list: June 9 – July 19, 1972
• Final trade: October 26, 1973, to Cardinals

Chicago White Sox and Final MLB Season

Ken Tatum’s last shot in the majors came with the Chicago White Sox in 1974. The team picked him up from the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade, giving him one more chance to pitch in the big leagues.

Joining the Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox picked up Ken Tatum on April 27, 1974, trading with the St. Louis Cardinals. The White Sox gave up Luis Alvarado to get Tatum.

Tatum never pitched for the Cardinals before that deal. He’d hurt a muscle in his right forearm during spring training, which landed him on the disabled list with St. Louis.

Even with the injury, the White Sox saw something in the veteran reliever. At 30, Tatum brought six years of MLB experience to the Chicago bullpen. He’d already struck out 156 batters across three different teams.

Contributions and Last MLB Appearances

Tatum’s stint with the White Sox actually closed out his professional baseball career. The 1974 season turned out to be his last in the majors, after he’d started with the California Angels back in 1969.

He played in the big leagues for six seasons, from 1969 to 1974. Out of 176 games, he came out of the bullpen all but twice. His best performances really came early on, especially as a rookie with the Angels.

Tatum racked up 156 strikeouts during his time in the majors. His ERA and stats with the White Sox capped off a career that started with a lot of promise but was derailed by injuries and other setbacks.

He hung up his cleats for good after the 1974 season in Chicago.

Career Highlights, Statistics, and Analysis

Ken Tatum put up some impressive numbers during his six seasons in MLB. His rookie year in 1969 stands out, and he made a name for himself as a relief pitcher. That said, a beaning incident in 1970 really changed his pitching approach.

Overall MLB Career Statistics

Tatum finished his career with a record of 16 wins and 12 losses and 52 saves in 176 games from 1969 to 1974. He posted a solid 2.93 ERA and struck out 156 batters over 282 innings.

His first year in 1969 was something else. He went 7-2 with a ridiculous 1.36 ERA and 22 saves for the Angels. That performance put him in the running for AL Rookie of the Year, and he finished fourth—even though his WAR (4.8) was higher than Lou Piniella’s (2.1), who actually won it.

Tatum’s 22 saves in 1969 put him second in the American League. He also put together two scoreless streaks—one for 24 innings, another for 17—during that rookie year.

Pitching Style and Strengths

Tatum pitched right-handed out of the bullpen, and he wasn’t afraid to challenge hitters. Angels pitching coach Marv Grissom once said Tatum had “amazing coolness,” which really mattered for a reliever.

He had a knack for stranding inherited runners. In 1969, just 11 of the 47 runners he inherited managed to score. That made him a huge asset in tough spots.

Tatum switched from starting to relieving after he made the majors. Out of 176 MLB games, he only started twice. Manager Lefty Phillips even called him “the best relief pitcher in baseball” after that first season.

He found success by pitching inside and going right at hitters. That fearless style paid off, especially in 1969 when he pretty much owned American League batters.

Impact of the Paul Blair Incident

On May 31, 1970, Tatum hit Baltimore’s Paul Blair in the face with a pitch, causing several fractures to Blair’s nose and eye socket. That moment really changed how Tatum pitched and probably altered his career path.

Blair ended up needing surgery and missed three weeks. Tatum visited him in the hospital and told him the beaning was an accident. Still, the shock of hurting another player seemed to shake Tatum’s confidence about throwing inside.

After that, his numbers took a hit. His ERA jumped from 1.00 at the end of May to 2.94 by the end of the season. Not terrible, but definitely not the same as before.

In 1974, Tatum said the Blair incident haunted him “for a while,” though he felt he’d moved past it. But looking at his stats, he never really got back to that rookie-year dominance, finishing with a 3.52 ERA over his last four seasons.

Retirement and Legacy

Ken Tatum’s MLB career wrapped up in 1974 after six years as a reliever, closing the book on a journey that started with a bang in 1969. His life after baseball and his impact on the game reflect both the intensity of his short career and his lasting ties to the sport.

Decision to Retire in 1974

Kenneth Ray Tatum played his last MLB game on July 1, 1974, ending a career that stretched from 1969 to 1974. He retired after getting into just one game in 1973, which kind of showed he was running out of steam in the big leagues.

Tatum’s career peaked early. In 1969, he put up a 1.36 ERA with 22 saves in 45 games for the Angels. That effort got him fourth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.

The incident in 1970—when he hit Paul Blair and broke Blair’s nose—definitely marked his career. That happened during what was shaping up to be another strong season.

By 1974, Tatum had a career record of 16-12 in 176 games. He struck out 156 batters over six seasons, playing for the Angels, Red Sox, and White Sox.

Post-Baseball Life and Contributions

After leaving pro baseball, Ken Tatum stayed connected to the sport in different ways. He’s done interviews and podcasts, sharing stories from his days on the mound and what the game was like in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

Tatum studied at Mississippi State University before signing with the Angels, so he had a solid foundation outside of baseball. He showed that balancing sports and school actually matters.

He grew up in Alexandria, Louisiana, and has helped keep baseball history alive by talking openly about his playing days. His interviews give fans and historians a real look at what relief pitching was like when the role was still changing in MLB.

By sharing his experiences in baseball media, Tatum helps preserve the stories of players from his era. His insights offer a glimpse into the daily grind for pro ballplayers in the early 1970s.

Legacy Within Baseball

Ken Tatum left his mark on baseball with an outstanding rookie season and a real influence on how teams used relief pitchers.

In 1969, he posted a 1.36 ERA and picked up 22 saves, which made him one of the top relievers that year.

His career was short but packed with impact. Honestly, it shows just how fast things can shift in pro sports.

Tatum looked like a Rookie of the Year contender, then retired just five years later. That’s the MLB for you—brutal and unpredictable.

The Paul Blair beaning incident stands out as a memorable moment from the 1970 season. It really drove home the dangers of the sport and just how much these moments can mess with a player’s head.

Tatum’s stats might seem modest now, but back then, relief pitchers had a different job. He appeared in 176 games, which says a lot about how much teams valued bullpen specialists in the late ’60s and early ’70s.