Ted Wills – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ted Wills isn’t exactly a household name in baseball history, but his story is familiar to anyone who’s ever chased a dream on the diamond during baseball’s golden era. Born in Fresno, California in 1934, Wills managed to carve out a five-season career as a left-handed pitcher, competing at the highest level of professional baseball from 1959 to 1965.

Wills put together an 8-11 record with a 5.46 ERA in 84 games, suiting up for three different teams: the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox. Like a lot of pro athletes, he worked hard to hold onto his spot in the majors, bouncing between teams and spending time in the minors to keep his career alive.

Ted Wills’ journey gives us a glimpse into the life of a journeyman pitcher during baseball’s pre-expansion era. He went from college days at Fresno State University to his last game on June 12, 1965.

His career shows just how much dedication it takes to compete at the top, even when the odds and challenges of pro sports stack up.

Early Life and Education

Theodore Carl Wills Jr. was born February 9, 1934, in Fresno, California. He grew up in California’s Central Valley, and his athletic success at Fresno High School set him on the path to pro baseball.

Family Background

Wills came from a family that cared a lot about public service. His dad, Theodore Carl Wills Sr., started out as a mechanic at a local creamery and then got heavily involved in union work.

Eventually, his father moved into politics, serving on the Fresno City Council for over 30 years. He even spent eight years as mayor in the 1970s, and the city named a community center after him to honor his service.

Ted’s mother, Bertha Metzler Wills, helped provide a stable home that valued both hard work and community. This upbringing shaped how Ted approached his baseball career and later, his 40-year insurance career.

Growing Up in Fresno, California

Ted Wills had a pretty typical American childhood in the 1940s. He took swim lessons, acted in school plays, and got deep into the Boy Scouts.

Scouting was a big deal for him—he racked up awards for everything from knot tying to metal work. He also loved outdoor sports, and a newspaper clipping in his scrapbook mentions young Ted catching three lingcod while fishing at Santa Cruz.

Those interests in fishing and hunting stuck with him for life. Ted started playing baseball in a Scout-organized league. The structure of youth baseball helped him develop as a pitcher, and his natural lefty delivery made him stand out.

High School and College Baseball

At Fresno High, Wills led the team as their top starting pitcher. Like a lot of young lefties, he showed flashes of brilliance but also some wildness. One game he walked 12 batters, but in another, he threw a no-hitter.

He wasn’t just a baseball guy—he made all-state in both baseball and basketball as a senior. That kind of dual-sport success showed off his athleticism and competitive edge.

After high school, Wills went to Fresno State University and pitched for the Bulldogs. During summers, he played in an amateur league in Canada, going back for several years. With Saskatoon in the Western Canadian League, he once went 5-2 and led the league in hitting with a .336 average.

Wills graduated from Fresno State with a degree in merchandising. In 1955, while still in college, Red Sox scout Tom Downey signed him to a pro contract.

Professional Baseball Career Overview

Ted Wills pitched for five MLB seasons from 1959 to 1965, appearing in 83 games with three teams. He finished with an 8-11 record and a 5.51 ERA as a left-handed pitcher.

Major League Debut and Teams

Wills made his MLB debut on May 24, 1959, with the Boston Red Sox at age 25. He faced the Washington Senators in his first game, pitching three innings.

Boston became his main team, and he spent four seasons with the Red Sox from 1959 to 1962, appearing in 42 games. In 1962, Boston traded him to the Cincinnati Reds mid-season, where he pitched 26 games, mostly in relief.

His last MLB season came in 1965 with the Chicago White Sox. He pitched in 15 games and posted his best ERA that year—2.84.

The lefty from Fresno wore different uniform numbers: #28 in 1959, #25 from 1960-1962, #39 with the Reds, and #26 in his final year.

Pitching Roles and Style

Wills pitched as both a starter and reliever in the big leagues. He started 13 games and came out of the bullpen in 24 others over five seasons.

His busiest year as a starter was 1959 with Boston, making eight starts, completing two games, and pitching 56.1 innings. By 1960, he shifted mainly to relief, making no starts that year but appearing in 15 games out of the bullpen.

Left-handed pitching was his thing—he both batted and threw left-handed, standing 6’2″ and weighing 200 pounds.

Wills notched 5 career saves, with 3 coming in 1962 for Cincinnati. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was 1.37 in the majors.

Career Statistics and Highlights

Ted Wills finished with an 8-11 record in 83 games and a 5.51 ERA. He pitched 186.1 innings, struck out 133, and walked 97.

His best year came in 1965 with Chicago, going 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 15 games. That was the only season his ERA dipped below 5.00.

His roughest year was 1960 with Boston, when he posted a 7.42 ERA in 15 relief outings, giving up 38 hits in just 30.1 innings.

At the plate, Wills hit .250 in 44 at-bats with three doubles. His fielding percentage was .911, and he committed four errors.

Team Performance:

• Boston Red Sox: 6-9 record, 6.09 ERA (106.1 innings)
• Cincinnati Reds: 0-2 record, 5.31 ERA (61.0 innings)
• Chicago White Sox: 2-0 record, 2.84 ERA (19.0 innings)

His last MLB game was on June 12, 1965, against Washington, where he pitched two innings and allowed one earned run.

Seasons with the Boston Red Sox

Ted Wills spent most of his major league career with the Boston Red Sox from 1959 to 1962. His time there included his debut, a role shift between starting and relieving, and steady progress as a versatile pitcher.

Major League Debut in 1959

Wills debuted on May 24, 1959, against the Washington Senators. He came in as a reliever, pitching three innings and giving up three earned runs, but also striking out future Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.

Boston called him up from the Minneapolis Millers in May after he impressed in spring training. He quickly grabbed a spot in the starting rotation after his relief debut.

He earned his first major league win with a complete game against the Baltimore Orioles. That game showed he could handle starting duties early on.

His rookie season was tough, though. He went 2-6 in eight starts before heading back to Minneapolis in July. With a 5.27 ERA in nine appearances, he had the kind of struggles most rookie pitchers face.

Contributions as a Starter and Reliever

The Red Sox tried Wills in different roles during his time in Boston. After his early struggles as a starter in 1959, they mostly used him out of the bullpen.

In 1960, Wills came back to Boston in late June after going 7-2 for Minneapolis. He pitched only in relief, appearing in 15 games, finishing 1-1 but with a rough 7.42 ERA.

He made the Red Sox Opening Day roster in 1961, which was a big deal for him. That year, he played in 17 games, went 3-2, and posted a 5.95 ERA. The win-loss record improved, but the ERA still lagged.

The Red Sox liked his left-handed pitching and flexibility. He could pitch several innings in relief or make a spot start if needed.

Development Years and Milestones

Wills’ development with Boston meant frequent trips between the majors and Triple-A Minneapolis. The team wanted him to grow but also needed to juggle roster spots.

He switched jersey numbers during his Boston years—28 in 1959 and 25 from 1960 to 1962. Those changes matched his shifting role.

The 1962 season was his last with Boston. He made just one appearance before being sold to Cincinnati in May. That move ended his longest run with any major league team.

During his Boston years, Wills picked up valuable experience that helped him later. His time with the Red Sox really laid the groundwork for what he’d do with the Chicago White Sox in 1965.

Time with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox

Ted Wills wrapped up his major league career with short stints for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. He put up his best stats with Chicago, even though he didn’t get much playing time.

Transition to the Cincinnati Reds

After Boston, Wills joined the Cincinnati Reds. His time there was short, and he didn’t get many chances at the big league level.

He had a tough time finding steady work with Cincinnati. Like a lot of journeyman pitchers, he faced the challenge of fitting in with a new team and proving himself.

His stint with the Reds helped him sharpen his skills, setting him up for his most productive season later on.

Performance with the Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox picked up Wills before the 1965 season. This gave him one last shot in the majors, and it worked out well for both him and the team.

Wills had his best big league year with Chicago in 1965:

• Record: 2-0
• ERA: 2.84
• Games: 15
• Notable: 1 save

He really made the most of his opportunities, and the lower ERA stood out compared to his earlier seasons.

Despite pitching well, the White Sox sent him to the minors in June 1965. He finished the summer splitting time between the Jacksonville Suns and Portland Beavers, which closed the book on his major league career.

Notable Games and Achievements

Wills’ time with the Reds and White Sox wasn’t flashy, but he was steady. His ability to keep a solid ERA with Chicago was probably his biggest achievement in those years.

Getting a save with Chicago was a career highlight. Not every pitcher can switch between starting and relieving, so that meant something.

His last big league appearance was June 12, 1965, against Washington. At 31, he pitched two innings, gave up two hits and one earned run, and struck out one.

That 1965 season with Chicago was the high point of his pro baseball journey. A 2.84 ERA was his best ever, and it was a nice way to finish up his time in the majors.

Final MLB Season and Retirement in 1965

Ted Wills ended his five-season Major League Baseball career with the Chicago White Sox in 1965. He played his final game on June 12 against the Washington Senators.

At 31, Wills decided to retire from pro baseball after thinking about his future during spring training that year.

Highlights of the 1965 Season

The Chicago White Sox picked up Wills’ contract from the Cincinnati Reds organization before the 1965 season kicked off.

Wills had just spent the previous two years, 1963 and 1964, down in the minors with the San Diego Padres. He posted solid records—15-10 one year, 12-7 the next.

Wills didn’t stick around long in the majors that year, but he made it count. His last big league appearance happened on June 12, 1965, when he pitched two innings against the Washington Senators.

He allowed two hits, struck out one, walked nobody, and gave up a single earned run in that outing.

That 1965 season brought Wills back to the American League after his time with the National League’s Cincinnati Reds.

While with Chicago, he worked as a relief pitcher. He helped out with the team’s pitching staff early in the season.

Circumstances Leading to Retirement

When spring training rolled around in 1965, Wills was already 31 and really starting to think about his next steps.

He’d just spent two full seasons in Triple-A ball with San Diego, and the reality was setting in—major league chances were getting slim.

The Reds had sent him down to their San Diego Triple-A club after 1962. Even though he put up winning records both years, he just couldn’t find a clear path back to regular big league action.

The White Sox buying his contract gave him what turned out to be his last shot at pro baseball.

Stepping away probably wasn’t easy, but it made sense. Playing time was scarce, he wasn’t getting any younger, and holding down a major league roster spot was only getting tougher.

Immediate Post-Retirement Reflections

After leaving baseball, Wills jumped right into a new chapter as an insurance agent. That career ended up lasting 40 years, which is pretty impressive.

He never acted like he was a big star, but he did take pride in playing behind outfielders like Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and Frank Robinson. For him, those five seasons in the majors were just one part of his story, not the whole thing.

Even years later, Wills still got a handful of autograph requests every month for baseballs, cards, and all sorts of memorabilia. It honestly surprised him, considering he thought of his career as short and not particularly remarkable, ending way back in 1965.

Life After Baseball

Ted Wills moved on from pro baseball and built a solid 40-year career in the insurance world. He kept close ties to his California roots.

He settled down in Clovis, California, where he made a name for himself as a reliable insurance agent. Decades after retirement, baseball fans still remembered him.

Career in the Insurance Industry

Theodore Carl Wills found his new path in insurance after he left baseball in 1965.

He spent four decades working as an insurance agent. That move worked out really well for him.

Wills tackled his insurance job with the same work ethic he brought to the mound. He was just good with people, and that made a difference.

The skills he picked up as a ballplayer helped him build real relationships with his clients.

People liked him—he was cheerful and easy to talk to. That helped him earn trust and keep customers coming back year after year.

Wills showed that athletes could move into other careers and do just fine after sports.

Community Involvement and Residence

Wills made his home in Clovis, California, not far from Fresno in the center of the state.

He lived at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in a planned neighborhood. His house looked out over seasonal wetlands that the Department of Reclamation protected.

That spot fit him perfectly, honestly. He’d always loved hunting and fishing, and those hobbies became a big part of his life after baseball.

Wills picked up those interests as a kid growing up in Fresno.

His home gave him the perfect place for his outdoor passions. The wetlands nearby offered great opportunities for the things he enjoyed most.

He really seemed to appreciate the peaceful, outdoorsy lifestyle his California home offered.

Legacy and Impact on Baseball

Even though he never saw himself as a star player, Wills kept a lasting connection with baseball fans.

He still got several autograph requests every month, even when he was well into his 70s.

People sent him baseballs, cards, programs, and all sorts of memorabilia to sign.

Wills often said he was surprised by the continued interest in his pretty short major league career.

His five seasons in the majors ended back in 1965, but fans kept remembering him, even decades later.

Honestly, that recognition seemed to really please him.

He felt proud to have played behind legendary outfielders like Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and Frank Robinson.

Those connections to baseball greatness meant a lot to him, especially during his retirement years.