Ted Cox had a pretty inauspicious five-season career in baseball. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1973 and spent five years making his way through the team’s farm system. He made his Major League debut at the end of the 1977 season. In Ted’s first game, he went 4-for-4. After the game, reporters told Ted he had tied the American League record for most hits in a first game. This feat was only achieved by three other players — Casey Stengel, Willie McCovey and Mack Jones. He got two more hits in his first two at-bats in his second game, cementing his place in the record books as the only player to begin his career 6-for-6. When he approached the plate for his next at-bat, the crowd cheered and he noticed his batting average on the scoreboard as “1.000.” Ted looked at Yankee catcher Thurman Munson, and asked what he should do. Munson scowled at the rookie and replied, “I dunno, but enjoy it because you don’t get many of these moments. I guess if you tip your hat it would shut these people up.”
Ted Cox also holds another record among Major League baseball players. This one, however, isn’t nearly as impressive. Ted Cox is the only player in Major League Baseball history whose first name and last name rhyme with the team he played for. (Ted Cox/Red Sox.)
Ted passed away on March 11, 2020 at the age of 65.