Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2022

Theodore Joseph Ted Lefty Odenwald was born on Saturday, January 4, 1902, in Hudson, Wisconsin.

For a few weeks in 1921 and 1922, Ted Odenwald stood at the top of the baseball world, according to David M. Newman in the Republican Eagle on March 27, 2011.

Odenwald pitched in the major leagues with the Cleveland Indians in 1921 and 1922. He even got to be part of the customary trip to the White House with the Indians, who were World Series champions in the 1920 season.

Odenwald’s story starts in Hudson. It was during his junior season in high school in 1917 that Odenwald began pitching. He quickly became a sensation. Nicknamed “Dud” or “Duddy” in Hudson, he had games where he struck out 19 and 22 batters. After he reached the pros, he forever became known as “Lefty.”

According to David Newman, “The baby-faced 18-year-old had long before agreed to a contract to pitch for the Cleveland Indians in the major leagues. He had pitched so well in high school ball and city league ball that the Indians signed him to a contract as a 17-year-old.”

The Indians wanted to get a good look at their investment. So, on June 7, they sent Odenwald to the mound in an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League. The rookie, who at 5-feet, 7.5-inches was the shortest player on every roster he played on, looked like a boy against men, said Newman. But his left arm spoke volumes. He threw a complete game victory, beating Pittsburgh on eight hits, 5-3.

Reassured that they made a solid investment, the Cleveland management assigned Odenwald’s contract to Des Moines in the Western League, according to Newman. He went 4-5 in 13 games at Des Moines, getting the start in 11 of those games.

In 1921, the Indians gave Odenwald the chance to make the roster in spring training. He ran with the chance. He pitched solidly in spring training, earning a place in the Cleveland bullpen.

That was quite an accomplishment. He was joining the defending World Champion Cleveland Indians. Though he only pitched in ten games with the tribe in 1921, his 1.56 earned run average was the best on a potent pitching staff.

“Odenwald made his major league debut on April 13, 1921, pitching one inning of relief in the 1921 season opener in St. Louis. He was thrown back into the fray the next day, and he was solid gold. Pitching four innings of relief, he allowed three hits and three walks, while striking out one. This gave the Indians time to come back, beating the Browns 12-9. This would be Odenwald’s only pitching win in the major leagues. Odenwald didn’t pitch again for 10 days. He began facing the difficulties of a rookie on a veteran pitching staff. The Indians’ pitching staff ranked among the best in baseball.”

On April 26 Odenwald got to be part of the ceremony where the Indians raised their 1920 World Championship pennant, the first Cleveland title in 45 years. Odenwald also was one of six Cleveland pitchers to work that day, in a 9-8 win over Detroit.

Odenwald was short and roundish and his weight was a constant battle. When he arrived for the 1922 season, reports had him overweight and out of shape. The Indians brought him north, and they gave him one game to show his worth. He was bombed in that outing. He gave up six hits and two walks in one and one-third innings. It was his only chance, leaving him with a 40.50 earned run average for the season. That one game caused his career ERA to balloon from 1.56 to 4.34. In his 11 games in the majors, Odenwald didn’t allow any homers, according to Newman.

He was sent back to Des Moines for the 1922 season, where his arm was still recovering from an injury the previous season, said Newman. His struggles in 1922 led to his release and he was signed by the Minneapolis Millers. The Millers optioned Odenwald to Omaha and he split the 1923 season between Omaha and Denver. In 1924 Odenwald pitched in Albany, New York, in the Eastern League. He became a fixture in Albany. He would pitch there for four seasons, usually as the ace of the pitching staff on a bottom-tier team.

Theodore Joseph “Lefty” Odenwald married Lucille M. Hauer on November 11, 1925, at St Mark’s Catholic Church in Shakopee. Lucille was born on April 3, 1913, the second of nine children born to Peter and Clara Kopp Hauer. Theodore and Lucille had two children: Theodore Charles and Michael Francis.

The 1927 season was Odenwald’s final season in the pros.

Odenwald retired to Shakopee. He remained active in baseball. He was signed to play with a town team in Shakopee and he settled there. He pitched well into the mid-1930s for Shakopee. There he worked as a shipping clerk for the Reis Bottling Company, working at the Rock Spring Bottling Company. He was also active in civic affairs in Shakopee, serving for many years on the Shakopee City Council.

Theodore died at age 63 on September 23, 1965, and was buried at the Catholic Cemetery in Shakopee.

Lucille Hauer Odenwald died on April 19, 2002, at age 89. She was buried at the Catholic Cemetery in Shakopee, next to his husband, Theodore Joseph “Lefty” Odenwald.

Bibliography

Newman, David M. “Odenwald made it to the top of the baseball world.” Republican Eagle, 27 March 2011. www.republicaneagle.com/sports/odenwald-made-it-to-the-top-of-the-baseball-world/article_fb60b5dc-f499-5a3b-81ef-47ea55f2ef36.html.