Former Met of the Day: Tim Teufel ( 1986- 1991)

Tim Teufel was born in Greenwich, Connecticut on July 7, 1958. He went to Clemson University & was drafted in 1980 with Minnesota. He was called up in September 1983 and hit well during the month, including a 5 for 5 day with two HRs. He was an official rookie in 1984 and the Twins regular second baseman. He had career highs with 14 HRs, 30 doubles, 61 RBIs in 157 games played batting .262. He had similar numbers in 1985, with a less power.

On January 16, 1986, Teufel was traded to the Mets for Billy Beane, Bill Latham and Joe Klink, (Col. Klinks son from Hogan’s Heroes?) Teufel shared time with Wally Backman at second base, mainly against left-handed pitchers. In his 1st Mets game he scored the go ahead run in a 14 inning game, although they lost it later on. On June 10th he hit a walk off grand slam HR against the Phillies at Shea in extra innings. In July he was involved in the now famous bar fight with Ron Darling, Bobby O & Rick Aguilera at a Houston night club, with off duty cops and got a $200 fine. He brought his average up 20 point in the summer to finish off at .247 with 4 HRs 31 RBIs & an impressive 20 doubles.

Post Season: Teufel played in two games of the 1986 NLCS getting only one hit in 6 at bats. That hit was in Game #6, the 16 inning marathon at Houston, he was removed for Backman in the extra innings. He played in three games of the World Series, getting the starts in Games 1, 5 & 7. The Mets lost Game 1, 1-0, when a ball went under his glove allowing the lone run to score, ruining Ron Darlings shut out. He hit a home run in the Game 5 loss at Fenway Park and hit .444 overall, 4 for 9, with a double & a walk.

In 1987 he matched his career highs in HRs & RBIs, hitting .308 with a .398 on base percentage. In a May game at Cincinnati he hit two HRs and had four hits, he had four 4 hit games in his Mets career. He was suppose to be the regular second baseman in 1988 but an injury & batting slump killed those chances. He struggled after the All Star break and only batted .234 never matching the previous year’s numbers again.

In the 1988 NLCS he only played in one game going 0-3. In 1989, hot prospect Gregg Jefferies got the second base job, Teufel played first, hitting only .256 with 2 HRs & 15 RBIs. He became a utility player, and by 1991 he was hitting only .118 when he was traded to the Padres for Garry Templeton. Teufel hit .240 in three seasons with San Diego & retired with a .254 lifetime average, 86 HRs, 185 doubles, & 379 RBIs.

Retirement: In 2003 he was manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones then the St. Lucie Mets for 2004, 2005 & 2008.