Todd Zeile Biography
Todd Zeile born as Todd Edward Zeile is an American former professional baseball third baseman, catcher, and first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Edward Zeile played sixteen seasons, from 1989 to 2004, for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, Texas Rangers, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and Montreal Expos.
Zeile graduated from UCLA, where he played collegiate baseball primarily as a catcher. Only five players in MLB history have played for more teams. Todd currently serves as a pre-game and post-game reporter for the New York Mets on SportsNet New York.
Todd Zeile Age and Birthday
Edward Zeile was born September 9th, 1998 in Van Nuys, California, United States. He is 56 years old as of 2021. Additionally, Todd celebrates his birthday on September 9th every year.
Todd Zeile Height and Weight
Zeile measures a standing height of 6 feet 1 inch tall which is equivalent to 1.85 meters tall. However, his weight, as well as his other body measurements, are currently unavailable. This information is however currently under review and will be updated as soon as it has been made available.
Todd Zeile Family, Parents, and Siblings
Todd is very secretive about his personal life. He has not disclosed any information pertaining to his parents, siblings nor his other relatives. This information is however currently under review and will be updated as soon as it has been made publicly available.
Todd Zeile Dating, Wife and Children
Todd was married to Olympic champion Julianne McNamara, the first American gymnast to earn a perfect 10.0 at the Olympics. The beautiful couple has been four children, including a son Garrett who was born November 27th, 1993, and daughter Hannah who was born on November 7th, 1997.
Hannah has Type 1 diabetes. As a result, Zeile and McNamara have been particularly active in juvenile diabetes research charities. Unfortunately, the couple got divorced in January 2015. Their daughter, Hannah, appears on the TV series This is Us as teenager Kate Pearson.
Todd remarried on June 27th, 2020. He got married to Kristin Gamboa who is the daughter of ex-major league coach and minor league manager Tom Gamboa. Zeile’s nephew, Shane Zeile was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the fifth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.
Todd Zeile Education
Zeile attended William S. Hart High School in Santa Clarita, California, where he was an outstanding student-athlete.
Todd Zeile Career
Early Career
Todd broke into the majors in 1989 as a catcher and the Cardinals’ most anticipated prospect of the year. Zeile was moved from being a catcher and became a hitter this was according to Cardinals manager Joe Torre. With his move, it created a spot for Tom Pagnozzi who was picked son after his position switch. Zeile moved with some reluctance to initially to first base and then to third base in 1990.
Middle Career
Zeile spent most of the 1990s as a third baseman. He was later traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Florida Marlins along with Mike Piazza in 1998 for five players, then was traded to the Rangers later that season. In 1999, Edward Zeile was part of a historic Rangers team.
Additionally, he was one of three players on the team whose last names began with “Z” alongside Gregg Zaun and Jeff Zimmerman. This has not occurred not since the 1916 Chicago Cubs with Heinie Zimmerman, Dutch Zwilling, and Rollie Zeider. In 2000, he then signed a contract with the New York Mets, where he rejoined Piazza and moved to first base for the Mets in 2000, who wanted him to replace John Olerud. In 2002, he was traded to the Rockies, where he moved back to third base. He led all National League third basemen in errors in 2002, with 21, when he had the lowest fielding percentage in the league (.942).
End of Career
In 2003, Zeile became a free agent again and signed with the Yankees after one season with Colorado. Todd was released mid-August and was signed by Montreal three days later. After he had decided that 2004 was his last season, he returned to the New York Mets. Moreover, he voiced displeasure with the Yankees, saying that he has “no desire to play again for that organization”, and that “I think some of the things that happen over there are different than any other organization in baseball. I have a pretty good track record to judge that.”
Zeile retired following the 2004 season. Having planned his retirement in advance (and with the Mets well out of the playoff race), Mets manager Art Howe let Zeile once again start as a catcher, his original position, on September 18, 2004. It was Zeile’s first appearance there in 14 years.
It was the second-longest span ever between appearances at the position. Gabby Street caught a game in 1931 after last having caught in 1912. Zeile’s span is now the third-longest since Craig Biggio started the final game of his career at catcher after a 16-year span. Zeile got one final start as a catcher two weeks later on October 3, 2004, in the season’s final game, as the Mets’ regular catcher, Jason Phillips’s foot hurt him and he could not play.
In the 6th inning, in his final at-bat as a major leaguer, Zeile hit a three-run home run to left-field off Montreal Expos pitcher Claudio Vargas. In the 8th inning, in his final play as a major leaguer, Ryan Church popped up to him, as a catcher, in foul territory. It was also John Franco’s last out made as a Met pitcher.
The Mets won the game, 8-1. Both games Zeile caught in his final season were started by Tom Glavine. On October 3, 2004, he became one of 41 players (as of 2011) ever to hit a home run in his final at-bat. Zeile’s final home run also made him the last person ever to hit a home run off a Montreal Expos pitcher. Following that game, which was the last of the season, the Expos moved to Washington, D.C., and became the Washington Nationals. Zeile ended his career having hit at least one home run for each of the 11 teams he played for over the course of his career, distinguishing him as the only player in major league history to have hit a home run for over 10 teams.
Todd Zeile Net Worth and Salary
Todd has made a great fortune over the years from his amazing career. However, his annual earnings as well as his estimated net worth are currently under review and will be updated as soon as it has been made publicly available.