Rocky Bridges: Difference between revisions

Rocky Bridges
Rocky Bridges
	Bridges in 1959
	Infielder
	Born: August 7, 1927; Refugio, Texas, U.S.
	Died: January 28, 2015 (aged 87); Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S.
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	April 17, 1951, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
	October 1, 1961, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
Batting average	.247
Home runs	16
Runs batted in	187
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Brooklyn Dodgers (1951–1952); Cincinnati Redlegs (1953–1957); Washington Senators (1957–1958); Detroit Tigers (1959–1960); Cleveland Indians (1960); St. Louis Cardinals (1960); Los Angeles Angels (1961);
Career highlights and awards
	All-Star (1958);

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 23:14, 30 December 2024

Everett Lamar "Rocky" Bridges (August 7, 1927 – January 28, 2015) was an American middle infielder and third baseman with an 11-year career in Major League Baseball from 1951 to 1961. Bridges played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Redlegs and St. Louis Cardinals of the National League, and the Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels of the American League.^[1]

Playing career

Bridges was a native Texan who attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School in California. He became a journeyman ball player who made his big-league debut in 1951 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. As a utility infielder, he backed up two future Hall of Famers, Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson and as a result, saw little playing time.^[1]

Subsequently, he was traded to Cincinnati Redlegs (as the Reds were known in the mid-1950s) and then eventually to the last place Washington Senators, where he obtained a starting position as a shortstop. In 1958, his first full season with the Senators, he was selected by New York Yankees manager Casey Stengel to the 1958 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, one of the few highlights of his career.^[1] Bridges career continued until 1961, playing for several American League teams. His final career batting average was .247 with 16 home runs.^[1] Despite his unimpressive career statistics, Bridges became a well known and respected ball player because of his hard work, hustle, spirit, and sense of humor. In 1964, Sports Illustrated described him as "...one of the best stand up comics in the history of baseball."^[1] Among his most famous quotes:

"It took me that long to learn how to spell it." -- after being traded from Cincinnati, where he played for four years. ^[1]

"That surprised everybody. They were close to launching an investigation." -- after being selected to the 1958 All-Star Team. ^[1]

"I'm in the twilight of a mediocre career ....I've had more numbers on my back than a bingo board." --- after being traded to the Detroit Tigers. ^[1]

Coaching career

Following his active playing career, he served two terms (1962–63; 1968–71) as the third base coach of the Angels and one year (1985) in that role with the San Francisco Giants. Bridges also had a long career as a minor league manager in the Angels, Giants, San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations. Over 21 seasons stretched between 1964 and 1989, Bridges' teams won 1,300 games and lost 1,358 (.489). His minor league managerial career is profiled in Jim Bouton's collection of baseball articles and essays entitled I Managed Good, But Boy Did They Play Bad.^[2] Bridges also managed the Leones de Ponce to the pennant title of the Puerto Rico Baseball League in the 1968–69 season.^[3]

Legacy

The title of Bouton's book was reportedly based on a quote from Bridges.^[2] The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book", said "Rocky Bridges looked like a ballplayer. In fact, he may have looked more like a ballplayer than any other ballplayer who ever lived."^[4]

"Rocky Bridges undoubtedly has been one of the most popular men ever to wear the Washington uniform. He's an example of what 'hustle', 'desire', and 'spirit' will do." -- Washington Post sports columnist Bob Addie, 1958 ^[1]

Bridges died of natural causes January 27, 2015, aged 87, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Schudel, Matt (February 8, 2015) "A career bench warmer with a flair for repartee" The Washington Post, page C8 [1]
^ ^a ^b Bouton, Jim and Offen, Neil. (1973) I Managed Good, But Boy Did They Play Bad. New York; Dell Publishing, pages 2-16
^ Leones de Ponce Campeón de la PRBL – Campeonatos de Ponce (Spanish)
^ Boyd, Brendan C. and Harris, Fred C. (1973) The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book, Boston: Little Brown and Company
^ Lee, Greg (January 29, 2015). "Former Dodger, Rocky Bridges, dies in Coeur d'Alene". spokesman.com. Spokane, WA: The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 30, 2015.

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)

Rocky Bridges at SABR (Baseball BioProject)

Preceded by Red Kress	Los Angeles Angels third base coach 1962–1963	Succeeded by Salty Parker
Preceded by Billy Herman	California Angels third base coach 1968–1971	Succeeded by Peanuts Lowrey

[Rocky-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Schudel, Matt (February 8, 2015) "A career bench warmer with a flair for repartee" The Washington Post, page C8 [1]

[Bouton-2] Bouton, Jim and Offen, Neil. (1973) I Managed Good, But Boy Did They Play Bad. New York; Dell Publishing, pages 2-16

[3] Leones de Ponce Campeón de la PRBL – Campeonatos de Ponce (Spanish)

[4] Boyd, Brendan C. and Harris, Fred C. (1973) The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book, Boston: Little Brown and Company

[5] Lee, Greg (January 29, 2015). "Former Dodger, Rocky Bridges, dies in Coeur d'Alene". spokesman.com. Spokane, WA: The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 30, 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American baseball player (1927–2015)}}
 {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}
-{{Infobox MLB player
+{{Infobox baseball biography
-| name        = Rocky Bridges
+|name=Rocky Bridges
+|image=Rocky Bridges - Detroit Tigers - 1959.jpg
-| position    = [[Infielder]]
+|caption=Bridges in 1959
-| bats        = Right
+|position=[[Infielder]]
-| throws      = Right
+|bats=Right
-| image       = Rocky Bridges 1953.jpeg
+|throws=Right
-| birth_date  = {{birth date|1928|8|7}}
+|birth_date={{Birth date|1927|8|7}}
-| birth_place = [[Refugio, Texas]]
+|birth_place=[[Refugio, Texas]], U.S.
-| death_date  = {{death date and age|2015|1|27|1927|8|7}}
+|death_date={{death date and age|2015|1|28|1927|8|27}}
-| death_place = [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho]]
+|death_place=[[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho]], U.S.
-| debutdate   = April 17
+|debutleague = MLB
-| debutyear   = 1951
+|debutdate=April 17
-| debutteam   = Brooklyn Dodgers
+|debutyear=1951
-| finaldate   = October 1
+|debutteam=Brooklyn Dodgers
-| finalyear   = 1961
+|finalleague = MLB
-| finalteam   = Los Angeles Angels
+|finaldate=October 1
-| stat1label  = [[Batting average]]
+|finalyear=1961
-| stat1value  = .247
+|finalteam=Los Angeles Angels
-| stat2label  = [[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
-| stat2value  = 562
+|statleague = MLB
+|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
-| stat3label  = [[Runs batted in]]
+|stat1value=.247
-| stat3value  = 187
+|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
-| teams       =
+|stat2value=16
-* [[History of the Brooklyn Dodgers|Brooklyn Dodgers]] ({{baseball year|1951}}–{{baseball year|1952}})
+|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
-* [[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{baseball year|1953}}–{{baseball year|1957}})
+|stat3value=187
-* [[History of the Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] ({{baseball year|1957}}–{{baseball year|1958}})
+|teams=
-* [[Detroit Tigers]] ({{baseball year|1959}}–{{baseball year|1960}})
-* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{baseball year|1960}})
+* [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1951}}–{{mlby|1952}})
-* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{baseball year|1960}})
+* [[Cincinnati Redlegs]] ({{mlby|1953}}–{{mlby|1957}})
+* [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] ({{mlby|1957}}–{{mlby|1958}})
-* [[Los Angeles Angels]] ({{baseball year|1961}})
+* [[Detroit Tigers]] ({{mlby|1959}}–{{mlby|1960}})
-| highlights  =
+* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1960}})
-* AL [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1958 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1958]])
+* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|1960}})
+* [[Los Angeles Angels]] ({{mlby|1961}})
+|highlights=
+* [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1958 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1958]])
 }}
-'''Everett Lamar "Rocky" Bridges''' (August 7, 1927 – January 27, 2015) was a [[middle infielder]] and [[third baseman]] with an 11-year career in [[United States|American]] [[Major League Baseball]] from 1951 to 1961. Bridges played for the [[History of the Brooklyn Dodgers|Brooklyn Dodgers]], [[Cincinnati Reds]] and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] of the [[National League]], and the [[History of the Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]], [[Detroit Tigers]], [[Cleveland Indians]] and [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|Los Angeles Angels]] of the [[American League]]. He also appeared occasionally in the outfield.<ref name="Rocky">Schudel, Matt (February 8, 2015) "A career bench warmer with a flair for repartee" ''The Washington Post'', page C8 [http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/rocky-bridges-journeyman-ballplayer-with-colorful-quips-dies-at-87/2015/02/07/0718fb96-aef0-11e4-ad71-7b9eba0f87d6_story.html]</ref>
+'''Everett Lamar "Rocky" Bridges''' (August 7, 1927 – January 28, 2015) was an American [[middle infielder]] and [[third baseman]] with an 11-year career in [[Major League Baseball]] from 1951 to 1961. Bridges played for the [[History of the Brooklyn Dodgers|Brooklyn Dodgers]], [[Cincinnati Redlegs]] and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]], and the [[History of the Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]], [[Detroit Tigers]], [[Cleveland Indians]] and [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|Los Angeles Angels]] of the [[American League]].<ref name="Rocky">Schudel, Matt (February 8, 2015) "A career bench warmer with a flair for repartee" ''The Washington Post'', page C8 [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/rocky-bridges-journeyman-ballplayer-with-colorful-quips-dies-at-87/2015/02/07/0718fb96-aef0-11e4-ad71-7b9eba0f87d6_story.html]</ref>
 ==Playing career==
-Bridges was native Texan who attended [[Long Beach Polytechnic High School]] in California. He became a journeyman ball player who made his big-league debut in 1951 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. As a utility infielder, he backed up two future [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famers]], [[Pee Wee Reese]] and [[Jackie Robinson]] and as a result, saw little playing time.<ref name="Rocky"/>
+Bridges was a native Texan who attended [[Long Beach Polytechnic High School]] in California. He became a journeyman ball player who made his big-league debut in 1951 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. As a utility infielder, he backed up two future [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famers]], [[Pee Wee Reese]] and [[Jackie Robinson]] and as a result, saw little playing time.<ref name="Rocky"/>
-Subsequently, he was traded to Cincinnati Reds and then eventually to the last place Washington Senators, where he obtained a starting position as a shortstop. In 1958, his first full season with the Senators, he was selected by [[New York Yankees]] manager [[Casey Stengel]] to the 1958 [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]], one of the few highlights of his career.<ref name="Rocky"/> Bridges career continued until 1961, playing for several American League teams.  His final career [[batting average]] was .247 with 16 [[home run]]s.<ref name="Rocky"/>
+Subsequently, he was traded to Cincinnati Redlegs (as the [[Cincinnati Reds|Reds]] were known in the mid-1950s) and then eventually to the last place Washington Senators, where he obtained a starting position as a shortstop. In 1958, his first full season with the Senators, he was selected by [[New York Yankees]] manager [[Casey Stengel]] to the 1958 [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]], one of the few highlights of his career.<ref name="Rocky"/> Bridges career continued until 1961, playing for several American League teams.  His final career [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] was .247 with 16 [[home run]]s.<ref name="Rocky"/>
-Despite his unimpressive career statistics, Bridges became a well known and respected ball player because of his hard work, hustle, spirit, and sense of humor.  In 1964, [[Sports Illustrated]] described him as "...one of the best stand up comics in the history of baseball." <ref name="Rocky"/>
+Despite his unimpressive career statistics, Bridges became a well known and respected ball player because of his hard work, hustle, spirit, and sense of humor.  In 1964, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' described him as "...one of the best stand up comics in the history of baseball."<ref name="Rocky"/>
 Among his most famous quotes:
-<blockquote>"It took me that long to learn how to spell it." ''-- after being traded from the Cincinnati Reds, where he played for four years.'' <ref name="Rocky"/></blockquote>
+<blockquote>"It took me that long to learn how to spell it." ''-- after being traded from Cincinnati, where he played for four years.'' <ref name="Rocky"/></blockquote>
 <blockquote>"That surprised everybody. They were close to launching an investigation." ''-- after being selected to the 1958 All-Star Team.'' <ref name="Rocky"/></blockquote>
@@ Line 52: / Line 57: @@
 ==Legacy==
 The title of Bouton's book was reportedly based on a quote from Bridges.<ref name="Bouton"/> [[The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book]]", said  "Rocky Bridges looked like a ballplayer. In fact, he may have looked more like a ballplayer than any other ballplayer who ever lived."<ref>Boyd, Brendan C. and Harris, Fred C. (1973) ''The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book'', Boston: Little Brown and Company</ref>
 <blockquote>"Rocky Bridges undoubtedly has been one of the most popular men ever to wear the Washington uniform. He's an example of what 'hustle', 'desire', and 'spirit' will do." ''-- [[Washington Post]] sports columnist [[Bob Addie]], 1958'' <ref name="Rocky"/></blockquote>
-Bridges died of natural causes January 27, 2015, aged 87, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Greg|title=Former Dodger, Rocky Bridges, dies in Coeur d'Alene|url=http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jan/29/rocky-bridges-career-baseball-man-dies-coeur-dalen/|website=spokesman.com|publisher=''The Spokesman-Review''|accessdate=January 30, 2015|location=Spokane, WA|date=January 29, 2015}}</ref>
+Bridges died of natural causes January 27, 2015, aged 87, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Greg|title=Former Dodger, Rocky Bridges, dies in Coeur d'Alene|url=http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jan/29/rocky-bridges-career-baseball-man-dies-coeur-dalen/|website=spokesman.com|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|accessdate=January 30, 2015|location=Spokane, WA|date=January 29, 2015}}</ref>
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
-* [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19850408&id=oaoyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nugFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4212,2158505 Baseball Players Come and Go (AP)]
 ==External links==
 {{Baseballstats |mlb=111456 |espn= |br=b/bridgro01 |fangraphs= |cube= |brm=bridge001eve }}
+* [https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rocky-bridges/ Rocky Bridges] at [[Society for American Baseball Research|SABR]] (Baseball BioProject)
-{{Persondata
+{{start box}}
-| NAME= Bridges, Rocky
+{{succession box|title=[[Los Angeles Angels]] [[coach (baseball)|third base coach]]|years=1962–1963|before=[[Red Kress]]|after=[[Salty Parker]]}}
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Bridges, Everett Lamar
+{{succession box|title=[[California Angels]] [[coach (baseball)|third base coach]]|years=1968–1971|before=[[Billy Herman]]|after=[[Peanuts Lowrey]]}}
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION= American baseball player
+{{end box}}
-| DATE OF BIRTH= August 7, 1927
-| PLACE OF BIRTH= Refugio, Texas
+{{Portal bar|Biography|Baseball}}
-| DATE OF DEATH= January 27, 2015
-| PLACE OF DEATH= Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
-}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Bridges, Rocky}}
 [[Category:1927 births]]
 [[Category:2015 deaths]]
 [[Category:American League All-Stars]]
-[[Category:Baseball players from Texas]]
+[[Category:Baseball coaches from California]]
+[[Category:Baseball players from Long Beach, California]]
 [[Category:Brooklyn Dodgers players]]
 [[Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) managers]]
@@ Line 97: / Line 100: @@
 [[Category:Minor league baseball managers]]
 [[Category:Montreal Royals players]]
-[[Category:People from Refugio County, Texas]]
+[[Category:People from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho]]
+[[Category:People from Refugio, Texas]]
 [[Category:Santa Barbara Dodgers players]]
 [[Category:San Francisco Giants coaches]]
 [[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
-[[Category:Washington Senators (1901–60) players]]
+[[Category:Washington Senators (1901–1960) players]]
+[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
+[[Category:Long Beach Polytechnic High School alumni]]
+[[Category:Baseball players from Refugio County, Texas]]