Ed Brinkman

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Edwin Albert Brinkman

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Biographical Information[edit]

"Pete always kidded me that the Washington Senators brought me my bonus in an armored truck. Pete said he had cashed his at the corner store." - Ed Brinkman, after the Washington Senators considered Brinkman the true prized baseball prospect in Cincinnati and gave him a $75,000 bonus. The Pete overlooked by the Senators? Pete Rose!

A slick-fielding shortstop who covered a lot of ground, Ed Brinkman survived 15 big league seasons despite a rough slash line of .224/.280/.300 in 1,845 games. Acquired from Washington with fellow defensive wizard Aurelio Rodriguez in 1971 for the fabled and troubled Denny McLain, Brinkman and Rodriguez made the left side of Detroit's infield almost airtight but offensively inept. Ed enjoyed one All-Star campaign in his time in the Motor City with the 1973 squad and improbably slugged 14 of his career 60 home runs during 1974, his age 32 season, finishing with a personal best .347 slugging percentage. Ed's main teammates were Frank Howard, Mickey Lolich, Ken McMullen, Bill Freehan, Mike Epstein and Norm Cash.

After his playing career, Brinkman was a Detroit Tigers coach in 1979 and was with the San Diego Padres in 1981. He managed the Montgomery Rebels in 1977 and 1978, the Lakeland Tigers in 1980, the Birmingham Barons in 1982 and was a member of the Chicago White Sox staff from 1983 to 1988.

Brinkman died in 2008 due to complications from heart failure at the age of 66. He was the brother of catcher Chuck Brinkman.

Notable Achievements[edit]

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs
1977 Montgomery Rebels Southern League 86-51 1st Detroit Tigers League Champs
1978 Montgomery Rebels Southern League 67-77 7th Detroit Tigers
1980 Lakeland Tigers Florida State League 56-77 9th Detroit Tigers
1982 Birmingham Barons Southern League 69-74 5th/2nd Detroit Tigers

Related Sites[edit]