Eddie Bressoud

Edward Francis Bressoud

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 175 lb.
• School San Jose State University, University of California, Los Angeles
• High School Washington Preparatory High School
• Debut June 14, 1956
• Final Game September 26, 1967
• Born May 2, 1932 in Los Angeles, CA USA
• Died July 13, 2023 in Walnut Creek, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

“I know so little about the American League that I’m not even sure Tom Yawkey is still alive and owns the Red Sox... I have never even seen Fenway Park, but I have certainly heard a lot about it. I’m strictly a right-handed pull hitter so maybe I can do some damage with that short left field wall.” - Eddie Bressoud, after being dealt to the Red Sox, November 1961

Before the 1950 season, shortstop Eddie Bressoud signed with the New York Giants. The 18-year-old infielder was sent to the Springfield Giants of the Ohio-Indiana League where he appeared in 70 games and hit .240. He spent the next two seasons with the Sioux City Soos, where he appeared in a combined 304 games and hit .242, before the United States Military took charge of his services during 1953 and 1954. After his military obligation was over, he came back to the AAA Minneapolis Millers in 1955, played 145 games and hit .251.

1956 saw Eddie's first look at the major league level when the Giants called him up in June. Bressoud appeared in 49 games at shortstop, fielding .950 and hitting .227. He was sent back to Minneapolis for the remainder of 1956 and the start of 1957. He was called up again to the Giants and stayed until becoming the first selection by the Houston Colt .45's in the 1961 expansion draft. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox for shortstop Don Buddin before appearing in a game for the Colts. He had never really received a real chance to be a starter with the Giants, as his high in games played in his six years was 116.

Bressoud was with the Red Sox, where he carried a .264 average and .965 fielding percentage, from 1962 through 1965. Eddie adapted his swing to the Green Monster at Fenway Park and showed an increase in power with 20 homers in 1963. He hit a career-high .293 in 1964, the year he was named to the All-Star team. On November 30, 1965, the Red Sox traded him to the New York Mets for Joe Christopher. Bressoud played every position in the infield in New York in 1966, appearing in 133 games, hitting .225 and fielding .964. On April 1, 1967 the Mets traded him, along with Danny Napoleon and cash, to the St. Louis Cardinals for Jerry Buchek, Art Mahaffey and Tony Martinez.

A .252 lifetime hitter, he wound down his big league career as a backup infielder for the 1967 world champion St. Louis Cardinals, with his last action being two brief appearances in the 1967 World Series against his former team, the Boston Red Sox. The Cardinals had light-hitting Dal Maxvill as their starting shortstop, and Eddie often came into the game to replace him when he had been pinch-hit for.

Bressoud, who went on to get a bachelor's degree from UCLA and then a master's degree in physical education from San Jose State University in 1964, taught at Cupertino High School in 1963-1965. He was named baseball coach at De Anza College in October 1967, staying in that role through 1984. He also added Athletic Director duties along the way. He then moved up to chairman of the Physical Education department, until retiring in 1990.

He also managed the 1968 Idaho Falls Angels in the Pioneer League and 1969 San Jose Bees in the California League in the California Angels organization.

Notable Achievements

• AL All-Star (1964)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1963)
• Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1968	Idaho Falls Angels	Pioneer League		2nd	California Angels		replaced Thomas Sommers
1969	San Jose Bees	California League	45-37	5th	California Angels		replaced Tom Morgan (23-35) on June 14

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page

Related Sites

• Eddie Bressoud at the SABR Bio Project