Ed Brinkman

Edwin Albert Brinkman

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
• School University of Cincinnati
• High School Western Hills High School (Cincinnati)
• Debut September 6, 1961
• Final Game September 28, 1975
• Born December 8, 1941 in Cincinnati, OH USA
• Died September 30, 2008 in Cincinnati, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"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

• AL All-Star (1973)
• AL Gold Glove Winner (1972)

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

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

• Ed Brinkman at the SABR Bio Project