Rocky Bridges

From BR Bullpen

Rocky Bridges.jpg

Everett Lamar Bridges

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Biographical Information[edit]

RockyBridges.jpg

"And so, to relax, once in a while Ed [Edward R. Murrow] would come around to Ebbets Field. And one day I said to him 'You're a reporter. You have credentials. You want to say hello to a couple of guys in the locker room?' And he did, and he walked into the locker room, and it was before a game, and on sight all the players knew who he was, a big, towering, LIncoln-esque man, and I remember Rocky Bridges off in a corner, a very funny guy with a wad of chaw in his mouth, saying 'And good luck and good night, Mr. Murrow.'" - Irving Rudd, to Peter Golenbock, Bums: An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers

"He was one of the most colorful managers I played for. He had a unique ability about him. He never put pressure on anybody. At times I put a lot of pressure on myself. He did a terrific job of calming me." - Casey Parsons

Light-hitting, utility infielder Rocky Bridges played in the majors for eleven season and was an All-Star with the Washington Senators in 1958, but he is perhaps better remembered as a long-time minor league manager and big league coach. He was also noted for his ability to come up with funny one-liners.

Born in Texas, Bridges grew up in Long Beach, California. He was first signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and began his pro career with the Santa Barbara Dodgers in 1947. After successful campaigns with the Montreal Royals in 1949 and 1950, he reached the bigs with Brooklyn in 1951. He hit .254 in 63 games as a rookie, mostly backing up Billy Cox at third base. After two seasons with the Dodgers, he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds in early 1953 as part of a four-team trade that sent Joe Adcock to the Milwaukee Braves and Earl Torgeson to the Philadelphia Phillies. He was the Reds primary second baseman in his first year with the club, but he saw less playing time in several more seasons there.

Acquired by the Washington Senators early in the 1957 campaign, Bridges once again became a regular, primarily playing shortstop. The following season, he hit .297 with 5 home runs in the first half and was selected to the All-Star Game. However, he trailed off in the second half, hitting just .160 in 38 games, and, that winter, was traded to the Detroit Tigers. He split the 1960 season between Detroit, the Cleveland Indians, and the St. Louis Cardinals before ending his playing days with the expansion Los Angeles Angels in 1961.

After his playing days, Bridges was an Angels coach in 1962 and 1963 before spending the next four years managing in their farm system. He was back with the club (now the California Angels in 1968, a role he filled for four more seasons until 1971. He then managed in the San Diego Padres chain for two summers before joining the San Francisco Giants organization. With San Francisco, he managed the Phoenix Giants for nine years, winning the Pacific Coast League title in 1977. He spent time as a Giants scout and as a member of their coaching staff in 1985. He ended his career by managing in the Pittsburgh Pirates system from 1986 to 1989. Overall, in 21 years as a manager, he compiled a record of 1,300-1,358.

Bridges was known for his ability to come up with hilarious one-liners. Greg Minton recounts that during one minor league game, where he had "given up something like seven runs... and the bases were still loaded", Bridges came up to him and said "I'm gonna go into my office and fill out reports. If this inning ever gets over, you come in and get me."

Bridges moved to Coeur d'Alene, ID in 1970 and lived there the remainder of his life, passing away at 87 in 2015.

Notable Achievements[edit]

  • AL All-Star (1958)

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1964 San Jose Bees California League 73-67 3rd Los Angeles Angels none
1965 San Jose Bees California League 72-68 2nd California Angels Lost League Finals
1966 San Jose Bees California League 77-64 2nd California Angels
1967 El Paso Sun Kings Texas League 73-67 3rd California Angels none
1972 Hawaii Islanders Pacific Coast League 74-74 5th San Diego Padres
1973 Hawaii Islanders Pacific Coast League 13-19 -- San Diego Padres -- replaced by Warren Hacker on May 16
1974 Phoenix Giants Pacific Coast League 75-69 4th San Francisco Giants
1975 Phoenix Giants Pacific Coast League 66-77 6th San Francisco Giants
1976 Phoenix Giants Pacific Coast League 75-67 3rd San Francisco Giants
1977 Phoenix Giants Pacific Coast League 81-59 1st San Francisco Giants League Champs
1978 Phoenix Giants Pacific Coast League 72-68 6th San Francisco Giants
1979 Phoenix Giants Pacific Coast League 59-88 10th San Francisco Giants
1980 Phoenix Giants Pacific Coast League 53-95 10th San Francisco Giants
1981 Phoenix Giants Pacific Coast League 69-63 5th San Francisco Giants
1982 Phoenix Giants Pacific Coast League 59-86 10th San Francisco Giants
1984 Everett Giants Northwest League 36-38 5th San Francisco Giants
1986 Prince William Pirates Carolina League 67-72 6th Pittsburgh Pirates
1987 Vancouver Canadians Pacific Coast League 72-72 6th Pittsburgh Pirates
1988 Buffalo Bisons American Association 72-70 6th Pittsburgh Pirates
1989 Salem Buccaneers Carolina League 63-75 7th Pittsburgh Pirates
Totals 20 Seasons 1,301-1,358 1 League Championshipo

Related Sites[edit]