Bruce Edwards (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Charles Bruce Edwards was an American
professional
baseball
player. He played for ten seasons as a catcher
in Major League Baseball
from to and from to , most notably for the Brooklyn Dodgers
.
. After serving in the United States Army during the Second World War, he returned to baseball in with the Mobile Bears
of the Southern Association
, where he posted a .332 batting average
. In June 1946, Edwards' contract was purchased from Mobile by the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Edwards made his major league debut with the Dodgers on June 23, 1946
at the age of 22 and was installed as the Dodgers' starting catcher by manager Leo Durocher
, after Mickey Owen
had fled the team to join the Mexican League. He hit for a .246 batting average as the Dodgers battled the St. Louis Cardinals
in a tight pennant race. The two teams ended the season tied for first place and met in the 1946 National League tie-breaker series
. It was the first playoff tiebreaker
in Major League Baseball history. The Cardinals won the first two games of the best-of-three game series to capture the National League pennant. Edwards finished in fourteenth place in balloting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
By the beginning of the 1947
season, Edwards was considered one of the top catchers in the league. He had the best season of his career, hitting for a .295 batting average along with 9 home runs and 80 runs batted in, as the Dodgers won the National League pennant by five games over the Cardinals
. Edwards started every game of the 1947 World Series
as the Dodgers were defeated in seven games by the New York Yankees
. Edwards finished fourth in balloting for National League Most Valuable Player Award, and was named to the National League team as a reserve in the 1947 All-Star Game
.
In 1948
, infield troubles forced the Dodgers to move Edwards to third base for half of the season as rookie Roy Campanella
was brought up from the minor leagues to play as catcher. His batting average dropped to .276 with 8 home runs and 56 runs batted in, as the Dodgers fell to third place in the National League. An arm injury incurred during spring training
in 1948 as well as the blossoming of Campanella as a hitter eventually relegated Edwards to second-string status, although he was still considered among the best catchers in the National League.
On June 15, 1951, Edwards was traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Chicago Cubs as part of an eight-player trade. In July, he earned his second All-Star berth when he was named as a reserve in the 1951 All-Star Game
. Edwards appeared in only 50 games in 1952
, mostly as a pinch hitter
.
In , he was sent down to the minor leagues
where he played for the Springfield Cubs
before becoming the player-manager for the Cubs' minor league affiliate, the Des Moines Bruins
of the Western League
. Edwards played as a third baseman
and hit .321 while he managed Des Moines to a fourth place finish, winning the Western League play off championship. He performed so well that the Cubs announced in October that he would return to the major leagues as a third baseman. However, after appearing in only four games with the Cubs in April 1954
, he returned to the minor leagues where he played for the Los Angeles Angels
of the Pacific Coast League
, posting a .298 batting average in 106 games.
In December 1954, he returned to the major leagues again when his contract was purchased from the Angels by the Washington Senators
. After only one season with the Senators, Edwards was released during spring training in 1956. He signed by the Cincinnati Reds
as a free agent
in July 1956 and played in his final major league game on September 13, 1956. Edwards returned to the minor leagues to play two seasons with the Visalia Redlegs before ending his playing career in at the age of 34.
, accumulating 429 hits
in 1,675 at bats for a .256 career batting average along with 39 home runs, 241 runs batted in and an on base percentage
of .335. He ended his career with a .982 fielding percentage
. A two-time All-Star, Edwards led National League catchers once in putout
s and once in baserunners caught stealing
. Edwards was the Dodgers' catcher on September 9, when pitcher Rex Barney
threw a no-hitter
against the New York Giants
.
Edwards died of a heart attack in his home in Sacramento, California on April 25, at the age of 51.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played for ten seasons as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from to and from to , most notably for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
Baseball career
Edwards began his baseball career in at the age of 17 with the Santa Barbara Saints of the California LeagueCalifornia League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. After serving in the United States Army during the Second World War, he returned to baseball in with the Mobile Bears
Mobile Bears
The Mobile Bears were an American minor league baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama. The franchise was a member of the old Southern Association, a high-level circuit that folded after the 1961 season. Mobile joined the SA in 1908 as the Sea Gulls, but changed its name to the Bears in 1918, and...
of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
, where he posted a .332 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
. In June 1946, Edwards' contract was purchased from Mobile by the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Edwards made his major league debut with the Dodgers on June 23, 1946
1946 Brooklyn Dodgers season
The Brooklyn Dodgers finished the season tied for first place with the St. Louis Cardinals. The two teams played in the first ever playoff series to decide the pennant, and the Cardinals took two straight to win the title....
at the age of 22 and was installed as the Dodgers' starting catcher by manager Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
, after Mickey Owen
Mickey Owen
Arnold Malcolm "Mickey" Owen was a catcher for St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball. Between 1937 and 1954, Owen played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Brooklyn Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox...
had fled the team to join the Mexican League. He hit for a .246 batting average as the Dodgers battled the St. Louis Cardinals
1946 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was a season in American baseball. It was the team's 65th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 55th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 96-58 during the season and finished first in the National League. In the World Series, they won in 7 games over the...
in a tight pennant race. The two teams ended the season tied for first place and met in the 1946 National League tie-breaker series
1946 National League tie-breaker series
The 1946 National League tie-breaker series was a best-of-three playoff to decide the winner of Major League Baseball's National League pennant. The games occurred on October 1 and October 3, 1946, between the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers. The first game took place at Sportsman's Park...
. It was the first playoff tiebreaker
Tiebreaker
In games and sports, a tiebreaker or tiebreak is used to determine a winner from among players or teams that are tied at the end of a contest, or a set of contests.-In matches:In some situations, the tiebreaker may consist of another round of play...
in Major League Baseball history. The Cardinals won the first two games of the best-of-three game series to capture the National League pennant. Edwards finished in fourteenth place in balloting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
By the beginning of the 1947
1947 Brooklyn Dodgers season
On April 15, Jackie Robinson was the opening day first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first black player in Major League Baseball since . Robinson went on to bat .297, score 125 runs, steal 29 bases and be named the very first Rookie of the Year...
season, Edwards was considered one of the top catchers in the league. He had the best season of his career, hitting for a .295 batting average along with 9 home runs and 80 runs batted in, as the Dodgers won the National League pennant by five games over the Cardinals
1947 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 66th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 56th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 89-65 during the season and finished second in the National League.- Offseason :...
. Edwards started every game of the 1947 World Series
1947 World Series
The 1947 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning the Series in seven games for their first title since , and the eleventh championship in team history...
as the Dodgers were defeated in seven games by the New York Yankees
1947 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 45th season in New York, and its 47th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 15th pennant, finishing 12 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. New York was managed by Bucky Harris. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee...
. Edwards finished fourth in balloting for National League Most Valuable Player Award, and was named to the National League team as a reserve in the 1947 All-Star Game
1947 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1947 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 14th playing of the "Midsummer Classic" between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 8, 1947, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, the home of...
.
In 1948
1948 Brooklyn Dodgers season
Leo Durocher returned as manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers to start the 1948 season but was fired in mid-season. He was replaced first by team coach Ray Blades and then by Burt Shotton, who had managed the team to the 1947 pennant...
, infield troubles forced the Dodgers to move Edwards to third base for half of the season as rookie Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella , nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily at the position of catcher, in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball...
was brought up from the minor leagues to play as catcher. His batting average dropped to .276 with 8 home runs and 56 runs batted in, as the Dodgers fell to third place in the National League. An arm injury incurred during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1948 as well as the blossoming of Campanella as a hitter eventually relegated Edwards to second-string status, although he was still considered among the best catchers in the National League.
On June 15, 1951, Edwards was traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to the Chicago Cubs as part of an eight-player trade. In July, he earned his second All-Star berth when he was named as a reserve in the 1951 All-Star Game
1951 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1951 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 18th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 10, 1951, at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan the home of the...
. Edwards appeared in only 50 games in 1952
1952 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 4, 1951: Smoky Burgess and Bob Borkowski were traded by the Cubs to the Cincinnati Reds for Johnny Pramesa and Bob Usher.* October 19, 1951: Grant Dunlap was purchased by the Cubs from the Shreveport Sports....
, mostly as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
.
In , he was sent down to the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
where he played for the Springfield Cubs
Springfield Cubs
The Springfield Cubs, based in Springfield, Massachusetts, was an American minor league baseball franchise that served as a farm club of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball from 1948-53...
before becoming the player-manager for the Cubs' minor league affiliate, the Des Moines Bruins
Des Moines Bruins
Based in Des Moines, Iowa, the Des Moines Bruins were a minor league baseball team that played in the Western League from 1947 to 1958. Their home ballpark was Sec Taylor Stadium, and they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers .-Year-by-year record:...
of the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
. Edwards played as a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
and hit .321 while he managed Des Moines to a fourth place finish, winning the Western League play off championship. He performed so well that the Cubs announced in October that he would return to the major leagues as a third baseman. However, after appearing in only four games with the Cubs in April 1954
1954 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 30, 1953: Carl Sawatski was selected off waivers from the Cubs by the Chicago White Sox.* December 7, 1953: Catfish Metkovich was purchased from the Cubs by the Milwaukee Braves.- Notable transactions :...
, he returned to the minor leagues where he played for the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, posting a .298 batting average in 106 games.
In December 1954, he returned to the major leagues again when his contract was purchased from the Angels by the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. After only one season with the Senators, Edwards was released during spring training in 1956. He signed by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in July 1956 and played in his final major league game on September 13, 1956. Edwards returned to the minor leagues to play two seasons with the Visalia Redlegs before ending his playing career in at the age of 34.
Career statistics
In an ten-year major league career, Edwards played in 591 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 429 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 1,675 at bats for a .256 career batting average along with 39 home runs, 241 runs batted in and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .335. He ended his career with a .982 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. A two-time All-Star, Edwards led National League catchers once in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s and once in baserunners caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
. Edwards was the Dodgers' catcher on September 9, when pitcher Rex Barney
Rex Barney
Rex Edward Barney was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943 and from 1946 through 1950....
threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the New York Giants
1948 New York Giants (MLB) season
- Offseason :* November 20, 1947: 1947 minor league draft**Hoyt Wilhelm was drafted by the Giants from the Boston Braves.**Ed Albrecht was drafted from the Giants by the St...
.
Edwards died of a heart attack in his home in Sacramento, California on April 25, at the age of 51.
External links
- Bruce Edwards at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...