Ed Bailey
Encyclopedia
Lonas Edgar Bailey, Jr. was an American professional
baseball
player who played catcher
in the Major Leagues
from through . Bailey batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee
. A five-time All-Star
, Bailey was one of the top catchers in the National League
in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
in 1950
as an amateur free agent
. He reached the Majors in 1953 and in 1955 he was given a chance as the Reds' starting catcher, replacing Andy Seminick
. When his offensive production floundered, the Reds traded Seminick for catcher Smoky Burgess
and Bailey was sent down to the San Diego Padres
of the Pacific Coast League
. With the help of some batting advice from Reds manager
and former catcher Birdie Tebbetts
, his hitting improved in the minor leagues
and continued to improve in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Bailey began the 1956 season as the backup catcher to Burgess, but when the team faltered early in the season, Tebbetts decided to shake things up and named Bailey as the Reds' starting catcher. By mid-season, he was the leading hitter in the National League with a .335 batting average, helping to spur the Reds into first place. His hitting performance earned him a place as the starting catcher for the National League in the 1956 All-Star Game
. The Reds stayed in the pennant race until the last day of the season, ending up with a 91-63 record, two games behind the Brooklyn Dodgers
. Bailey ended the 1956 season with career-highs in batting average
(.300), home run
s (28), runs batted in (75), and led the league in baserunners caught stealing
(23).
In 1957, the Reds were once again in first place at mid-season, but faltered to finish the season in fourth place. Bailey earned his second consecutive start for the National League All-Star Team
, led National League catchers with a 46.2 Caught Stealing percentage and finished second to Roy Campanella
with a .992 fielding percentage
. He remained as the Reds' starting catcher for the rest of the 1950s up until twelve games into the 1961
season, when he was traded to the San Francisco Giants
for catcher Bob Schmidt
.
In 1962
, Bailey platooned
with catcher Tom Haller
, as the two players combined to give the Giants 35 home runs and 100 runs batted in from the catcher's position. In June of that year, Bailey had a streak of 3 clutch
home runs in four games that propelled the Giants into first place. The Giants battled the Los Angeles Dodgers
in a tight pennant race as the two teams ended the season tied for first place and met in the 1962 National League tie-breaker series
. The Giants won the three-game series to clinch the National League championship. Bailey appeared in six games of the 1962 World Series
, hitting a home run in Game 3 as the Giants lost to the New York Yankees
in seven games. He had another strong year in 1963
, hitting 21 home runs with 68 runs batted in, earning his fifth and final All-Star berth.
In December 1963, Bailey was traded along with Felipe Alou and Billy Hoeft
to the Milwaukee Braves for Del Crandall
, Bob Hendley
and Bob Shaw
. He served as Joe Torre
's back up for two seasons with the Braves before being traded back to the Giants in February 1965
. After just fourteen games of the 1965 season, he was traded again, this time to the Chicago Cubs
, where he served as a backup catcher to Vic Roznovsky
. On July 22, 1965
, Bailey hit a grand slam
home run, a three-run home run and a run-scoring single
to drive home eight runs during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies
. After the season, he was traded to the California Angels
and was released after appearing in only five games of the 1966
season.
with 915 hits
in 3581 at bats for a .256 batting average along with 155 home runs and 540 runs batted in, including 423 runs
, a .355 on base percentage
and a .986 fielding percentage. He was a five-time All-Star
and led National League catchers in baserunners caught stealing and caught stealing percentage once each. At the time of his retirement, he ranked 11th overall for career home runs by a catcher. His younger brother, pitcher
Jim Bailey, also played in the Major Leagues. When his brother joined the Reds in 1959
, the Bailey brothers became one of the few brother-batteries
in Major League history.
, Johnny Temple
, Don Hoak
, Gus Bell
, Wally Post
and Frank Robinson
—were voted into the National League All-Star
starting lineup, the result of a ballot stuffing
campaign by Redlegs fans. Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick
intervened, removing Bell and Post from the starting line up and replacing them with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays
. Frick allowed Bell to remain on the team as a reserve while Post was removed from the team altogether. The Commissioner also transferred the responsibility for All-Star voting to the players, managers and coaches the following year.
city council from 1983 to 1995. He died in Knoxville in 2007, following a battle with throat cancer
.
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 who played 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 the Major Leagues
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 through . Bailey batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee
Jefferson County, Tennessee
*...
. A five-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, Bailey was one of the top catchers in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Major League career
Bailey was contracted by the Cincinnati RedlegsCincinnati 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....
in 1950
1950 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished sixth in the National League with a record of 66-87, 24½ games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.- Offseason :* December 14, 1949: Harry Walker was traded by the Reds to the St...
as an amateur 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....
. He reached the Majors in 1953 and in 1955 he was given a chance as the Reds' starting catcher, replacing Andy Seminick
Andy Seminick
Andrew Wasal Seminick was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies between 1943 and 1951, and the Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs from 1952 through part of 1955, when he rejoined the Phillies for the rest of his career until...
. When his offensive production floundered, the Reds traded Seminick for catcher Smoky Burgess
Smoky Burgess
Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1949 to 1967. Later in his career, he became known for his ability as a pinch hitter, setting the major league career record for career pinch-hits...
and Bailey was sent down to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres (PCL)
The San Diego Padres were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League from 1936 through 1968. The team that would eventually become the Padres was well traveled prior to moving to San Diego. It began its existence in 1903 as the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL...
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...
. With the help of some batting advice from Reds manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and former catcher Birdie Tebbetts
Birdie Tebbetts
George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from to...
, his hitting improved in 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...
and continued to improve in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Bailey began the 1956 season as the backup catcher to Burgess, but when the team faltered early in the season, Tebbetts decided to shake things up and named Bailey as the Reds' starting catcher. By mid-season, he was the leading hitter in the National League with a .335 batting average, helping to spur the Reds into first place. His hitting performance earned him a place as the starting catcher for the National League in the 1956 All-Star Game
1956 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1956 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 23rd 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, 1956, at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C...
. The Reds stayed in the pennant race until the last day of the season, ending up with a 91-63 record, two games behind the Brooklyn Dodgers
1956 Brooklyn Dodgers season
The 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers edged out the Milwaukee Braves to win the National League title. The Dodgers again faced the New York Yankees in the World Series...
. Bailey ended the 1956 season with career-highs in 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 :...
(.300), home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (28), runs batted in (75), and led the league 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...
(23).
In 1957, the Reds were once again in first place at mid-season, but faltered to finish the season in fourth place. Bailey earned his second consecutive start for the National League All-Star Team
1957 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1957 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 24th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 9, 1957 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis,...
, led National League catchers with a 46.2 Caught Stealing percentage and finished second to 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...
with a .992 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...
. He remained as the Reds' starting catcher for the rest of the 1950s up until twelve games into the 1961
1961 San Francisco Giants season
- Regular season :Willie Mays had both a three home run game and a four home run game during the 1961 season. Mays became the ninth player, and first Giant, in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game.- Opening Day starters :...
season, when he was traded to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for catcher Bob Schmidt
Bob Schmidt (baseball)
Robert Benjamin Schmidt , is an American former professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1958 to 1965...
.
In 1962
1962 San Francisco Giants season
The 1962 San Francisco Giants season saw the Giants finish in first place in the National League with a record of 103 wins and 62 losses. They finished the season tied with their arch-rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for first place in the league, necessitating a three-game tiebreaker playoff to...
, Bailey platooned
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
with catcher Tom Haller
Tom Haller
Thomas Frank Haller was an American professional baseball player and baseball executive. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers...
, as the two players combined to give the Giants 35 home runs and 100 runs batted in from the catcher's position. In June of that year, Bailey had a streak of 3 clutch
Clutch hitter
A clutch hitter is a baseball player with a knack for coming up with the "big" hit. The big hit is typically a game-deciding hit, sometimes a home run, often coming with two outs...
home runs in four games that propelled the Giants into first place. The Giants battled the Los Angeles Dodgers
1962 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers season was the fifth for the team in Southern California, and the 73rd for the franchise in the National League. After spending the previous four seasons at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, they began the season by opening Dodger Stadium, the team's new ballpark. The...
in a tight pennant race as the two teams ended the season tied for first place and met in the 1962 National League tie-breaker series
1962 National League tie-breaker series
The 1962 National League tie-breaker series was a three-game playoff series to determine the winner of Major League Baseball's National League pennant. The games took place from October 1 to 3, 1962, between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. The Giants won the series two games...
. The Giants won the three-game series to clinch the National League championship. Bailey appeared in six games of the 1962 World Series
1962 World Series
The 1962 World Series matched the defending American League and World Series champions New York Yankees against the National League champion San Francisco Giants, who had won their first NL pennant since 1954 and first since moving from New York in 1958, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in a...
, hitting a home run in Game 3 as the Giants lost to the New York Yankees
1962 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 60th season for the team in New York, and its 62nd season overall. The team finished with a record of 96-66, winning their 27th pennant, finishing 5 games ahead of the Minnesota Twins. New York was managed by Ralph Houk. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium...
in seven games. He had another strong year in 1963
1963 San Francisco Giants season
- Offseason :* November 30, 1962: Manny Mota and Dick LeMay were traded by the Giants to the Houston Colt .45s for Joey Amalfitano.* December 15, 1962: Stu Miller, Mike McCormick, and John Orsino were traded by the Giants to the Baltimore Orioles for Jack Fisher, Jimmie Coker and Billy Hoeft.-...
, hitting 21 home runs with 68 runs batted in, earning his fifth and final All-Star berth.
In December 1963, Bailey was traded along with Felipe Alou and Billy Hoeft
Billy Hoeft
William Frederick Hoeft was a pitcher in Major League Baseball whose career spanned 15 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.-Detroit Tigers :Hoeft was signed by the Detroit...
to the Milwaukee Braves for Del Crandall
Del Crandall
Delmar Wesley Crandall is a former professional baseball catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who played most of his career with the Boston & Milwaukee Braves...
, Bob Hendley
Bob Hendley
Charles Robert Hendley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Born in Macon, Georgia, Hendley was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1958. After the 1963 season, Hendley was traded to the San Francisco Giants in a six-player deal; one of the three players the Braves...
and Bob Shaw
Bob Shaw (baseball)
Robert John Shaw was a Major League Baseball pitcher.His career lasted a decade, and he pitched for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, Milwaukee Braves, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs. He won 18 games with the American League pennant-winning White...
. He served as Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
's back up for two seasons with the Braves before being traded back to the Giants in February 1965
1965 San Francisco Giants season
- Offseason :* Prior to 1965 season: Merritt Ranew was acquired by the Giants from the Milwaukee Braves.- Regular season :- Opening Day lineup :*Jesús Alou*Tom Haller*Jim Ray Hart*Harvey Kuenn*Hal Lanier*Juan Marichal*Willie Mays*Willie McCovey...
. After just fourteen games of the 1965 season, he was traded again, this time to the Chicago Cubs
1965 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 30, 1964: 1964 minor league draft**Bobby Cox was drafted by the Cubs from the Los Angeles Dodgers.**Chris Krug was drafted by the Cubs from the St...
, where he served as a backup catcher to Vic Roznovsky
Vic Roznovsky
Victor Joseph Roznovsky is a retired American professional baseball player. He was was a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1969, playing for the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies...
. On July 22, 1965
1965 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 30, 1964: 1964 minor league draft**Bobby Cox was drafted by the Cubs from the Los Angeles Dodgers.**Chris Krug was drafted by the Cubs from the St...
, Bailey hit a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
home run, a three-run home run and a run-scoring single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
to drive home eight runs during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies
1965 Philadelphia Phillies season
- Offseason :* October 15, 1964: Bill Heath and a player to be named later were traded by the Phillies to the Chicago White Sox for Rudy May. The Phillies completed the deal by sending Joel Gibson to the White Sox on November 23....
. After the season, he was traded to the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
and was released after appearing in only five games of the 1966
1966 California Angels season
The California Angels season, the team's first in Anaheim, involved the Angels finishing 6th in the American League with a record of 80 wins and 82 losses, 18 games behind the AL and World Series Champion Baltimore Orioles.- Offseason :...
season.
Career statistics
In a 14-season career, Bailey played in 1212 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,...
with 915 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 3581 at bats for a .256 batting average along with 155 home runs and 540 runs batted in, including 423 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, a .355 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...
and a .986 fielding percentage. He was a five-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
and led National League catchers in baserunners caught stealing and caught stealing percentage once each. At the time of his retirement, he ranked 11th overall for career home runs by a catcher. His younger brother, pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Jim Bailey, also played in the Major Leagues. When his brother joined the Reds in 1959
1959 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds finishing in a fifth-place tie with the Chicago Cubs in the National League standings, with a record of 74-80, 13 games behind the NL and World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
, the Bailey brothers became one of the few brother-batteries
Battery (baseball)
In baseball, the term battery refers collectively to the pitcher and the catcher, who may also be called batterymen or batterymates of one another.- History :...
in Major League history.
1957 All-Star Game ballot stuffing controversy
In , Bailey and six of his Redleg teammates—Roy McMillanRoy McMillan
Roy David McMillan was a shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. From 1951 through 1966, McMillan played for the Cincinnati Reds , Milwaukee Braves and New York Mets . He batted and threw right-handed...
, Johnny Temple
Johnny Temple
John Ellis Temple was a Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Redlegs/Reds ; Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles and Houston Colt .45s . Temple was born in Lexington, North Carolina. He batted and threw right-handed.Temple was a career .284 hitter with 22 home runs and 395 RBI...
, Don Hoak
Don Hoak
Donald Albert Hoak was a Major League Baseball player. Nicknamed "Tiger," Hoak was a third baseman who played ten seasons in the Majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers , Chicago Cubs , Cincinnati Reds , Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies...
, Gus Bell
Gus Bell
David Russell "Gus" Bell, Jr. was an American center and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Pittsburgh Pirates , Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs , New York Mets and Milwaukee Braves...
, Wally Post
Wally Post
Walter Charles Post was a right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1949 through 1964, Post played for the Cincinnati Reds & Redlegs , Philadelphia Phillies , Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians...
and Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
—were voted into the National League All-Star
1957 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1957 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 24th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 9, 1957 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis,...
starting lineup, the result of a ballot stuffing
Ballot stuffing
Ballot stuffing is the illegal act of one person submitting multiple ballots during a vote in which only one ballot per person is permitted. The name originates from the earliest days of this practice in which people literally did stuff more than one ballot in a ballot box at the same time...
campaign by Redlegs fans. Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick
Ford Frick
Ford Christopher Frick was an American sportswriter and executive who served as president of the National League from to and as the third Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1951 to . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970...
intervened, removing Bell and Post from the starting line up and replacing them with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
. Frick allowed Bell to remain on the team as a reserve while Post was removed from the team altogether. The Commissioner also transferred the responsibility for All-Star voting to the players, managers and coaches the following year.
On television
- In 1956 appeared as a Mystery Guest in a What's My Line? episode, along with Cincinnati teammates Gus BellGus BellDavid Russell "Gus" Bell, Jr. was an American center and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Pittsburgh Pirates , Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs , New York Mets and Milwaukee Braves...
, Smoky BurgessSmoky BurgessForrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1949 to 1967. Later in his career, he became known for his ability as a pinch hitter, setting the major league career record for career pinch-hits...
, Ray JablonskiRay JablonskiRaymond Leo Jablonski was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball with an 8-year career from 1953 to 1960. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he played for the St...
, Johnny KlippsteinJohnny KlippsteinJohn Calvin Klippstein was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for a number of teams throughout his career. The most prominent portion of his career was spent early on with the Chicago Cubs . In 18 years, he finished with an 101-118 record and a 4.24 ERA in 711 games...
, Ted KluszewskiTed KluszewskiTheodore Bernard "Big Klu" Kluszewski was a Major League first baseman from 1947 through 1961. He batted and threw left-handed.-Career:...
, Roy McMillanRoy McMillanRoy David McMillan was a shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. From 1951 through 1966, McMillan played for the Cincinnati Reds , Milwaukee Braves and New York Mets . He batted and threw right-handed...
, Joe NuxhallJoe NuxhallJoseph Henry Nuxhall was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, mostly for the Cincinnati Reds. Immediately after retiring as a player, he became a radio broadcaster for the Reds from 1967 through 2004, and continued part-time up until his death in 2007...
, Wally PostWally PostWalter Charles Post was a right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1949 through 1964, Post played for the Cincinnati Reds & Redlegs , Philadelphia Phillies , Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians...
, Frank RobinsonFrank RobinsonFrank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
, and Johnny TempleJohnny TempleJohn Ellis Temple was a Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Redlegs/Reds ; Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles and Houston Colt .45s . Temple was born in Lexington, North Carolina. He batted and threw right-handed.Temple was a career .284 hitter with 22 home runs and 395 RBI...
.
Later life
Bailey later served on the Knoxville, TennesseeKnoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
city council from 1983 to 1995. He died in Knoxville in 2007, following a battle with throat cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
.
Highlights
- Made the National LeagueNational LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
All-Star team in 1956-57, 1960–61, and 1963. - Hit double figures in home runs in eight of his 14 ML seasons.
- Hit three home runs in one 1956 game.
- Had eight pinch-hit homers, including two grand slamsGrand slam (baseball)In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
. - Hit a two-run homer in Game 3 of the 1962 World Series.
- Collected eight RBI in a 1965 game.
- Made two unassisted double playDouble playIn baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s in 19631963 San Francisco Giants season- Offseason :* November 30, 1962: Manny Mota and Dick LeMay were traded by the Giants to the Houston Colt .45s for Joey Amalfitano.* December 15, 1962: Stu Miller, Mike McCormick, and John Orsino were traded by the Giants to the Baltimore Orioles for Jack Fisher, Jimmie Coker and Billy Hoeft.-...
and 19651965 Chicago Cubs season- Offseason :* November 30, 1964: 1964 minor league draft**Bobby Cox was drafted by the Cubs from the Los Angeles Dodgers.**Chris Krug was drafted by the Cubs from the St...
. - Caught Juan MarichalJuan MarichalJuan Antonio Marichal Sánchez is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Playing for the San Francisco Giants most of his career, Marichal was known for his high leg kick, pinpoint control and intimidation tactics, which included aiming pitches directly at the opposing batters'...
's no-hitterNo-hitterA 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"...
on June 15, 1963.