Jack Bloomfield (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Leigh "Jack" Bloomfield (born August 7, 1932, at Monte Alto, Texas
) is an American
former infielder
, scout and coach
in professional baseball
. Bloomfield attended Pan American College, batted left-handed, threw right-handed, and stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg).
Bloomfield was a second baseman
, shortstop
and third baseman
in his playing days, He signed with the Kansas City Athletics
in 1955 but was released on April 8 and gained his first professional experience with the independent Harlingen Capitals of the Class B Big State League, where he batted
.310. Bloomfield was then drafted by the Milwaukee Braves
and played the bulk of his six-year U.S. professional career in the Braves' and Cincinnati Reds
' organizations, once again breaking the .300 mark with the 1958 Seattle Rainiers
of the Pacific Coast League
. Ironically, his final stint as a minor league
player came with the Athletics, playing for their Triple-A Portland Beavers
affiliate from July 15, 1959, through May 27, 1960, when he was released again.
He then played professional baseball in Japan
during the 1960s, before returning to U.S. and becoming a scout for the San Diego Padres
in their first season, . After five years in that role, Bloomfield became a coach under Padre manager John McNamara
in , then switched to the Chicago Cubs
, coaching for them from through .
Bloomfield later scouted for the New York Yankees
, Houston Astros
, Colorado Rockies
and Montreal Expos
.
Monte Alto, Texas
Monte Alto is a census-designated place in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,611 at the 2000 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
, scout and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in professional 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...
. Bloomfield attended Pan American College, batted left-handed, threw right-handed, and stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg).
Bloomfield was a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
, shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and 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...
in his playing days, He signed with the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in 1955 but was released on April 8 and gained his first professional experience with the independent Harlingen Capitals of the Class B Big State League, where he batted
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 :...
.310. Bloomfield was then drafted by the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and played the bulk of his six-year U.S. professional career in the Braves' and 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....
' organizations, once again breaking the .300 mark with the 1958 Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
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...
. Ironically, his final stint as a minor league
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...
player came with the Athletics, playing for their Triple-A Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
affiliate from July 15, 1959, through May 27, 1960, when he was released again.
He then played professional baseball in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
during the 1960s, before returning to U.S. and becoming a scout for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in their first season, . After five years in that role, Bloomfield became a coach under Padre manager John McNamara
John McNamara (baseball)
John Francis McNamara is a former manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He managed six major league teams, directing the 1986 Boston Red Sox to the American League pennant, only to experience an excruciating defeat in that season's World Series at the hands of the New York Mets.-Playing,...
in , then switched to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, coaching for them from through .
Bloomfield later scouted for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
and Montreal Expos
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
.