When word came down that Bobby Bragan had died on Thursday anyone who knew him and that included this writer knew they had lost a great baseball man and really good guy.
Bragan had been a fixture in North Texas baseball circles since he first came to the area with the old Dodger farm club, the Fort Worth Cats, in late 1948 as manager. Bobby had been a major league player with the Dodgers in a limited role for the four previous seasons after being a regular player for the Phillies for three years.
A native of Alabama, Bragan admitted he was one of the Dodgers who opposed the signing of Jackie Robinson, but soon realized the error of his ways. He and Jackie became good friends.
Even in the tense racial situation of the time it was hard for that barrier to be broken. Bragan was that kind of guy.
In later years Bragan was employed part time by the Texas Rangers in community relations. When you saw Bobby you couldn't help smiling.
Author of the book, "You Can't Hit the Ball with the Bat on your Shoulder" Bobby had friends all over baseball as some of the contributors can attest. In fact, I'm going to re-read his book starting tonight. His stories were great and he had a happy life in baseball.
Bobby was part of the first staff put together for the Houston Colt 45s when major league baseball came to his adopted state. Bobby was to be farm director. Tal Smith, currently President for baseball operations of the Astros was an adminstrative assistant to general manager Gabe Paul.
One of Bragan's jobs was to hire the scouts. Everything was going well for a few months until GM Gabe Paul and Judge Roy Hofheinz had a couple of conflicts. That was enough for Paul, before a team was ever put on the field, to resign to take over in Cleveland.
Native Texan Paul Richards was hired to replace Paul. That would mean changes for Bragan who was asked if he wanted to remain in the front office or return to the field. Bragan chose the field, but it would be as a coach and not as manager which he had hoped. Before he moved into the coaching spot, however, he had a hand in suggesting the Colt 45s select Bob Aspromonte, Bob Lillis and Norm Larker from the Dodgers in the expansion draft. Bobby's Dodger connections were key.
It wasn't long in that 1962 season that Bragan knew there was no long term future for him working on a club headed by Richards who had a hand in everything. However, instead of having to resign after the season luck was on Bragan's side. The Milwaukee Braves came calling to hire him as their manager. It was a post he would hold long enough to be the last Milwaukee Braves manager and the first Atlanta Braves skipper. He also managed the Pirates before leaving the main stage.
There was hardly a baseball man alive that did not know Bobby Bragan. He used his pull to make some of the oldtimer's games staged at Arlington Stadium for the Texas Rangers Hall of Famer filled. He had Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Warren Spahn, Gaylord Perry, Mickey Mantle and even Joe DiMaggio on hand in the early 90s. No one turned down a Bobby Bragan invite.
While looking up some of the details in his career for this piece I referred to Bobby's book that I will soon be re-reading and couldn't miss the inscription he wrote for me. It was September 20, 1992 when I was doing play by play for the Texas Rangers telecasts. As Bobby wrote, "Greg, You do a terrific job in the booth- I hope this brings some sunshine to one of the true pros in the broadcasting business. Keep Swinging, Bobby Bragan."
I treasured that then and even more so now. But I've got to add NO ONE brought more sunshine to the scene than Bobby Bragan every time he made the scene. The greatest compliment I can bestow is that Bobby Bragan was a BASEBALL MAN. That was his life. He lived it to the fullest. Keep Swinging yourself, Bobby.
I've got to start re-reading.
Bragan had been a fixture in North Texas baseball circles since he first came to the area with the old Dodger farm club, the Fort Worth Cats, in late 1948 as manager. Bobby had been a major league player with the Dodgers in a limited role for the four previous seasons after being a regular player for the Phillies for three years.
A native of Alabama, Bragan admitted he was one of the Dodgers who opposed the signing of Jackie Robinson, but soon realized the error of his ways. He and Jackie became good friends.
Even in the tense racial situation of the time it was hard for that barrier to be broken. Bragan was that kind of guy.
In later years Bragan was employed part time by the Texas Rangers in community relations. When you saw Bobby you couldn't help smiling.
Author of the book, "You Can't Hit the Ball with the Bat on your Shoulder" Bobby had friends all over baseball as some of the contributors can attest. In fact, I'm going to re-read his book starting tonight. His stories were great and he had a happy life in baseball.
Bobby was part of the first staff put together for the Houston Colt 45s when major league baseball came to his adopted state. Bobby was to be farm director. Tal Smith, currently President for baseball operations of the Astros was an adminstrative assistant to general manager Gabe Paul.
One of Bragan's jobs was to hire the scouts. Everything was going well for a few months until GM Gabe Paul and Judge Roy Hofheinz had a couple of conflicts. That was enough for Paul, before a team was ever put on the field, to resign to take over in Cleveland.
Native Texan Paul Richards was hired to replace Paul. That would mean changes for Bragan who was asked if he wanted to remain in the front office or return to the field. Bragan chose the field, but it would be as a coach and not as manager which he had hoped. Before he moved into the coaching spot, however, he had a hand in suggesting the Colt 45s select Bob Aspromonte, Bob Lillis and Norm Larker from the Dodgers in the expansion draft. Bobby's Dodger connections were key.
It wasn't long in that 1962 season that Bragan knew there was no long term future for him working on a club headed by Richards who had a hand in everything. However, instead of having to resign after the season luck was on Bragan's side. The Milwaukee Braves came calling to hire him as their manager. It was a post he would hold long enough to be the last Milwaukee Braves manager and the first Atlanta Braves skipper. He also managed the Pirates before leaving the main stage.
There was hardly a baseball man alive that did not know Bobby Bragan. He used his pull to make some of the oldtimer's games staged at Arlington Stadium for the Texas Rangers Hall of Famer filled. He had Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Warren Spahn, Gaylord Perry, Mickey Mantle and even Joe DiMaggio on hand in the early 90s. No one turned down a Bobby Bragan invite.
While looking up some of the details in his career for this piece I referred to Bobby's book that I will soon be re-reading and couldn't miss the inscription he wrote for me. It was September 20, 1992 when I was doing play by play for the Texas Rangers telecasts. As Bobby wrote, "Greg, You do a terrific job in the booth- I hope this brings some sunshine to one of the true pros in the broadcasting business. Keep Swinging, Bobby Bragan."
I treasured that then and even more so now. But I've got to add NO ONE brought more sunshine to the scene than Bobby Bragan every time he made the scene. The greatest compliment I can bestow is that Bobby Bragan was a BASEBALL MAN. That was his life. He lived it to the fullest. Keep Swinging yourself, Bobby.
I've got to start re-reading.
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