Bobby Bragan Passes Away At Age 92
Bobby Bragan, known to many as "Mr. Baseball" and brother of Suns Owner Peter Bragan Sr., died Thursday night at his home in Fort Worth, TX. He was 92.
Bragan devoted his life to the game of baseball beginning in the 1940's as a major league player, then as a manager, and finally as an ambassador of the game in communities across the country. Commenting on Bragan's passing MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said, " I am terribly saddened today by the passing of Bobby Bragan...He had a long and wonderful baseball career as a player, coach, ambassador, and executive...All of baseball will miss him."
Robert Randall Bragan was born in Birmingham, Ala., on Oct. 30, 1917. He played parts of seven seasons from 1940-48 for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Brooklyn Dodgers, playing mostly shortstop and catcher and batting .240 for his career. He missed the 1945 and '46 seasons to serve in the U.S. military.
In 1947, he made his only plate appearance in a World Series game, delivering a pinch-hit double for the Dodgers. As the family narrative states, "Bobby batted a thousand in the World Series."
During that season, he had been critical of Dodgers front office executive Branch Rickey's decision to have Jackie Robinson break baseball's color barrier. But Bragan changed course after one road trip with Robinson, telling Rickey that he considered it an honor to be Robinson's teammate.
Rickey maintained a special interest in Bragan and in 1948 offered Bragan the opportunity to be a player/manager for the Fort Worth Cats, the Dodgers' Class AA team. Bragan remained with the team through 1952. The Cats twice won Texas League regular-season championships under Bragan.
Bragan would go to manage seven seasons in the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, compiling a 443-478 record. Along the way, he managed future Hall of Fame players such as Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Warren Spahn and Eddie Mathews. He himself is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the Fort Worth Sports Hall of Fame.
Uncle Robert, as he was called by Suns President and GM Peter Bragan Jr. inspired many of the Suns community outreach initiatives. Casey's Challenge was created when Uncle Robert suggested he recite Casey at the Bat at a local elementary school appearance. Since then the program has grown to include nearly 30 local schools each year where students are challenged to recognize the importance of reading. Robert Bragan showed a passion for helping the community as well. His Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation provides college scholarships to eighth-grade students from public schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Always a role-model to Bragan Jr., even his picture and memorabilia packed office at the Baseball Grounds was inspired by a visit to Bobby Bragan's office in the mid 1980's.
Responding to the death of his legendary uncle, Suns President and GM Peter Bragan said, "It's a very sad day for all in baseball, the Bragan family in particular. Bobby Bragan knew how to promote the game of baseball to communities all across the nation."
He will be truly missed.
Bragan devoted his life to the game of baseball beginning in the 1940's as a major league player, then as a manager, and finally as an ambassador of the game in communities across the country. Commenting on Bragan's passing MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said, " I am terribly saddened today by the passing of Bobby Bragan...He had a long and wonderful baseball career as a player, coach, ambassador, and executive...All of baseball will miss him."
Robert Randall Bragan was born in Birmingham, Ala., on Oct. 30, 1917. He played parts of seven seasons from 1940-48 for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Brooklyn Dodgers, playing mostly shortstop and catcher and batting .240 for his career. He missed the 1945 and '46 seasons to serve in the U.S. military.
In 1947, he made his only plate appearance in a World Series game, delivering a pinch-hit double for the Dodgers. As the family narrative states, "Bobby batted a thousand in the World Series."
During that season, he had been critical of Dodgers front office executive Branch Rickey's decision to have Jackie Robinson break baseball's color barrier. But Bragan changed course after one road trip with Robinson, telling Rickey that he considered it an honor to be Robinson's teammate.
Rickey maintained a special interest in Bragan and in 1948 offered Bragan the opportunity to be a player/manager for the Fort Worth Cats, the Dodgers' Class AA team. Bragan remained with the team through 1952. The Cats twice won Texas League regular-season championships under Bragan.
Bragan would go to manage seven seasons in the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, compiling a 443-478 record. Along the way, he managed future Hall of Fame players such as Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Warren Spahn and Eddie Mathews. He himself is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the Fort Worth Sports Hall of Fame.
Uncle Robert, as he was called by Suns President and GM Peter Bragan Jr. inspired many of the Suns community outreach initiatives. Casey's Challenge was created when Uncle Robert suggested he recite Casey at the Bat at a local elementary school appearance. Since then the program has grown to include nearly 30 local schools each year where students are challenged to recognize the importance of reading. Robert Bragan showed a passion for helping the community as well. His Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation provides college scholarships to eighth-grade students from public schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Always a role-model to Bragan Jr., even his picture and memorabilia packed office at the Baseball Grounds was inspired by a visit to Bobby Bragan's office in the mid 1980's.
Responding to the death of his legendary uncle, Suns President and GM Peter Bragan said, "It's a very sad day for all in baseball, the Bragan family in particular. Bobby Bragan knew how to promote the game of baseball to communities all across the nation."
He will be truly missed.