Dave Bristol
Encyclopedia
James David Bristol is a former manager
in Major League Baseball
in the 1960s and 1970s. He managed the Cincinnati Reds
, Milwaukee Brewers
, Atlanta Braves
, and San Francisco Giants
during this period.
. A right-handed hitting and throwing infielder
, he never played in the Major Leagues. Bristol became a playing manager in the Cincinnati farm system at the age of 24 with the Hornell Redlegs of the Class D New York-Penn League in 1957. By 1964, he was managing the Reds' top farm team, the San Diego Padres
of the Pacific Coast League
, where, at age 31, he won a pennant and playoff title — the fifth league championship of his eight-year career to date. In nine seasons (1957-65) as a minor league pilot, his teams won 652 games and lost 562 (.537).
In 1966, Bristol was named to the Reds' coaching staff, and when the team performed badly under rookie
skipper Don Heffner
, Bristol took over the club as manager on July 13. At 33, he was the youngest pilot in the major leagues. Bristol guided the Reds through 3½ winning seasons, but he was dismissed following the 1969 campaign. Sparky Anderson
, who took over from Bristol, would go into the Baseball Hall of Fame as the leader of the "Big Red Machine."
Cincinnati (298-265, .529) represented the highwater mark of Bristol's managing career. He had losing teams thereafter, and his career managing record shows 657 win and 764 defeats (.462).
. However, the Brewers assumed the Pilots' place in the American League West Division, and were thus saddled with the longest road trips in the league. As a result, Bristol was never able to put together a winning team, and was fired after the 1972 season.
In 1977
, Bristol served as Atlanta Braves
manager on two different occasions. Braves owner Ted Turner
decided after a long losing streak that he would take over the managerial reins of the team. However, this only lasted for one game (a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates
) as baseball commissioner
Bowie Kuhn
forbade Turner from managing further due to major league rules prohibiting players or managers from owning a share of a team. Afterward, Turner rehired Bristol for the remainder of the season. He last managed in MLB with the Giants
late in the season and all of before he was replaced by Frank Robinson
, prior to the 1981 season.
In addition to his rookie MLB season with Cincinnati, Bristol also served as the third-base coach of the Montreal Expos
(1973-75) and Giants (1978-79), plus two terms with the Philadelphia Phillies
(1982-85; 1988), and two additional stints with the Reds (1989; 1993).
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...
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...
in the 1960s and 1970s. He managed 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....
, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Atlanta 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 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....
during this period.
Success in the minors, and with the Reds
Bristol attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and Western Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University
Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system....
. A right-handed hitting and throwing 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...
, he never played in the Major Leagues. Bristol became a playing manager in the Cincinnati farm system at the age of 24 with the Hornell Redlegs of the Class D New York-Penn League in 1957. By 1964, he was managing the Reds' top farm team, 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...
, where, at age 31, he won a pennant and playoff title — the fifth league championship of his eight-year career to date. In nine seasons (1957-65) as a minor league pilot, his teams won 652 games and lost 562 (.537).
In 1966, Bristol was named to the Reds' coaching staff, and when the team performed badly under rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
skipper Don Heffner
Don Heffner
Donald Henry Heffner was an American second baseman, coach and manager in Major League Baseball.Born in Rouzerville, Pennsylvania, Heffner entered baseball in 1929. After all or parts of four seasons with the then-minor league Baltimore Orioles, Heffner joined the New York Yankees for the 1934...
, Bristol took over the club as manager on July 13. At 33, he was the youngest pilot in the major leagues. Bristol guided the Reds through 3½ winning seasons, but he was dismissed following the 1969 campaign. Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
, who took over from Bristol, would go into the Baseball Hall of Fame as the leader of the "Big Red Machine."
Cincinnati (298-265, .529) represented the highwater mark of Bristol's managing career. He had losing teams thereafter, and his career managing record shows 657 win and 764 defeats (.462).
Later struggles as MLB manager
Not long after being fired by the Reds, Bristol was hired by the Seattle Pilots as the second manager in their history. He walked into a very difficult situation; the Pilots were on the verge of bankruptcy, and went to spring training not knowing whether they'd play in Seattle or Milwaukee in . Just six days before Opening Day, the Pilots got word they'd be moving to Milwaukee as the BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. However, the Brewers assumed the Pilots' place in the American League West Division, and were thus saddled with the longest road trips in the league. As a result, Bristol was never able to put together a winning team, and was fired after the 1972 season.
In 1977
1977 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Los Angeles Dodgers ; Reggie Jackson, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: None*National League Championship Series MVP: Dusty Baker...
, Bristol served as Atlanta 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....
manager on two different occasions. Braves owner Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
decided after a long losing streak that he would take over the managerial reins of the team. However, this only lasted for one game (a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
) as baseball commissioner
Baseball Commissioner
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts...
Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kent Kuhn was an American lawyer and sports administrator who served as the fifth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from February 4, , to September 30,...
forbade Turner from managing further due to major league rules prohibiting players or managers from owning a share of a team. Afterward, Turner rehired Bristol for the remainder of the season. He last managed in MLB with the 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....
late in the season and all of before he was replaced by 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...
, prior to the 1981 season.
In addition to his rookie MLB season with Cincinnati, Bristol also served as the third-base coach of the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(1973-75) and Giants (1978-79), plus two terms with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1982-85; 1988), and two additional stints with the Reds (1989; 1993).
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com - career managing record
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