Tommy Bridges
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges (December 28, 1906 – April 19, 1968) was an American
right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers
from 1930 to 1946. During the 1930s he used an outstanding curveball
to become one of the mainstays of the team's pitching staff, winning
20 games in three consecutive seasons and helping the team to its first World Series
championship with two victories in the 1935 Series
. He retired with 1674 career strikeout
s, then the eighth highest total in American League
history, and held the Tigers franchise record for career strikeouts from 1941 to 1951.
, Bridges attended the University of Tennessee
, and after having a 20-strikeout game for the minor league Wheeling Stogies in 1929, he joined the Tigers in 1930, inducing Babe Ruth
to ground out on his first major league pitch.
On August 5, 1932, he came within one out of throwing a perfect game
. With two outs in the ninth inning, and the Washington Senators
trailing 13-0, the Senators' pitcher was due to bat. Washington manager Walter Johnson
sent pinch hitter Dave Harris to bat, who led the AL that season with 14 pinch hits. Harris hit a single to break up the perfect game. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Bridges_Tommy.stm
Bridges had another one-hitter against the Senators, on May 24, 1933. On September 24, 1933, Bridges reached the ninth inning with a no-hitter for the fourth time in two years. This time, he gave up a pair of hits but beat the St Louis Browns
7-0. For the 1933 season, Bridges had a 3.08 ERA (140 Adjusted ERA+
), second-best in the American League.
, Bridges pitched a complete game victory, in a pitching duel with Dizzy Dean
. Bridges beat Dizzy Dean 3-1, but the Tigers lost the Series in 7 games.
Bridges had another strong season in 1935, going 21-10 with 23 complete games. He also pitched a complete game victory in the last game of the 1935 World Series
. With the score tied 3-3 in the top of the 9th, Bridges gave up a leadoff triple to Stan Hack
, but retired the next three batters without the runner on third scoring. In the bottom of the 9th, Goose Goslin
drove in the winning run with 2 outs, and the Tigers won their first championship. After the game, manager Mickey Cochrane
said the following of Bridge's gutsy performance: "A hundred and fifty pounds of courage. If there ever is a payoff on courage this little 150- pound pitcher is the greatest World Series hero."
In a nationwide poll Bridges was named the No. 2 sports hero of 1935, behind Notre Dame football player Andy Pilney
. http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=1553&bid=807
voting. Also in 1934, Bridges gave up Babe Ruth
's 700th career home run.
On August 11, 1942, Bridges was involved in one of the great pitching duels of all time. Cleveland starter, Al Milnar
had a no-hitter until Doc Cramer
singled with two out in the 9th. Milnar's scoreless duel with Bridges ended in a 14-inning scoreless tie because the rules did not permit the game to be continued under the lights.
He was among the league leaders in earned run average
10 times between 1932 and 1943, including a career-low 2.39 ERA in 1943—the year before Bridges entered the Army.
Over his major league career, he compiled an Adjusted ERA+
of 126—ranking 54th best in major league history. Though his unadjusted ERA is less impressive because of the high batting averages in the years in which he pitched, Bridges had an Adjusted ERA+
in excess of 140 on six occasions: 1932-33, 1939–40, 1942-43.
He was named an All-Star
six times between 1934 and 1940, missing out only in 1938 due to an injury.
Bridges was also a consistent leader in strikeouts. He led the AL in strikeouts in 1935 and 1936, and was among the league leades 12 times: 1931-40, 1942-43. Even more telling, he was among the top 3 in the league in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched on 7 occasions: 1931, 1935–36, 1939–40, 1942-43.
In he set the Tigers' career strikeout record, surpassing George Mullin
's mark of 1380. His team record for career strikeouts was broken in by Hal Newhouser
, and remained the top mark for a right-hander until Jack Morris
broke it in .
Bridges' career record with the Tigers was 194-138 with a 3.57 ERA.
during World War II
, missing the entire 1944 season and coming back in time for only one start in 1945. He was a member of the Tigers' 1945 World Series
championship team, his fourth Series, making a relief appearance in Game 6.
Bridges and Hank Greenberg
are the only players in Detroit Tigers
history to play in four World Series for the team, having appeared in the 1934, 1935, 1940, and 1945 World Series.
in the Pacific Coast League
. On April 20, 1947, pitching for Beavers, Bridges finally got his no-hitter, beating San Francisco 2–0. Bridges also led the Pacific Coast League league in ERA
in 1947, but never pitched in the majors again.
, and he was later a scout for the Tigers and the New York Mets
.
Bridges died in Nashville, Tennessee
in 1968 at age 61.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed 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...
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...
who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
from 1930 to 1946. During the 1930s he used an outstanding curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
to become one of the mainstays of the team's pitching staff, winning
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
20 games in three consecutive seasons and helping the team to its first World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
championship with two victories in the 1935 Series
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
. He retired with 1674 career strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, then the eighth highest total in American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
history, and held the Tigers franchise record for career strikeouts from 1941 to 1951.
Early Years and Near No-Hitters
Born in Gordonsville, TennesseeGordonsville, Tennessee
Gordonsville is a town in Smith County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,066 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gordonsville is located at ....
, Bridges attended the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, and after having a 20-strikeout game for the minor league Wheeling Stogies in 1929, he joined the Tigers in 1930, inducing Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
to ground out on his first major league pitch.
On August 5, 1932, he came within one out of throwing a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
. With two outs in the ninth inning, and the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
trailing 13-0, the Senators' pitcher was due to bat. Washington manager Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
sent pinch hitter Dave Harris to bat, who led the AL that season with 14 pinch hits. Harris hit a single to break up the perfect game. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Bridges_Tommy.stm
Bridges had another one-hitter against the Senators, on May 24, 1933. On September 24, 1933, Bridges reached the ninth inning with a no-hitter for the fourth time in two years. This time, he gave up a pair of hits but beat the St Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
7-0. For the 1933 season, Bridges had a 3.08 ERA (140 Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
), second-best in the American League.
1934-1935 seasons
In 1934, Bridges was 22-11 with 23 complete games to help the Tigers win their first pennant in 25 years. Bridges also surrendered Ruth's 700th home run on July 13, 1934. In the 1934 World Series1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
, Bridges pitched a complete game victory, in a pitching duel with Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
. Bridges beat Dizzy Dean 3-1, but the Tigers lost the Series in 7 games.
Bridges had another strong season in 1935, going 21-10 with 23 complete games. He also pitched a complete game victory in the last game of the 1935 World Series
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
. With the score tied 3-3 in the top of the 9th, Bridges gave up a leadoff triple to Stan Hack
Stan Hack
Stanley Camfield Hack , nicknamed "Smiling Stan," was an American third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago Cubs and was the National League's top third baseman in the late 1930s and early 1940s...
, but retired the next three batters without the runner on third scoring. In the bottom of the 9th, Goose Goslin
Goose Goslin
Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...
drove in the winning run with 2 outs, and the Tigers won their first championship. After the game, manager Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
said the following of Bridge's gutsy performance: "A hundred and fifty pounds of courage. If there ever is a payoff on courage this little 150- pound pitcher is the greatest World Series hero."
In a nationwide poll Bridges was named the No. 2 sports hero of 1935, behind Notre Dame football player Andy Pilney
Andy Pilney
-External links:...
. http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=1553&bid=807
Later years
After winning over 20 games in both 1934 and 1935, Bridges led the AL in with 23 wins, and finished ninth in the MVPMLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
voting. Also in 1934, Bridges gave up Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
's 700th career home run.
On August 11, 1942, Bridges was involved in one of the great pitching duels of all time. Cleveland starter, Al Milnar
Al Milnar
Albert Joseph Milnar was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians , St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia Phillies . Milnar batted and threw right-handed...
had a no-hitter until Doc Cramer
Doc Cramer
Roger Maxwell Cramer [Doc] was an American center fielder and left-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams from 1929 to 1948.-Career:...
singled with two out in the 9th. Milnar's scoreless duel with Bridges ended in a 14-inning scoreless tie because the rules did not permit the game to be continued under the lights.
Career Record
Bridges was one of the best pitchers in baseball from 1931 until 1943, when he entered the Army.He was among the league leaders in earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
10 times between 1932 and 1943, including a career-low 2.39 ERA in 1943—the year before Bridges entered the Army.
Over his major league career, he compiled an Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
of 126—ranking 54th best in major league history. Though his unadjusted ERA is less impressive because of the high batting averages in the years in which he pitched, Bridges had an Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
in excess of 140 on six occasions: 1932-33, 1939–40, 1942-43.
He was named an 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...
six times between 1934 and 1940, missing out only in 1938 due to an injury.
Bridges was also a consistent leader in strikeouts. He led the AL in strikeouts in 1935 and 1936, and was among the league leades 12 times: 1931-40, 1942-43. Even more telling, he was among the top 3 in the league in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched on 7 occasions: 1931, 1935–36, 1939–40, 1942-43.
In he set the Tigers' career strikeout record, surpassing George Mullin
George Mullin (baseball)
George Joseph Mullin was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators of the American League and the Indianapolis Hoosiers/Newark Pepper of the Federal League.-Career Overview:Mullin holds the Detroit Tigers...
's mark of 1380. His team record for career strikeouts was broken in by Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
, and remained the top mark for a right-hander until Jack Morris
Jack Morris
John Scott "Jack" Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in 18 big league seasons between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers, and won 254 games throughout his career...
broke it in .
Bridges' career record with the Tigers was 194-138 with a 3.57 ERA.
Bridges Misses Two Seasons to World War II
Bridges served in the U.S. ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, missing the entire 1944 season and coming back in time for only one start in 1945. He was a member of the Tigers' 1945 World Series
1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
championship team, his fourth Series, making a relief appearance in Game 6.
Bridges and Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
are the only players in Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
history to play in four World Series for the team, having appeared in the 1934, 1935, 1940, and 1945 World Series.
The Pacific Coast League
Sent to the minors in 1946, he pitched for four years with the Portland BeaversPortland 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...
in 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...
. On April 20, 1947, pitching for Beavers, Bridges finally got his no-hitter, beating San Francisco 2–0. Bridges also led the Pacific Coast League league in ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 1947, but never pitched in the majors again.
Life After Baseball
Bridges' life outside the major leagues took a downward turn, in part due to alcoholism which developed after his war service. In 1950 Bridges left his wife for another woman; former teammates were shocked by his appearance. In 1951 he became a scout and coach for the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati 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....
, and he was later a scout for the Tigers and the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
Bridges died in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in 1968 at age 61.
See also
- 1935 Detroit Tigers season1935 Detroit Tigers seasonThe Detroit Tigers won the 1935 World Series, defeating the Chicago Cubs 4 games to 2. The season was their 35th since they entered the American League in 1901...
- 1945 Detroit Tigers season1945 Detroit Tigers seasonThe Detroit Tigers was the team's 45th since they entered the American League in 1901. The team won the American League pennant, then went on to win the 1945 World Series, defeating the Chicago Cubs 4 games to 3. It was the second World Series championship for the Tigers...
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
- Best pitching seasons by a Detroit Tiger
External links
- SABR biography
- The Deadball Era
- Tommy Bridges at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...