The wisecracking Bridges fashioned a second career as an eminently quotable minor
league manager. Always chewing a huge wad of tobacco, he was responsible for such
wry gems as "Tommy Lasorda's curve had as much hang time as a Ray Guy punt" and "There
are three things the average man thinks he can do better than anybody else:
build
a fire, run a hotel, and manage a baseball team."
Before starting his minor league
managing career, Bridges was a versatile utility man. In two rare seasons in which
he held down just one position, he led NL second basemen (1953) and AL shortstops
(1957) in total chances per game, but he never hit enough to be an everyday player.
(JFC)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»June 23, 1951: Don Newcombe gives up a first-inning single to Ralph Kiner in beating the Bucs on a one-hitter, 13–1. The Dodgers jump on Bill Werle (3–1) and successors for 16 hits, including homers by Carl Furillo and Rocky Bridges.
»May 1, 1959:
Harmon Killebrew's 10th inning home run, the 2nd of the game for the third sacker, gives Washington a 4–3 win over the woeful Tigers (2-14). Jim Bunning and Camilo Pascual each go the rout. Bunning is done in by errors by Eddie Yost and Rocky Bridges in the 8th, though Yost hits a double and home run against his old team.
»February 1, 1985: In an effort to add some much-needed power to their lineup, St. Louis trades OF-1B David Green, SS Jose Gonzales, P Dave LaPoint, and OF-1B Gary Rajsich to the Giants for slugging 1B Jack Clark. Gonzales will change his name to his mother's maiden name of Uribe, and win the starting shortstop job with the Giants. Giants coach and resident wit Rocky Bridges will note that Jose Uribe really is, "the player to be named later."
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