Books and articles about Bob Swift

RELATED LINKS » 1951: Eddie Gaedel's Major-League Debut Book Excerpts » "[Cain and Swift] had been standing peacefully for about 15 minutes, thinking unsolemn thoughts about that jerk Veeck and his gags": Bill Veeck Submissions » Remembering Harvey Riebe: Pursuing the Baseball Dream During World War II and the Forties by Jim Sargent Around the Web » Bob Swift from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

A 14-year AL catcher, Swift was a smart handler of pitchers. But, behind the plate for the Tigers on August 18, 1951, he couldn't crouch low enough to frame a strike zone when the Browns sent midget Eddie Gaedel to bat. A skilled instructor, he was a winning minor league manager, a major league coach, and an interim manager for the Tigers in 1965 and 1966, filling in for the ailing Chuck Dressen. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 23, 1936: At Crosley Field, Sammy Byrd hits a grand slam in the bottom of the 9th to give the Reds a 4–3 win over Pittsburgh. Bucs starter Bob Swift loads the bases and reliever Cy Blanton serves up just one pitch to Byrd who lets it fly. Byrd will hit one more homer this year and then retire next March 10 to play professional golf. » March 7, 1965: Tigers manager Chuck Dressen suffers a mild coronary occlusion. He will be sidelined until May 19th. Coach Bob Swift will be acting manager. » May 16, 1966: Chuck Dressen suffers his 2nd heart attack in two years. Coach Bob Swift again takes the helm of the Tigers. » July 14, 1966: Interim Detroit skipper Bob Swift is hospitalized, and 3B coach Frank Skaff takes over. » October 17, 1966: Bob Swift, 51, dies at Detroit, losing a bout with cancer. He is the 2nd Tigers manager to pass away this year.