Books and articles about Birdie Tebbetts

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A high-voiced, talkative backstop, Birdie's nickname was acquired while at Providence College. A consistent hitter, he made exactly 1,000 hits in a 14-year career interrupted by three years of military service. He managed for 11 ML seasons. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 27, 1940: Besides Bobo Newsom (21-5), Schoolboy Rowe (16-3), and Tommy Bridges (12-9), the Tigers pitching staff combines for a losing record. Needing one victory to gain the title, manager Del Baker decides to withhold Newsom and Rowe and picks Floyd Giebell, an obscure rookie just called in from Buffalo. Giebell shuts out the Indians 2-0 to beat Bob Feller, who gives up just 3 hits. Not eligible for the WS, Giebell never wins another game in the ML. During the game, unruly Cleveland fans shower the field with fruit and vegetables. At one point, a basket of green tomatoes is dropped onto Tigers C Birdie Tebbetts' head while he sits in the bullpen. » May 5, 1948: Against the Tigers, Red Sox P Mel Parnell has two balks called on successive pitches. He scatters 10 hits and gets no decision as reliever Ellis Kinder is the 4–3 winner. SS Vern Stephens participates in five DPs with Boston getting another going Ted Williams to Birdie Tebbetts. » September 28, 1949: Facing Ray Scarborough, the Nats' top pitcher, the Red Sox take a 1-0 lead into the 9th only to have Washington tie it up. Mel Parnell, in relief, bounces a curve past C Birdie Tebbetts, and the winning run scores from 3rd. » August 6, 1950: Boston P Ellis Kinder hits a grand slam off White Sox ace Billy Pierce, and totals six RBIs in the game. Kinder's HR comes after an intentional pass to Birdie Tebbetts. For "Old Folks," it is his first and only career homer. The Red Sox roll, 9–2. Kinder also stops rookie Chico Carrasquel's consecutive game batting steak of 24 games. Joe Dobson gives up seven hits in the nitecap and wins, 4–3, to give the Bosox a sweep. » May 24, 1954: In a unique Birdie Tebbetts' shift against the Cards Stan Musial, the Redlegs enlist a "4th" OF in place of regular SS Roy McMillan. This causes a box score irregularity because left-handed Nino Escalera is officially listed as a left-handed SS. After all that, Art Fowler strikes out Musial as the Reds win 4–2. » October 24, 1956: The AP names Cincinnati manager Birdie Tebbetts as its NL Manager of the Year. » August 14, 1958: Manager Birdie Tebbetts of the Reds resigns. Jimmy Dykes takes over as interim manager. » September 29, 1958: Mayo Smith signs as the new Reds manager, replacing Birdie Tebbetts, who resigned on August 14th. » September 2, 1961: Milwaukee manager Chuck Dressen (71-58) is axed and executive vice president Birdie Tebbetts becomes the new skipper. » April 1, 1964: Cleveland manager Birdie Tebbetts suffers a heart attack and will be sidelined until July 5th. Coach George Strickland will manage the Indians in Tebbetts' absence. » July 3, 1964: Birdie Tebbetts returns to limited duty as manager of the Indians. » August 20, 1966: Birdie Tebbetts (66-57) resigns as manager of the Indians. George Strickland is named interim boss.