Texas League Champions to receive Bobby Bragan Trophy
Published on January 23, 2004 under Texas League (TL1) News Release
The Texas League announced today that the trophy given each season to the League's championship club will now be known as the Bobby Bragan Texas League Championship Trophy.
"I am extremely pleased to make this announcement," said Texas League President Tom Kayser. "Few men in the history of this league have had such influence in so many different area as has Bobby Bragan."
Bragan was an all-star player, pennant winning manager and League president in his 12 years service to the Texas League.
"This is one of the best honors I've ever received," Bragan said when informed of the honor. "I am thrilled and humbled that the members of the Texas League would recognize me it this way."
Signed to his first professional baseball contract as a 19-year-old in 1937, Bragan reached the Major Leagues in 1940 as a starting infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies. Traded to Brooklyn in 1943, Bragan began catching regularly while with the Dodgers, where he remained until 1948, except for two years service in the military during World War II.
Having seen limited service with Brooklyn in 1948, in July Bragan accepted an offer from Dodgers GM Branch Rickey to go to their Texas League affiliate at Fort Worth to become their player/manager.
"I knew it was the best thing to do," Bragan quipped. "I had spent so much time on the bench since April, my team mates had begun calling me Judge."
"My decision might have been one of the best ever for the Dodgers," he joked. "By going to the Cats, I made room in Brooklyn for Roy Campanella."
His decision was certainly one of the best in his long baseball career. Managing the Cats put the Birmingham native on a path that would take him back to the Major Leagues as manager of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Atlanta, while helping the Dodgers develop some top shelf talent.
Over the second half of the 1948 season, Bragan led his club to a first place finish in the regular season, the Texas League championship and a place in the Dixie Series, which the Cats lost, ironically to Bragan's home town team, the Birmingham Barons. Over the five seasons he directed the Cats from 1948 through 1953, Bragan had a 492-360 record, won 100 games in 1949, finished in first place twice and qualifying for post-season play in all but 1951.
On the field, Bragan was no slouch, either. He still holds the Texas League record for fewest stolen bases allowed by a catcher in 100 or more games, having allowed just six successful steals in 1952. He also shares the record for fewest passed balls in a season, having allowed none in both 1949 and 1951. He also managed twice in the Texas League star game and played in three.
Among the players that fell under his guidance at Fort Worth were future Major League stars Carl Erskine, Don Hoak, Elroy Face, Dee Fondy, Ed Roebuck, Irv Noren, Cal Abrams, Chico Carasquel, Billy Loes, Turk Lown and future managers Billy Hunter and Dick Williams.
Bragan returned to the Texas League as President in 1969, a position he held through the 1975 season. During that era, the minor leagues were in financial turmoil. Bobby helped keep the Texas League operating by worked tirelessly to help find new in which to relocate failing franchises, while trying to bolster the prospect of the other league operators. One of the people that Bobby encouraged during his tenure was Jim Paul, who became one of the leading innovators and promoters in Minor League baseball as the owner and operator of the El Paso Diablos.
"Even though Bobby was from the old school, he did everything he could to foster and protect us when we started shaking up things in El Paso in 1974," Paul commented. "He was always supportive and encouraged others to try new things to help draw more fans to the ballpark. How much did I appreciate what he did for us? My wife and I named our first son Robert after Bobby."
After the 1975 season Bragan was elected President of the National Association of Professional Baseball clubs, a position he held through 1979. Over the past two decades, Bobby has also has had a long association with the Texas Rangers, most recently as a member of their Community Relations Department.
Bragan continues to make Fort Worth his home, where he also heads the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation.
Texas League Stories from January 23, 2004
- Diablos' and Diamondbacks' Spanish Broadcasts Land in Juarez - El Paso Diablos
- Texas League Champions to receive Bobby Bragan Trophy - TL1
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
