Cats to Retire Bobby Bragan's Jersey May 24
Published on May 19, 2003 under North American League (NAmL)
Fort Worth Cats News Release
The Fort Worth Cats announced today that the organization will retire Bobby Bragan's No. 10 Cats jersey during a pre-game ceremony before the Fort Worth-Alexandria game, Saturday, May 24 at LaGrave Field. This marks the first jersey retired in the history of the Cats.
"There could only be one man to be the first Fort Worth Cat to have his jersey retired, and that man is Bobby Bragan," said Carl Bell, Cats Chairman and CEO. "Bobby Bragan is not just Fort Worth's ambassador of baseball, but his caring heart and dedication to young people and kids of all ages in our community are an example to all of us. I am proud to have Bobby's No. 10 be immortalized for the ages, and even more proud to have Bobby as my very good friend."
The Cats will honor Bragan with a tribute the weekend of May 23-25 at LaGrave Field by giving away 1,500 Bobby Bragan bobblehead dolls (lottery system used) Friday, May 23, 1,500 replica Bobby Bragan Jersey T-Shirts Saturday, May 24, and 1,500 Bobby Bragan baseball cards Sunday, May 25.
Bragan, considered by everyone in the area as "Mr. Baseball" in Fort Worth, was the player/manager of the Cats from 1948-52. His teams were always competitive and never finished below the .500 mark. The 1948 and 1949 teams won the regular season title in the Texas League. The '48 club won the league playoffs as well, but lost in the Dixie Series. Bragan's best year with the Cats came in 1949 when he batted .295 to go along with seven home runs and 60 RBI.
He played seven seasons in the majors for the Philadelphia Phillies (1940-42) and the Brooklyn Dodgers (1943-44, 1947-48). Bragan started the 1948 season with Brooklyn, but the team's general manager Branch Rickey wanted to bring up future Hall of Famer Roy Campanella from the minors. Rickey offered Bragan the managerial job with the Cats and he took over in July of '48.
Bragan managed the Pirates, Indians and Braves in the big leagues. He was the field manager for Pittsburgh in 1956 and 1957. Bragan was the skipper of Cleveland for half a season in '58. He landed in Milwaukee in 1963 and led the Braves until they departed for Atlanta after the '65 season. Bragan made the move to Georgia and was the first skipper of the Atlanta Braves. He managed future Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Warren Spahn.
Today, Bobby is the CEO/Chairman of the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation, which holds several major events each year, attracting baseball legends from around the country. The money from the foundation goes to youth scholarships. A portion of the Cats' dugout suites revenue goes to his foundation. Since 1991, Bragan's foundation has awarded over $650,000 in scholarships to 261 recipients.
North American League Stories from May 19, 2003
- Cats to Retire Bobby Bragan's Jersey May 24 - Fort Worth Cats
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