TL1 Arkansas Travelers

Texas League Champs To Receive Bobby Bragan Award

Published on January 26, 2004 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release


Ray Winder Field, Little Rock, AR – The Texas League announced that the award given each season to the Texas League Champion has been renamed the Bobby Bragan Texas League Championship Award. Bragan spent 12 years in the Texas League as a player, manager and league president.

"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 areas as has Bobby Bragan."

"This is one of the best honors I've ever received," Bragan said. "I am thrilled and honored that the members of the Texas League would recognize me in this way."

Bragan reached the Major Leagues as an infielder with the 1940 Philadelphia Phillies. In 1943, Bragan was traded to Brooklyn where he stayed until 1948 except for two years service in the military during World War II.

After seeing limited duty early in 1948, Bragan accepted an offer from the Dodgers to become player/manager for their Texas League affiliate in Fort Worth.

"I knew it was the best thing to do," Bragan quipped. "My decision might have been one of the best ever for the Dodgers because my leaving made room for Roy Campanella."

Bragan's decision to go to the Texas League bore immediate fruits, as he led the Ft. Worth Cats to a Texas League championship. Over the next five seasons Bragan led the Cats to a 492-360 record, including 100 wins in 1949, and two post-season berths. During this time, Bragan was also the starting catcher for the Cats and still holds league records for fewest steals allowed by a catcher (6 steals in 1952) and for fewest passed balls (no passed balls in 1949 and 1951).

His success as a Texas League manager led to stints as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. Bragan was manager of the Braves during their move to Atlanta.

Bragan returned to the Texas League as league president in 1969, a position he held through the 1975 season. During that era, the minor leagues were in financial turmoil. Bragan helped keep the Texas League operating by working tirelessly to find new locations for failing franchises, while trying to bolster the prospects of other league operators.

After the 1975 season, Bragan was elected president of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, a position he held through 1979. Over the past two decades, Bragan has also had a long association with the Texas Rangers, most recently in community relations.

Bragan continues to make Ft. Worth his home, where he also heads the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation.

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Texas League Stories from January 26, 2004


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