Bob Swift
| Bob Swift | |
|---|---|
Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 16, 1940, for the St. Louis Browns | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 1953, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .231 |
| Home runs | 14 |
| Runs batted in | 238 |
| Managerial record | 56–43 |
| Winning % | .566 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Robert Virgil Swift (March 6, 1915 – October 17, 1966) was an
Swift is pictured in one of the most famous photographs in American sporting history. He was the catcher for the
Playing career
While Gaedel was a novice, Swift, a native of Salina, Kansas, played 14 consecutive seasons (1940–53) in the big leagues and all or parts of 22 years in professional baseball (1934–53; 1955–56).
During his big-league career, he toiled for the Browns (1940–42),
Coaching and managing career
Swift became a coach and
Swift was in his second stint as a Detroit coach in 1965 when manager Chuck Dressen was felled by a mild heart attack during spring training. As acting manager, Swift led Detroit to a 24–18 record until Dressen was able to return to duty on May 31.
The next season, on May 16, 1966, Dressen suffered his second coronary in as many seasons. Again, Swift took the reins, but in mid-July (with the Tigers 32–25 under his command) he fell ill and was hospitalized during the All-Star game break for what appeared to be food poisoning. Tests revealed, however, that Swift was suffering from inoperable lung cancer. Coach Frank Skaff took over July 14 as the team's second acting manager and finished the campaign.
Three months after stepping aside, on October 17, Bob Swift died in
References
- ^ "Detroit Tigers 6, St. Louis Browns 2", Retrosheet box score (19 August 1951, Game 2)
- The Associated Press, October 17, 1966
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Bob Swift at Find a Grave
