Bob Swift
From BR Bullpen
Robert Virgil Swift
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Weight 180 lb.
- Debut April 16, 1940
- Final Game September 27, 1953
- Born March 6, 1915 in Salina, KS USA
- Died October 17, 1966 in Detroit, MI USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"Pitch him low." - Bob Swift, Tigers catcher, telling his pitcher how to pitch to midget Eddie Gaedel
"I never shook him off once." - pitcher Fred Hutchinson
Bob Swift was a catcher for fourteen years in the big leagues, never playing any other position. Mostly playing for Detroit, he appeared in the 1945 World Series.
In addition to managing in the majors, Swift managed the 1956 Albuquerque Dukes, 1961 Duluth-Superior Dukes, and the 1963 Syracuse Chiefs. He also was a major league coach at Kansas City and Washington.
In 1966, Swift replaced Chuck Dressen as skipper of the Detroit Tigers after Dressen suffered a heart attack. Two months later, Swift was hospitalized and replaced by coach Frank Skaff. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and died on October 16th. Ironically, Dressen also died that August.
[edit] Notable Achievement
- Won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1945
| Preceded by Chuck Dressen | Detroit Tigers Manager 1965 | Succeeded by Chuck Dressen |
| Preceded by Chuck Dressen | Detroit Tigers Manager 1966 | Succeeded by Frank Skaff |
