Jim Brideweser – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Jim Brideweser made his mark with a solid seven-year run in Major League Baseball during the 1950s. He bounced around to four different American League teams before calling it quits in 1957.

Born James Ehrenfeld Brideweser in Lancaster, Ohio, this infielder got his start with the New York Yankees at age 24. He later suited up for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and Detroit Tigers as he moved through his career.

Brideweser played 329 games over seven seasons from 1951 to 1957, mostly at shortstop and second base. He kept up a .252 batting average and helped the Yankees win a World Series. At 6 feet tall and just 165 pounds, he stood out for his defensive flexibility and his knack for slotting into different infield spots when the team needed him.

Let’s take a closer look at Brideweser’s life, from his days in college baseball to the big leagues, and how he left his mark on the game during baseball’s golden era. His story gives us a glimpse into what it was like for utility players who really held up successful teams in one of baseball’s most iconic decades.

Early Life and Background

Jim Brideweser was born February 13, 1927, in Lancaster, Ohio. He grew up during the Great Depression.

His journey to professional baseball started at the University of Southern California. There, he honed the skills that would eventually catch the eye of major league scouts.

Birthplace and Family

James Ehrenfeld Brideweser came into the world in Lancaster, Ohio, a small city in Fairfield County. Born in 1927, he grew up facing tough times.

The economic struggles of the 1930s shaped his early years. Like so many families, his felt the effects of the Great Depression in their small Ohio town.

Before he chased his baseball dreams, Brideweser served in the United States Army during World War II. That commitment to service showed his sense of duty before he set his sights on pro sports.

His time in the military probably helped build his discipline and strong work ethic. Those traits would serve him well once he hit the baseball diamond.

Education and College Baseball

Brideweser enrolled at the University of Southern California and played college ball there. USC had a reputation for a strong baseball program, drawing talent from all over.

He impressed professional scouts with his play at USC. Being in Los Angeles meant he had plenty of exposure to major league evaluators.

The New York Yankees snapped him up right off the USC campus before the 1950 season. That move kicked off his professional baseball career.

His time at USC really prepared him for the tough world of pro baseball. The jump from college to the majors worked out for the young shortstop.

Major League Baseball Career

Jim Brideweser played seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1951 to 1957. He appeared in 329 games and suited up for four different teams.

His career started with the New York Yankees and wrapped up with the Detroit Tigers. He also played for the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox along the way.

Debut With the New York Yankees

Brideweser made his big league debut on September 29, 1951, at age 24 with the Yankees. Scout Bill Essick signed him in 1949 after he graduated from USC.

At 6 feet and just 165 pounds, Brideweser filled in as a utility infielder. The Yankees mostly used him at shortstop and second base.

His time in New York gave him a taste of the majors. The Yankees let him develop his game at the highest level.

In those early years, Brideweser proved himself as a steady defender. He also earned a bit of a reputation for his strong eye at the plate—he struck out just 12.4% of the time over his career.

Tenure With the Baltimore Orioles

After leaving the Yankees, Brideweser joined the Baltimore Orioles. That move kicked off a new chapter in his baseball journey.

He continued to serve as a utility infielder in Baltimore. The team relied on his ability to cover multiple infield spots.

Brideweser showed he could adapt to different organizations. He kept up his solid defense and patient approach at the plate.

During this time, he kept doing the things that made him valuable to his teams. His steady play opened doors with other franchises.

Final Seasons and Retirement in 1957

Brideweser spent his last major league seasons with the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers. He played his final game on September 21, 1957.

The 1957 season stands out for one big moment. Brideweser hit his only career home run that year, a three-run shot off Boston Red Sox All-Star Frank Sullivan.

He finished with 329 total games played and 193 total bases, putting up a .311 slugging percentage in his seven years.

When he retired in 1957, Brideweser closed the book on a solid MLB career. Moving from the Yankees to the Tigers, he proved himself as a reliable utility guy who could help any ballclub.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Jim Brideweser’s seven-year MLB career included a perfect 1.000 batting average in 1953 and his lone home run during his final season. He played in 329 games for four American League teams, making his mark as a dependable utility infielder with 700 plate appearances.

Memorable Plate Appearances

Brideweser pulled off a perfect batting average of 1.000 in 1953 with the Yankees. In just four plate appearances, he picked up three hits—including a triple—and drove in three runs with an eye-popping 2.667 OPS.

His biggest offensive highlight came in his last season, 1957 with Baltimore. Brideweser belted his only career home run at age 30, wrapping up a career that totaled 700 plate appearances.

He put together his best stretch in 1957. That year, he hit .268 in 169 plate appearances, posted his highest single-season OPS at .714, and drove in 18 runs.

Statistical Overview

Brideweser finished with a .252 career batting average, tallying 156 hits in 620 at-bats. Over his seven seasons, he racked up 50 RBIs and scored 79 runs.

His defensive versatility really helped his teams. He mainly played shortstop but also filled in at second and third base, playing multiple positions for several clubs.

The Ohio native picked up one World Series championship with the Yankees from 1951-1953. His top statistical season came in 1957, when he posted a 1.0 WAR and proved his worth both in the field and at the plate.

Post-Baseball Life and Legacy

Jim Brideweser stepped away from the game after his last season with the Orioles in 1957. He lived quietly, far from the baseball spotlight, for more than three decades until he died in 1989.

His modest, seven-year career left its own mark on baseball history, thanks in part to his rare place as a one-home-run player.

Life After Retirement

Brideweser left professional baseball after the 1957 season with the Orioles. He spent that final year as a regular, getting into 91 games—his busiest season.

After hanging up his cleats, he lived a private life. Unlike some of his peers who stuck around the game as coaches or in front offices, Brideweser went another direction.

He spent 32 years in retirement before passing away on August 25, 1989, at age 62. Those post-baseball years showed the same quiet dignity he brought to his playing days.

Recognition and Impact

Brideweser’s baseball legacy really centers on a quirky stat. He hit just one home run in his entire seven-year career, and that came in his final season in 1957.

That rare feat put him in a pretty exclusive club. Among Baltimore Orioles with 300 or more at-bats, Brideweser holds the record for most at-bats with only one career home run.

He hit that lone homer in his 261st career game during the 1957 season. The timing made it special, coming in his last year in the majors.

Baseball historians remember Brideweser as part of a unique group of players who managed just one home run in their careers. His story really speaks to the journeyman players who quietly shaped baseball history with steady, if not flashy, performances.

Personal Life and Final Years

Jim Brideweser moved from the diamond to the classroom after his playing days ended in 1957. He died in 1989 at age 62 in California, where he built a second career as a teacher and coach.

Family and Personal Interests

After baseball, Brideweser went into education and earned his teaching credentials. He took a job as a mathematics teacher at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California.

He kept his passion for baseball alive by coaching. Brideweser led the varsity baseball team at the high school, guiding them to at least two championship seasons.

He also took on extra duties, working as a Title IX counselor at the school. That job meant helping make sure all students, no matter their gender, had equal opportunities in school programs.

His military service shaped his early adult life. Brideweser enlisted in the United States Army on August 2, 1945, during the World War II era. He attended USC before his professional baseball career got started.

Passing and Memorial

James Ehrenfeld Brideweser died on August 25, 1989, in Lake Forest, California. He was 62 years old when he passed away.

Some records mention El Toro, California as the place where he died. Both towns sit in Orange County, so it’s safe to say he spent his later years in Southern California.

He played his last major league game on September 21, 1957, and more than three decades later, he was gone. In those years, Brideweser built a second career in education.

The former shortstop left a mark on both baseball and the classroom. As a teacher and coach at Redondo Union High School, he influenced a lot of students.