Marshall Bridges – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Marshall Bridges made his mark in baseball history over a seven-year Major League career from 1959 to 1965. As a left-handed pitcher, folks called him “Fox” and “Sheriff.” He played for four different teams, and honestly, his career had a mix of highs and lows.

Bridges hung up his glove in 1965 after finishing his final season with the Washington Senators. He wrapped up his career with 23 wins, 15 losses, and a World Series ring with the New York Yankees in 1962.

He started out in the Negro Leagues and eventually made it to the majors. Bridges’ story is all about grit and talent during a really important time in baseball.

From his days with the Memphis Red Sox to shining as a reliever for the Yankees, Bridges had both professional wins and personal hurdles. The way he navigated baseball’s shifting landscape gives us a window into what it was like for players straddling different eras. His journey is pretty fascinating.

Early Life and Entry Into Baseball

Marshall Bridges was born on June 2, 1931, in Jackson, Mississippi. He learned to play baseball there before joining the Memphis Red Sox in the Negro Leagues.

He made the jump from segregated baseball to the majors at a time when American sports were changing fast.

Childhood in Jackson, Mississippi

Bridges grew up in Jackson during the 1930s and 1940s. Born on June 2, 1931, he spent those early years in the segregated South.

Jackson didn’t offer many options for young Black athletes back then. The city’s racial barriers meant Bridges could only hope for a shot in the Negro Leagues.

Still, he kept working on his pitching as a lefty. That fastball of his stood out even when he was just a kid in Mississippi.

Scouts from the Negro Leagues noticed his arm. That early attention set the stage for the rest of his baseball life.

Time With the Memphis Red Sox

Bridges got his professional start with the Memphis Red Sox. That team gave him his first real taste of organized pro baseball.

Playing in the Negro Leagues toughened him up against strong competition. He learned what it took to be a pro.

Memphis acted like a springboard for his career. Those teams often helped players get ready for the next level.

While pitching for Memphis, Bridges sharpened his technique. His left-handed delivery and fastball caught the eyes of Major League scouts.

Transition to Organized Baseball

Major League Baseball started to open up for Negro League players like Bridges. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as the sport began to change.

Bridges spent some time in the Cardinals’ minor league system. That stretch let him get used to the structure and competition of organized baseball.

He impressed the Cardinals’ brass with his minor league performance. His fastball and pitching chops earned him a shot at the big leagues.

Bridges made his Major League debut on June 17, 1959, for the Cardinals at age 28. He faced the Phillies for his first outing, finally reaching the majors after years of hard work.

Major League Debut and Early Career

Marshall Bridges started his Major League journey in 1959 with the St. Louis Cardinals at 28. He later split time with the Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds as a left-handed pitcher.

St. Louis Cardinals Years

Bridges made his MLB debut on June 17, 1959, against the Phillies. He pitched 5.1 innings, gave up 5 hits, allowed 1 earned run, struck out 6, and got his first big league win.

At 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, Bridges quickly showed he could fill different pitching roles. In his rookie year, he posted a 6-3 record with a 4.26 ERA over 27 games.

He pitched as both a starter and reliever for the Cardinals in 1959. Four of those appearances were starts, and he worked in relief 23 times.

Bridges struck out 76 batters in 76 innings that year. He really knew how to keep hitters guessing.

In 1960, Bridges kicked off the season with St. Louis but had trouble staying consistent. He ended up with a 2-2 record and a 3.45 ERA in 20 games before the Cardinals traded him to Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Reds Tenure

After joining the Reds in 1960, Bridges found his groove as a relief pitcher. He went 4-0 with a 1.07 ERA in 14 games for Cincinnati that year.

He allowed just 14 hits in 25.1 innings and struck out 26. That run was some of the best pitching of his early career.

Bridges came back to the Reds in 1961 but ran into trouble. He struggled with his control, finishing with a 0-1 record and a 7.84 ERA in 13 games.

He gave up 26 hits in just 20.2 innings that season. Those struggles led to a trade to the New York Yankees, where things took a turn for the better.

Pinnacle Years: New York Yankees

Bridges hit the peak of his career with the Yankees from 1962 to 1963. His strong relief work helped the Yankees win the World Series in 1962, but he also faced some tough moments along the way.

1962 Season Performance

The Yankees brought in Bridges in 1962, hoping he could help the bullpen. He gave them exactly what they needed.

Bridges pitched in 52 games that season, picking up 8 wins as a reliever.

He tallied 18 saves, which was a pretty big deal at the time. Those saves played a big role in the Yankees’ run for the pennant.

His steady work out of the bullpen gave the team a boost in tight games. The Yankees leaned on him when it mattered.

Bridges’ 3.75 career ERA showed he could keep other teams from scoring. He became a key piece for the Yankees’ championship push.

Role in the World Series

The Yankees faced the Giants in the 1962 World Series. Bridges took the mound during the series and contributed to the Yankees’ win.

He did have a tough moment, though. Chuck Hiller from the Giants hit a grand slam off Bridges.

That grand slam was the first ever hit by a National League player in World Series history. It happened at a pretty crucial point.

Despite that, the Yankees still came out on top in the 1962 World Series. Bridges got his only championship ring in that series.

His World Series experience showed the intense pressure and big rewards that come with playing for the Yankees.

Noteworthy Incidents and Contributions

Bridges ran into serious off-field trouble in his Yankees days. On February 13, 1963, someone shot him in the leg at the Pride of Fort Lauderdale Elks Lodge.

The shooter, 21-year-old Carrie Lee Raysor, said Bridges kept insisting on driving her home. When he wouldn’t take no for an answer, she shot him with a small-caliber gun.

He took the bullet just below the knee. Even after that, Bridges managed to heal up and keep pitching.

He returned to the Yankees for the 1963 season after recovering. That comeback showed how determined he was.

Bridges picked up the nickname “Sheriff” with the Yankees. It fit his tough attitude and his role as a go-to guy in the bullpen.

Washington Senators and Final MLB Seasons

Bridges finished his big league career with the Washington Senators, pitching from 1964 to 1965. Those last two seasons brought his seven-year MLB run to a close.

Trade and Transition to Washington Senators

The Yankees traded Bridges to the Senators after the 1963 season. His numbers had dropped off since his standout 1962 run.

Washington became his fourth and last MLB team. The Senators were rebuilding and looking for experienced arms to help out.

The move to Washington gave Bridges a new shot. The team let him prove he could still get outs in the majors.

Performance in 1964 and 1965

Bridges’ last two years with the Senators brought mixed results. His ERA bounced around as he tried to find the form he’d shown with the Yankees.

In 1964, Bridges made regular relief appearances for Washington. He also started a few games when the team needed him.

He kept pitching for the Senators in 1965, his final season. By the end, his MLB stats showed 23 wins and 15 losses over 206 games for four different teams.

Career Summary with Washington:

• Years: 1964-1965
• Team: Washington Senators
• Role: Relief pitcher/occasional starter
• Final season: 1965

Retirement From Professional Baseball

Bridges retired after the 1965 season at age 34. He had spent seven years in the majors, starting back in 1959.

He played for the Cardinals, Reds, Yankees, and Senators. That 1965 season was his last chance to pitch at the top level.

His career ran from 1959 to 1965, and he finished with a 23-15 record. Bridges stepped away from the game after struggling to keep up the level he showed during his best days with the Yankees.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Marshall Bridges finished with a solid 23-15 record and a 3.75 ERA over seven seasons. He did his best work as a reliever, picking up 25 saves in 206 games for four teams.

Win-Loss Record

Bridges ended up with 23 wins and 15 losses, giving him a .605 winning percentage. His top season was in 1962 with the Yankees, where he went 8-4 with a 3.14 ERA.

He had his best run with the Yankees from 1962-1963, notching 10 wins and just 4 losses.

Bridges also did well with the Cardinals, going 8-5 over two seasons, including a strong 6-3 rookie year in 1959.

During his short time with the Reds, Bridges posted a 4-1 record. His last couple of years with the Senators brought only 1 win and 5 losses from 1964-1965.

Saves and Appearances

Bridges pitched in 206 games and started only 5, making his mark as a reliever. He collected 25 saves back when the stat was just starting to catch on.

His best year for saves came in 1962 with the Yankees, when he racked up 18 saves in 52 games.

He pitched in 75 games for the Yankees. Bridges finished 50 games in those two seasons, showing his value as a closer.

Bridges’ busiest year was 1962, with 52 appearances. He worked as a reliever almost every season, pitching in at least 13 games each year except for his last.

Career ERA and Notable Stats

Bridges put up a 3.75 career ERA over 345.1 innings pitched. In 1960, when he joined the Cincinnati Reds for a short stretch, he managed a staggering 1.07 ERA in just 14 appearances.

He struck out 302 batters and walked 191, which gave him a 1.58 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Opposing hitters only managed a .247 batting average against him throughout his career.

His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) sat at 3.58, just a touch better than his ERA. So, maybe luck wasn’t always on his side when it came to balls in play.

Bridges finished with a 1.465 WHIP, combining walks and hits per inning pitched. With the Yankees, his control looked sharper, and he posted a 111 ERA+—that’s 11% above league average during his time there.

Personal Life, Legacy, and Net Worth

Marshall Bridges passed away on September 3, 1990, at 59. He left a unique mark as one of baseball’s transitional figures.

His estimated net worth hit $3 million, which reflected both his MLB career earnings and what he did after baseball.

Life After Baseball

Marshall Bridges retired from professional baseball in 1965 after seven seasons in the majors. When he stepped away from the game, he left behind the spotlight that came with the Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals.

Honestly, there’s not a ton of public info about what Bridges did after baseball. Like a lot of players from his era, he probably tried his hand at business ventures or got involved in his community.

He lived another 25 years after retiring. Bridges kept some ties to the baseball world during those later years.

Reputation as the Last Negro League Pitcher in MLB

People called Marshall Bridges “Sheriff” back in his playing days, probably because he owned the mound with his presence. His left-handed fastball made him a go-to relief pitcher for several teams.

He stands out for his historical significance as one of the last players to move from the Negro Leagues into Major League Baseball. That puts him in a rare group who experienced both segregated and integrated pro ball.

Winning the 1962 World Series with the New York Yankees is a clear career highlight. That win came at a time when former Negro League players were still fighting to make their mark in the majors.

The “Sheriff” nickname stuck with him, and honestly, it just fits his legacy in the baseball community.

Estimated Net Worth and Community Impact

Financial Overview:

• Estimated net worth: $3 million
• Primary income source: Professional baseball career
• Career span: 1959-1965 (7 seasons)

Marshall Bridges built up his estimated $3 million net worth through his baseball career. For someone playing in the pre-free agency era, that’s actually pretty impressive.

Back in the 1960s, MLB salaries didn’t stack up to what players make now. Relief pitchers like Bridges usually brought in less than starters or everyday position players.

He also celebrated a World Series win with the Yankees, which probably meant a nice playoff share. Those championship bonuses really mattered to players back then.

Bridges probably made some smart moves with his baseball earnings after he retired.