Bobby Bragan, a former major league manager dubbed "Mr. Baseball" for his decades of dedication to the game, has died.
Bragan died in his Fort Worth home Thursday night at 92.
In August 2005, Bragan earned the distinction as the oldest manager of a pro baseball game by leading his former minor league team, the Fort Worth Cats. At the time he was 87.
Bragan, a native of Birmingham, Ala., was a shortstop and catcher during his playing days.
Bragan spent seven seasons as a major league manager for Pittsburgh (1956-57), Cleveland (1958) and the Milwaukee (1963-65) and Atlanta (1966) Braves. He managed Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Warren Spahn, and compiled a record of 443-478.
The Texas Rangers released a statement on the passing of Bobby Bragan. "The Texas Rangers join the entire baseball community in mourning the passing of Bobby Bragan. He leaves an unmatched legacy not only in his beloved Fort Worth but also on a much larger scale. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Mr. Bragan was a one-man community relations department in his role of Rangers Director of Public Relations/Speakers Bureau. He made hundreds of appearances on behalf of the club, promoting Texas Rangers baseball. Through his efforts, Mr. Bragan helped created countless new Rangers fans and entertained thousands in the process. He had remained a Special Assistant to the team over the last 20 years, and we are privileged to say he was a longtime member of the Rangers family. Our prayers and sympathies go out to his wife Betty and the entire family. The Rangers salute the lifetime of baseball and community excellence that was Bobby Bragan. He will certainly be missed."
