Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Final Card: Ed Bailey

Ed Bailey (#246) was a starting catcher from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds.

Isn't this just what you would expect a catcher to look like?


Ed started in the minor leagues in 1950 with class-C Ogden (UT) Reds. After 2 years in the military, Bailey returned to the minors with the class-AA Tulsa Oilers. He made his major-league debut in the last week of the 1953 season.

After spending much of 1955 in the minors, Bailey took over as the Reds' #1 catcher in 1956, making 102 starts (compared to 53 starts for Smoky Burgess, the regular catcher in 1955).

A pair of rookie catchers (Jerry Zimmerman, Johnny Edwards) took over the Reds catching duties in 1961, so in late April, Bailey was traded to the Giants.

After starting in 1961 and time-sharing with Tom Haller in 1962 and 1963, Ed was traded to the Milwaukee Braves after the season with Felipe Alou, Billy Hoeft, and Ernie Bowman for Del Crandall, Bob Hendley and Bob Shaw. Before spring training in 1965, he was traded back to the Giants for Billy O'Dell. Four months later, he was traded to the Cubs (this time with Bob Hendley).

Although this card says "Cubs", Ed was sold in January 1966 to the Angels, who released him in early May after appearing in only 5 games - all as a pinch-hitter. This brought an end to Bailey's 14-year career.
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4 comments:

  1. LesleeFebruary 17, 2010 at 7:11 PM

    Just thought I would throw this out there, I just happen to live in Exton and Ed was my Great Uncle. I constantly google him to see what is out there and came upon your blog...small world! Just an FYI, he also played in the 1962 World Series, five all star games and caught Juan Marichal's no-hitter in 1963. His Brother Jim was an MLB Pitcher and played with him in 1959 in Cincinnati as the one of the only catcher/pitcher teams ever. Anyway, thanks for posting this info, so neat to see and kinda cool we are practically neighbors!
    Go Phils!
    Leslee

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  2. Jim from DowningtownApril 2, 2012 at 12:53 AM

    Leslee,

    And apparently, we both know the Bauernschmidts!

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  3. Gumbino CollettiApril 12, 2012 at 5:21 AM

    I was born in Cincinnati in 1954. My father became friends with Ed at the apartments we lived at while he was building our house. My older brothers enjoyed Ed and most of the 1956 team over at that house for parties and events. Ed took my then 12 year old brother Don into the dugout for the games he attended with the tickets we were always given. Don got a team ball signed by everyone, and regrets playing ball with it until it was ruined. "DOH!"

    Who knew??

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  4. AnonymousOctober 13, 2012 at 9:57 PM

    Ed Bailey's baseball cards were usually some of the best poses in the sets!

    ReplyDelete