Only four former Negro League pitchers have taken the
mound in a World Series: Satchel Paige
(1948 Cleveland Indians), Don Newcombe (1949, 1955, and 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers),
Joe Black (1952 and 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers), and Marshall “Sheriff” Bridges
(1962 New York Yankees). Born on June 2, 1931 in Jackson, Mississippi, Bridges was
a pitcher and first baseman for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League. The hard throwing left hander was signed by
the New York Giants in 1953, but spent five seasons pitching in the minor
leagues before his Major League debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1959. After three seasons in the National League,
two with Cardinals (1959 – 1960) and one with the Cincinnati Reds (1961),
Bridges became the top relief pitcher for the 1962 New York Yankees. In 52 relief appearances, he won eight games
while saving 18 others and helped the Yankees capture the American League
pennant. The “Sheriff” made two
appearances in the World Series pitching a total of three and one third innings
as the Yankees defeated the San Francisco Giants to win the World
Championship. After being shot by a
woman in a bar during spring training the next season, Bridges fell out of
favor with the Yankees. Appearing in
only 23 games in 1963, he was traded to the Washington Senators after the
season.
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