Athletes - Tommy Bridges

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	Athletes - Tommy Bridges

Thomas Jefferson Davis "Tommy" Bridges (December 28, 1906 – April 19, 1968) was a Major League Baseball curveball pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers.

Born in Gordonsville, Tennessee, Bridges attended the University of Tennessee, and joined the Tigers in 1930 with an auspicious debut, inducing Babe Ruth to ground out on his first major-league pitch.

With the Tigers, Tommy Bridges won 20 games or more three times, leading the league in 1936 with 23 wins, and was a six-time All-Star from 1934 to 1940, missing out in 1938 due to an injury. Appearing in four World Series, he was a member of the Tigers' 1935 World Series and 1945 World Series championship teams. On August 15, 1932, Bridges came within one out of throwing a perfect game. His curveball was an effective pitch; for two consecutive seasons, he lead the American League in strikeouts, and was among the top ten in the category for twelve seasons.

After serving in the Army during World War II in 1944, Bridges returned for a brief stint with the Tigers before being sent to the minors in 1946. He pitched for four years with the Portland Beavers team in the Pacific Coast League, but never pitched in the majors again. Upon retiring in 1950, Bridges became a scout for the Cincinnati Reds. Bridges' career record in the majors was 194-138.

Bridges's career was tainted by his actions after his retirement. In 1950, Bridges, the son of a preacher and a player always noted for his soberness and good nature, left his wife for another woman. He became an alcoholic and was eventually fired from his position due to his problem .

Tommy Bridges passed away April 19, 1968, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 61 years old.

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