Bob Swift

Robert Virgil Swift

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11½", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut April 16, 1940
• Final Game September 27, 1953
• Born March 6, 1915 in Salina, KS USA
• Died October 17, 1966 in Detroit, MI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"Pitch him low." - Bob Swift, Tigers catcher, telling his pitcher how to pitch to midget Eddie Gaedel

"I never shook him off once." - pitcher Fred Hutchinson

Bob Swift was a catcher for fourteen years in the big leagues, never playing any other position. Mostly playing for the Detroit Tigers, he appeared in the 1945 World Series.

In addition to managing in the majors, Swift managed the 1956 Albuquerque Dukes, 1961 Duluth-Superior Dukes, and the 1963 Syracuse Chiefs. He also was a major league coach with the Kansas City Athletics and Washington Senators.

In 1966, Swift replaced Chuck Dressen as skipper of the Detroit Tigers after Dressen suffered a heart attack. Two months later, Swift was hospitalized and replaced by coach Frank Skaff. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and died on October 16th. Ironically, Dressen also died that August.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1945

Preceded by Chuck Dressen

Detroit Tigers Manager 1965

Succeeded by Chuck Dressen

Preceded by Chuck Dressen

Detroit Tigers Manager 1966

Succeeded by Frank Skaff

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1956	Albuquerque Dukes	Western League	59-81	7th	New York Giants
1961	Duluth-Superior Dukes	Northern League	76-52	1st	Detroit Tigers	Lost in 1st round
1963	Syracuse Chiefs	International League	36-27	--	Detroit Tigers		replaced by Frank Carswell (44-43) on June 19
1965	Detroit Tigers	American League	24-18	--	Detroit Tigers		replaced by Chuck Dressen on May 31
1966	Detroit Tigers	American League	32-25	--	Detroit Tigers		replaced Chuck Dressen (16-10) on May 17 replaced by Frank Skaff on July 14

Related Sites

• BR Manager page