#602 Dave Bristol

The first ever Milwaukee Brewer manager (excluding the 1900 Milwaukee Brewers) but not the franchise first manager….A career minor league player started as player coach….Moved up thru the Cincinnati chain getting the nod for the Reds in mid season 1966…Never had a losing season for the Reds with his stint ending in 1969….Never had a winning season afterwards….Did have strange situations…. hired by the Seattle Pilots prior to 1970 spring training….Played spring training as the Pilots but on route to the regular season  team trucks drivers got the word and turned east to Milwaukee….Record on the back of card tells the story....Dave would be fired 30 games into the 1972 season....Eventually traveled to the floundering Atlanta Braves and new owner Ted Turner…first year finished last with 92 loses….After a 8-21 start, Ted declared himself skipper and put Dave on assignment…Ted lost his one game and drew the ire of the Commissioner…Dave was reinstated and Braves were a marginally better…still lost 100 games….In 1979, was a late season replacement for San Francisco Giants…was retained for 1980 and dismissed after a 75-86 record.