Jim Bragan

Who was Jim Bragan?

James Alton Bragan was an infielder, manager and league president in American minor league baseball, a scout and coach at the Major League level, and a college baseball coach during a 40-plus year career in the game. He was the brother of Major League catcher, shortstop, manager and coach Bobby Bragan.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Jimmy Bragan attended Mississippi State University and played baseball in the Brooklyn Dodgers farm system from 1950–1957. After his playing career ended, he was the manager of the Bluefield Dodgers in 1957 and then joined the Cincinnati Reds organization as a scout. He remained a scout with the Reds through 1966 and then spent time as a Major League coach with Cincinnati from 1967–1969.

Bragan was the first base coach of the Montreal Expos in 1970 through early 1971, and the team's third base coach in 1972. He also was manager of the Expos' AAA Winnipeg Whips for the latter half of 1971, head baseball coach of Mississippi State University in 1975, and a coach with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976–1977. He was president of the AA Southern League from 1981–1994, one of the most successful periods in that league's history. the league subsequently named Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year Award in his honor. In 1994 he was presented with the King of Baseball award given by Minor League Baseball.