Don Bryant

Who is Don Bryant?

Donald Ray Bryant was a catcher and coach in Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "Bear" by baseball teammates in homage to University of Alabama football coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant. Bryant threw and batted right-handed, stood 6'5" tall and weighed 200 pounds.

Bryant's professional career began in the Detroit Tigers' organization in 1960. After playing one full season and parts of two others in the National League with the 1966 Chicago Cubs and the 1969–1970 Houston Astros, batting .220 with one home run and 13 runs batted in, Bryant was acquired by the Boston Red Sox in December 1970 and became a playing coach for their AAA affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox, in 1973. The following year, Pawtucket manager Darrell Johnson was promoted to Boston as field boss, and brought Bryant with him as bullpen coach. Bryant coached under Johnson in Boston — serving on the 1975 American League championship team — and with the Seattle Mariners before leaving the game.