Tigers Great Brinkman To Early Grave

October 7, 2008
Eddie Brinkman, 66, Steady Shortstop, Dies
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO (AP) — Eddie Brinkman, a record-setting shortstop during a 15-year career in the majors, died last Tuesday in Cincinnati, his hometown. He was 66.

The Chicago White Sox, for whom he was a longtime coach and scout, announced his death but gave no cause.

Brinkman, who made his big-league debut at 19 in 1961 with the Washington Senators, played in an era when shortstops were known more for their gloves than their bats. He solidified his reputation as “good-field, no-hit” in 1972, when he batted just .203 with 6 home runs and 49 runs batted in for the American League East champion Detroit Tigers but set the league record for shortstops with 72 straight errorless games. Cal Ripken Jr. broke the mark in 1990.

Brinkman’s defense in 1972 earned him a Gold Glove award. He was an A.L. All-Star in 1973.

Brinkman hit .224 with 60 home runs in his career, most of it spent with Washington and Detroit. He split his last year, 1975, with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Texas Rangers and the Yankees.

In high school, in Cincinnati, he was a pitching star, playing on the same team as Pete Rose


This is eerie because I've been saying the name Eddie Brinkman to myself for days now. I was thinking of using it in a story.