Jim Brewer--1972
Jim Brewer was a manager’s dream.
Consistent and versatile.
The southpaw worked as a swingman
for the Cubs and Dodgers during the
early 1960s, before moving to the
backend of the Los Angeles bullpen
to close out games as he closed out
his career. With a screwball that the
commanded; Brewer anchored the
Dodger bullpen from 1968 to 1973,
as he posted 14 or more saves for
six consecutive years.
He owned a 69-65 lifetime record and
his 132 saves are nothing to sneeze
at; yet Brewer’s most impressive stat
is his career 3.07 ERA over 17
seasons. Working his screwball away
from right-handed hitters, he
dominated the National League with
an ERA under 2.00 during three
seasons (1965, 1971-72), however
he didn’t draw All-Star considerations
until 1973.
Surprisingly, his reward for an All-
Star campaign was a reduced roll in
1974, as Mike Marshall joined Los
Angeles and proceeded to use his
rubber arm to hurl in 106 games en
route to the NL Cy Young Award.
Following his playing days, Brewer
would go on to work in the collegiate
ranks as a pitching coach at Oral
Roberts and Northwestern, before
joining the Dodgers for one season
as a minor league pitching coach in
1987. He tragically died in a car
accident, just one day before his
50th birthday.
(11/15/08)
Consistent and versatile.
The southpaw worked as a swingman
for the Cubs and Dodgers during the
early 1960s, before moving to the
backend of the Los Angeles bullpen
to close out games as he closed out
his career. With a screwball that the
commanded; Brewer anchored the
Dodger bullpen from 1968 to 1973,
as he posted 14 or more saves for
six consecutive years.
He owned a 69-65 lifetime record and
his 132 saves are nothing to sneeze
at; yet Brewer’s most impressive stat
is his career 3.07 ERA over 17
seasons. Working his screwball away
from right-handed hitters, he
dominated the National League with
an ERA under 2.00 during three
seasons (1965, 1971-72), however
he didn’t draw All-Star considerations
until 1973.
Surprisingly, his reward for an All-
Star campaign was a reduced roll in
1974, as Mike Marshall joined Los
Angeles and proceeded to use his
rubber arm to hurl in 106 games en
route to the NL Cy Young Award.
Following his playing days, Brewer
would go on to work in the collegiate
ranks as a pitching coach at Oral
Roberts and Northwestern, before
joining the Dodgers for one season
as a minor league pitching coach in
1987. He tragically died in a car
accident, just one day before his
50th birthday.
(11/15/08)
