Vern Bickford!

[DODGER DEB]

As I was looking at a baseball birthday list yesterday I noticed that it was pitcher VERN BICKFORD'S birthday. He pitched for both the Boston and Milwaukee Braves in the late 1940's and 1950's. I also noticed that he died very young; a few months before his 40th birthday.

Does anyone know the circumstances of his early passing?

c.

[THE OX]

I checked it out, and it seems that the cause of death was cancer. Here's a link:

http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Bickford.Vernon.Obit.html

I remember back in 1960 when he passed away, his comparative youth was quite a shock!

[DODGER DEB]

I checked it out, and it seems that the cause of death was cancer. Here's a link:

http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Bickford.Vernon.Obit.html

I remember back in 1960 when he passed away, his comparative youth was quite a shock!


Thanks, THE OX. I appreciate the info.

I remember him as a Brave coming into OUR Ebbets Field, but when I saw the date of his passing, I drew a blank as to the reason.

c.

[THE OX]

......I remember him as a Brave coming into OUR Ebbets Field......

Boy, I'll bet you Dodger fans were horrified when you saw the Milwaukee Braves' Bob Buhl coming into Ebbets Field (8-1 vs. the Dodgers in 1956, IIRC)!

Seriously, though, I was just a kid of 13 or so when Bickford died, and it came as quite a shock that an athlete would die from illness that young.

[DODGER DEB]

Boy, I'll bet you Dodger fans were horrified when you saw the Milwaukee Braves' Bob Buhl coming into Ebbets Field (8-1 vs. the Dodgers in 1956, IIRC)!

Seriously, though, I was just a kid of 13 or so when Bickford died, and it came as quite a shock that an athlete would die from illness that young.


Oh, yes! 1956 was quite a year for the Dodgers/Braves rivalry. It culminated on the last day of the season, September 30, 1956, when WE won the NL pennant. That weekend series was one to remember. OUR Ebbets Field was packed for the three days, literally hanging on every pitch. WE were playing the Pirates and the Braves were playing the Cubs. OUR win pushed Milwaukee to paint a sign in rightfield of County Stadium..."OK BROOKLYN, Wait Till Next Year"!

Of course, the Braves won in 1957, but WE lost more than a pennant, WE lost OUR Team...forever!

c.

[penncentralpete]

As I was looking at a baseball birthday list yesterday I noticed that it was pitcher VERN BICKFORD'S birthday. He pitched for both the Boston and Milwaukee Braves in the late 1940's and 1950's. I also noticed that he died very young; a few months before his 40th birthday.

Does anyone know the circumstances of his early passing?

c.

here's vern bickford