Major League Baseball Player. The catcher made his big-league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946. The right-handed batter hit .295 in 1947 and led National League receivers in putouts and double plays. Following the season, though, he hurt his arm throwing during an exhibition game against the inmates at Folsolm Prison. That, and the arrival of Roy Campanella onto the scene relegated him to backup duty. He hit .222 (6-27) in the 1947 World Series and .500 (1 for 2) in the 1949 World Series, both won by the New York Yankees. The Dodgers and Chicago Cubs pulled off a blockbuster eight-player swap on June 15, 1951. The deal sent Edwards, pitcher Joe Hatten, outfielder Gene Hermanski and infielder-outfielder Eddie Miksis to the Cubs for outfielder Andy Pafko, pitcher Johnny Schmitz, infielder Wayne Terwilliger and catcher Rube Walker. The next day they all appeared in their new uniforms at Wrigley Field. Edwards drove in four runs, three on a homer off Carl Erskine, as Chicago won, but the Cubs were roundly vilified by the other clubs and the media. Edwards played with the Washington Senators in 30 games in 1955 and was the third-string catcher behind Ed Bailey and Smoky Burgess for Cincinnati in 1956. He got into only seven games all year for the Reds, six as a pinch hitter. He had a lifetime batting average of .256 for 10 years. He served in the US Army during World War II as a Sergeant in the Tank Destroyer force.
Major League Baseball Player. The catcher made his big-league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946. The right-handed batter hit .295 in 1947 and led National League receivers in putouts and double plays. Following the season, though, he hurt his arm throwing during an exhibition game against the inmates at Folsolm Prison. That, and the arrival of Roy Campanella onto the scene relegated him to backup duty. He hit .222 (6-27) in the 1947 World Series and .500 (1 for 2) in the 1949 World Series, both won by the New York Yankees. The Dodgers and Chicago Cubs pulled off a blockbuster eight-player swap on June 15, 1951. The deal sent Edwards, pitcher Joe Hatten, outfielder Gene Hermanski and infielder-outfielder Eddie Miksis to the Cubs for outfielder Andy Pafko, pitcher Johnny Schmitz, infielder Wayne Terwilliger and catcher Rube Walker. The next day they all appeared in their new uniforms at Wrigley Field. Edwards drove in four runs, three on a homer off Carl Erskine, as Chicago won, but the Cubs were roundly vilified by the other clubs and the media. Edwards played with the Washington Senators in 30 games in 1955 and was the third-string catcher behind Ed Bailey and Smoky Burgess for Cincinnati in 1956. He got into only seven games all year for the Reds, six as a pinch hitter. He had a lifetime batting average of .256 for 10 years. He served in the US Army during World War II as a Sergeant in the Tank Destroyer force.
Bio by: Ron Coons
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