Bruce Edwards got his shot at the major leagues after the Brooklyn starting catcher made a run for the border. Mickey Owen, the Dodgers’ primary backstop, jumped from the National League to the newly formed Mexican League in 1946. “Bull” Edwards joined the team midseason, providing steady defensive catching work and helping keep the team in playoff contention. The Dodgers ultimately fell to the Cardinal’s in the first ever NL tie-breaker, though not before Edwards captured a share of MVP votes for his midseason contribution.
He put together an impressive sophomore performance, batting close to .300 and getting a reserve role in the All-Star Game. Injuries and the rise of Roy Campanella the next year limited his playing time. Brooklyn knew they had a good catcher in Edwards, but also knew that Campanella played at a higher level. The team sent Edwards to the Chicago Cubs in mid-1951. Edwards nabbed one more All-Star appearance (1952) but essentially found himself in a backup role for the rest of his career.
