John Briggs

Note: This page for 1950s pitcher John Briggs; for outfielder John "Johnny" Briggs, click here.

Jonathan Tift Briggs

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Folsom High School
• Debut April 17, 1956
• Final Game September 4, 1960
• Born January 24, 1934 in Natoma, CA USA
• Died December 25, 2018 in Murphys, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Fresh out of high school in 1952, John Briggs was a promising right-hander who threw a no-hitter for the Idaho Falls Russets of the Pioneer League in his first pro season. He finished his maiden voyage 13-11 with a 4.40 ERA. The 19-year-old was back with the same club in 1953, going 10-8 with a 4.58 ERA. Briggs turned up in the Class A Western International League with the Salem Senators when the Philadelphia Phillies obtained him from Idaho Falls before the 1954 season. John was 20-8 with a league-leading 2.50 ERA and 233 strikeouts and was chosen for the All-Star team. He was with the Pacific Coast League's Sacramento Solons in 1955, going 15-15 with a 3.44 ERA. In late September, Sacramento traded John, along with Richie Myers, to the Chicago Cubs for Bubba Church and Joe Stanka.

Briggs made his big league debut in April 1956, appearing in 3 games for Chicago and was dispatched back to the PCL with the Los Angeles Angels, where he went 5-5 with a 5.63 ERA. From 1957 through 1960, John split time between the majors and the minors on a yearly basis. He was with the Cubs parts of 1956 through 1958, the Cleveland Indians in 1959 and 1960 and, lastly, the Kansas City Athletics in 1960. He finished with a 9-11 record and an even 5.00 ERA in 59 games. Briggs had one career save. It came May 30, 1960 for the Indians against the Chicago White Sox. He relieved Barry Latman with the Tribe ahead, 9-4, in the 8th and got Sherm Lollar to hit into a double play and then finished the game as Latman got the win.

Briggs was with several minor league teams during his big league time and wound up his pro career in 1962, going 4-4 with the PCL San Diego Padres. John had 11 active seasons from 1952 through 1962. He made 252 appearances with a 96-72 record, pitching 1,482 innings, allowing 1,374 hits and 759 walks with a 3.70 ERA.

After his baseball career ended, he became a warehouse manager for Sears, and later resided in Natoma, CA. He died on Christmas Day 2018.

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page