![\"bristol2\"](\"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/bristol2.jpg\")
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Dave Bristol<\/strong><\/span> has come full circle.<\/p>\n He began his career in the Reds organization at age 18 in 1951 at Welch in the Appalachian League, and by 1957 he was player-manager of the Hornell Redlegs. By 1964 he was manager of the Reds\u2019 top farm team, AAA San Diego, and in 1966 he was added to the major-league coaching staff under manager Don Heffner.<\/p>\n In midseason that year, Heffner was fired and Bristol became manager of the big-league club. He held that post through the end of the 1969 season, when the Reds finished four games behind the Atlanta Braves in the first year of divisional play.<\/p>\n When Bristol took over in Cincinnati at age 33 \u2013 the youngest manager in the big leagues — the Reds\u2019 roster was loaded with players he had helped develop in the minor leagues: Pete Rose, Tommy Helms, Tony Perez, Art Shamsky, Chico Ruiz, and many more. The team that became known as the Big Red Machine had winning records in each of Bristol\u2019s seasons as manager, and clearly bore his imprint.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did everything he could to make you a better baseball player and a better person,\u201d said Reds Hall of Fame member Tommy Helms. \u201cI was blessed to play for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Bristol\u2019s calling-cards as a manager were relentless work on fundamentals and a willingness to stand up for all of his players.<\/p>\n Darrel Chaney broke into the big leagues with the Reds in 1969, Bristol\u2019s third full season as manager. \u201cDave was a \u2018fundamental\u2019 maniac,\u201d Chaney recalls. \u201cHe used to tell us, \u2018Boys, you only get 27 outs. Treat them like precious gems.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n [Dave was]\u201d a tough competitor and [had] a love for baseball that was off the charts,\u201d said Johnny Bench. \u201cHe lived and breathed the game.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love him,\u201d Chaney said. \u201cHe had the guts to bring me to the big leagues. You don\u2019t get to manage five major-league teams without knowing what you\u2019re doing. He\u2019s a great baseball man and a great human being.<\/p>\n \u201cI live in Georgia, but my heart is in Cincinnati, and that\u2019s because of Dave,\u201d he added. I\u2019m so happy to come back and see him get inducted.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn baseball, fun is spelled w-i-n,\u201d Bristol said. \u201cThat\u2019s why you play this game.\u201d<\/p>\n With his induction into the Reds Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2018, the 85-year-old baseball lifer\u2019s place in Reds history will be secure.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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