Birdie Tebbetts

{{Short description|American baseball player, coach, manager (1912–1999)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Birdie Tebbetts

|image=Birdie Tebbetts 1947.jpg

|caption=Tebbetts in 1947

|position=Catcher / Manager

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1912|11|10}}

|birth_place=Burlington, Vermont, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|1999|3|24|1912|11|10}}

|death_place=Bradenton Beach, Florida, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 16

|debutyear=1936

|debutteam=Detroit Tigers

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 14

|finalyear=1952

|finalteam=Cleveland Indians

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.270

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=38

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=469

|stat4label=Managerial record

|stat4value=748–705

|stat5label=Winning %

|stat5value={{winning percentage|748|705}}

|teams=

As player

Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|1936}}–{{mlby|1942}}, {{mlby|1946}}–{{mlby|1947}})
Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|1947}}–{{mlby|1950}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|1951}}–{{mlby|1952}})

As manager

Cincinnati Redlegs ({{mlby|1954}}–{{mlby|1958}})
Milwaukee Braves ({{mlby|1961}}–{{mlby|1962}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|1963}}–{{mlby|1966}})

|highlights=

4× All-Star (1941, 1942, 1948, 1949)

}}

George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts (November 10, 1912 – March 24, 1999) was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from 1936 to 1952. Tebbetts was regarded as the best catcher in the American League in the late 1940s.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xUtA_LRW2aoC&q=birdie+tebbetts&pg=PA62 |title=Backstop: a history of the catcher and a sabermetric ranking of 50 all-time greats |author=McNeil, William |year=2006 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9780786421770 |access-date=June 28, 2011 }}{{cite magazine |author=Richman, Milton |date=February 1949 |title=Behind Plate or At It – Catchers Lag |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=my4DAAAAMBAJ&q=baseball+digest+bruce+edwards&pg=PA37 |access-date=October 15, 2011 |work=Baseball Digest}}{{dead link|date=March 2025}}

Although he lacked speed and did not hit for power, Tebbetts was an exceptional defensive catcher and intelligent player who capably directed his pitchers. These traits served him well later in his career, as he became the manager for the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves and the Cleveland Indians. His major league career encompassed 14 years as a catcher, 11 as a manager and 28 as a scout.

Early life

Tebbetts was born in Burlington, Vermont, but his family moved to Nashua, New Hampshire a few months after he was born. Shortly thereafter, his father died, leaving his mother to raise the family.{{sabrbio|bacfc0e7|Tom Simon|June 28, 2011}} Some reports state that Tebbetts acquired his nickname as a boy after an aunt observed that his voice sounded like a bird chirping, while other reports state the nickname was acquired while attending Providence College. Tebbetts was a bat boy for the Nashua Millionaires as a child, also serving as a catcher for pitchers warming up.{{Cite web |last=Shalhoup |first=Dean |date=May 31, 2014 |title=Nashua’s ‘Birdie’ Tebbetts among 2014 NHIAA Hall of Fame inductees |url=https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/local-news/2014/05/31/nashua-8217s-8216birdie-8217-tebbetts-among-2014-nhiaa-hall-of-fame-inductees/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Nashua Telegraph}}{{Cite magazine |last=Creamer |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Creamer |date=1957-02-25 |title=The three worlds of Birdie Tebbetts |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1957/02/25/the-three-worlds-of-birdie-tebbetts |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}

Tebbetts was a star athlete at Nashua High School where he attained All-State status as a football quarterback and as a baseball catcher.{{cite news |title=Tebbetts: Nashua's big leaguer |work=The Telegraph |page=6 |date=April 10, 1994 |access-date=July 6, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=voljAAAAIBAJ&pg=6283,2011828&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} He signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers after they agreed to pay his college tuition. He attended Providence College where he became an All-American in baseball before graduating with a degree in philosophy in 1934. He also suffered an appendicitis in college, causing him to miss several months of baseball.

Baseball career

The Tigers purchased future Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane from the Philadelphia Athletics in December 1933, leaving no place for Tebbetts on the team. He spent the next three seasons playing in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the Tigers on September 16, 1936 at the age of 23.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tebbet001geo |title=Birdie Tebbetts minor league statistics |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}} In the 1937 season, Cochrane's playing career came to an end when he was hit by a pitch and suffered a fractured skull. Rudy York replaced Cochrane as the Tigers' catcher, but his defensive skills were so poor that by the 1939 season, new Tigers manager Del Baker gave Tebbetts a chance to play. Tebbetts ended the season with a .261 batting average and led American League (AL) catchers in assists and in baserunners caught stealing.{{cite web |title=Birdie Tebbetts at Baseball Reference |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tebbebi01.shtml |access-date=June 28, 2011 |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1939-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1939 American League Fielding Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}}

In 1940, York was converted into a first baseman, leaving Tebbetts in sole possession of the catcher's position.{{cite news |title=York To First Base |agency=Associated Press |work=Lawrence Journal-World |page=6 |date=January 27, 1940 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IDNdAAAAIBAJ&pg=3520,253948&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} He responded by posting a .296 batting average, as the Tigers defeated the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees in a tight pennant race to clinch the American League title. Tebbetts was held hitless in the 1940 World Series as the Tigers lost to the Cincinnati Reds in a seven-game series.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1940_WS.shtml |title=1940 World Series |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}} He once again led AL catchers in assists and in baserunners caught stealing.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1940-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1940 American League Fielding Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}} In September, Tebbetts had been charged with assault and battery during a game in Cleveland when a basket of tomatoes was dropped on him by a Cleveland fan.{{cite news |title=Detroit Catcher Sued For Attack On Cleveland Fan |agency=Associated Press |work=The Evening Independent |page=12 |date=September 30, 1940 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7eFPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5747,5756661&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} As police held the fan, Tebbetts rushed up and struck him. The charges were later dismissed.{{cite news |title=Dismissed |agency=Associated Press |work=The Telegraph-Herald |date=January 26, 1941 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e3BFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5129,5411327&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}}

Tebbetts developed a reputation for antagonizing opposing players, constantly heckling them in an effort to have them make mistakes and give his team an advantage.{{Cite news |last=Tebbetts |first=Birdie |date=1949-09-01 |title=I’d Rather Catch |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1949/09/id-rather-catch/305822/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |work=The Atlantic |language=en |issn=2151-9463}} However, he also could be a good sport. In his autobiography, Tebbetts said he and catcher Mike Tresh helped umpire Red Ormbsy call balls and strikes during a game when Ormsby suffered from a dizzy spell. Tebbetts tipped Ormsby off with hand signals following each pitch.{{Cite book |last=Tebbetts |first=Birdie |url=https://archive.org/details/birdieconfession0000tebb/mode/2up?q=ormsby |title=Birdie : confessions of a baseball nomad |last2=Morrison |first2=James |date=2002 |publisher=Triumph Books |others= |isbn=978-1-57243-455-4 |pages=78-80 |via=Internet Archive}}

In 1941, Tebbetts was hitting for a .296 average by mid-season and earned a place as a reserve player for the American League in the 1941 All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=tebbebi01&t=b&year=1941 |title=1941 Birdie Tebbetts batting log |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS194107080.shtml |title=1941 All-Star Game |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}} He led American League catchers in assists for a third consecutive year.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1941-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1941 American League Fielding Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}} Tebbetts was named the starting catcher for the American League in the 1942 All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS194207060.shtml |title=1942 All-Star Game |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}}

File:BirdieTebbetts1952bowman.jpg card of Tebbetts]]

Despite holding a 3-A draft classification because of his mother's dependency, Tebbetts applied for an Army Air Corps commission.{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts Fails To Secure Commission |agency=Associated Press |work=The Montreal Gazette |page=16 |date=June 4, 1942 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B3YtAAAAIBAJ&pg=3582,731590&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} He joined the military services in August 1942 and was assigned to recruiting duties in Waco, Texas during the Second World War.{{cite news |title=Tebbetts Brings Waco First Good Baseball Team |agency=Associated Press |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=April 6, 1943 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iSBPAAAAIBAJ&pg=1869,970021&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}}{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts Joins Army Air Corps, Texas |agency=Associated Press |work=The Telegraph |page=1 |date=August 20, 1942 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IolAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4387,3110598&dq=birdie+tebbetts+waco&hl=en}} Tebbetts honed his managerial skills as a player-manager for the Waco Army Flying School's baseball team.{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts Is Up A Tree |work=The Telegraph |page=7 |date=June 10, 1944 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=34JAAAAAIBAJ&pg=7170,4636661&dq=birdie+tebbetts+waco&hl=en}} He lost three years of his baseball career to his military service.

After his discharge from the military, Tebbetts returned to play for the Tigers in 1946, posting a .243 batting average in 86 games. He was hitting for only a .094 average in May 1947 when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for catcher Hal Wagner.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=tebbebi01&t=b&year=1947 |title=1947 Birdie Tebbetts batting log |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}}{{cite news |title=Bosox Swap Wagner For Birdie Tebbetts |agency=Associated Press |work=The Lewiston Daily Sun |page=8 |date=May 21, 1947 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r5YgAAAAIBAJ&pg=2681,4629900&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} After the trade, Tebbetts hit for a .299 average for the remainder of the season. There were reports in July 1947 that the Red Sox were considering Tebbetts as a successor to their manager, Joe Cronin.{{cite news |title=Tebbetts Linked With Boston Job |agency=Associated Press |work=The Deseret News |date=July 8, 1947 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3DMhAAAAIBAJ&pg=3378,819759&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} He was hitting for a .286 average at mid-season in 1948 and was named as a reserve catcher for the American League in the 1948 All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS194807130.shtml |title=1948 All-Star Game |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}} The Red Sox finished the season in a first place tie with the Cleveland Indians before losing the pennant in a one-game playoff at Fenway Park.{{cite news |date=October 5, 1948 |title=Bearden, Boudreau, Keltner Share Honors as Indians Win |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/oxudktlttrmihvhlowsddsfunzyicijb_ip-10-166-46-171_1739938577962 |work=The Milwaukee Journal |page=34 |via=Geneology Bank}}

Tebbetts was elected to be the starting catcher for the American League in the 1949 All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS194907120.shtml |title=1949 All-Star Game |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}} He hit for a .270 average in 1949 as the Red Sox engaged the New York Yankees in a tight battle for the pennant that was not decided until the final game of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1949-schedule-scores.shtml |title=1949 Boston Red Sox Schedule, Box Scores and Splits |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}} The Red Sox had a one-game lead with two games left to play in the season, but lost the final two games of the season against their New York rivals to once again finish in second place.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1949.shtml |title=1949 American League Team Statistics and Standings |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}}

In 1950, the 37-year-old Tebbetts shared catching duties with Matt Batts as he posted a career-high .310 batting average in 84 games. The Red Sox were once again involved in a tight pennant race before faltering to finish in third place in the standings.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1950-schedule-scores.shtml |title=1950 Boston Red Sox Schedule, Box Scores and Splits |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 28, 2011}} At a public speaking engagement in October, Tebbetts defended Red Sox manager Steve O'Neill from criticism he received from some of the Red Sox players. In his speech, Tebbetts called the critics "a couple of juvenile delinquents and moronic malcontents."{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts Puts The Blast On Two Sox Hurlers |agency=Associated Press |work=Lewiston Evening Journal |page=8 |date=October 2, 1950 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pmIpAAAAIBAJ&pg=4885,44870&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} His comments created friction within the team and two months later, his contract was sold to the Cleveland Indians. He spent the final two seasons of his career as a backup catcher for perennial All-Star Jim Hegan. Tebbetts played his final major league game on September 14, 1952 at the age of 38 although in a news report in December 1952, Tebbetts admitted that his actual age was 43, saying that he subtracted five years off his age after he left college.{{cite news |title=For Bosox Job, Haney May Pilot Bucs |agency=Blade News Services |work=Toledo Blade |page=26 |date=December 2, 1952 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3_VOAAAAIBAJ&pg=5672,525241&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}}

Career statistics

In a fourteen-year major league career, Tebbetts played in 1,162 games, accumulating 1,000 hits in 3,704 at bats for a .270 career batting average along with 38 home runs, 469 runs batted in and an on-base percentage of .341. He ended his career with a .978 fielding percentage. A four-time All-Star, Tebbetts led American League catchers four times in range factor, three times in assists, twice in baserunners caught stealing, and once in putouts. Before the arrival of Hall of Fame catcher, Carlton Fisk, Tebbetts was voted the Red Sox' all-time best catcher in a 1969 fan poll , a remarkable feat, considering that he spent only four years with the Red Sox.{{cite news |title=Williams – Bosox Best |agency=Associated Press |work=The Evening Independent |page=12 |date=June 9, 1969 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=19cvAAAAIBAJ&pg=5317,1677561&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}}

Managerial and executive career

File:Birdie Tebbetts 1954.jpg manager.]]

In December 1952, the Indians General Manager, Hank Greenberg, named Tebbetts as the manager of the Indianapolis Indians.{{cite news |title=Tebbetts Appointed Indianapolis Pilot |agency=United Press International |work=Reading Eagle |page=22 |date=December 2, 1952 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UMAtAAAAIBAJ&pg=2792,475595&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} After Tebbetts guided Indianapolis to a fourth-place finish in 1953, he was hired by Gabe Paul to replace Rogers Hornsby as the manager of the Cincinnati Reds.{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts Signs Two-Year Pact With Reds |agency=Associated Press |work=St. Petersburg Times |page=10 |date=September 30, 1953 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zItaAAAAIBAJ&pg=4677,6361934&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} After leading the Reds to fifth-place finishes in 1954 and 1955, Tebbetts led the team to a surprising third-place finish in 1956. The Reds were in first place at mid-season and stayed in the pennant race until the last day of the season, ending up with a 91–63 record, two games behind the Brooklyn Dodgers.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1956-schedule-scores.shtml |title=1956 Cincinnati Redlegs Schedule, Box Scores and Splits |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 29, 2011}} For his efforts, the Baseball Writers' Association of America voted Tebbetts as the 1956 Manager of the Year.{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts Manager Of Year |agency=Associated Press |work=Eugene Register-Guard |page=16 |date=October 24, 1956 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lcdYAAAAIBAJ&pg=6664,4140338&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} The Reds rewarded him with a three-year contract in December.{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts Given New Pact |agency=Associated Press |work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal |page=13 |date=December 14, 1956 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5I8tAAAAIBAJ&pg=690,2314568&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}}

In 1957, Tebbetts had the Reds in first place at mid-season, earning him a place on the cover of Time magazine in July of that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1957-schedule-scores.shtml |title=1957 Cincinnati Redlegs Schedule, Box Scores and Splits |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 29, 2011}}{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts {{!}} July 8, 1957 |url=https://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19570708,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930115108/http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19570708,00.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=July 6, 2011 |publisher=Time}}{{Cite web |last= |date=1957-07-08 |title=Sport: A Game of Inches |url=https://time.com/archive/6887929/sport-a-game-of-inches/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Time Magazine}} The Reds faltered during the second half of the season and faded to finish in fourth place. Frank Robinson gave Tebbetts credit for his performance during the 1957 season saying, "He kept after me all year and that's what a young ball player needs."{{cite news |title=Robinson Says Credit Of Honor Belongs To Tebbetts |agency=Associated Press |work=The Dispatch |page=16 |date=November 2, 1957 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XNwbAAAAIBAJ&pg=4969,59766&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} In 1958, the Reds fell into last place and Tebbetts announced his resignation on August 14.{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts Quits As Cincinnati Manager |agency=Associated Press |work=Schenectady Gazette |page=26 |date=August 15, 1958 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x1QuAAAAIBAJ&pg=500,2128191&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}}

In October 1958, Tebbetts was hired as an executive vice president for the Milwaukee Braves.{{cite news |title=Braves Give Birdie Tebbetts Position In The Front Office |agency=Associated Press |work=The News and Courier |page=8 |date=October 13, 1958 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_Z5IAAAAIBAJ&pg=4606,2082347&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} He served in the Braves front office from 1959 through September 1961, but found that he missed the excitement of being on the playing field. When the team fired Chuck Dressen in September 1961, Tebbetts returned to managing for the last month of the season. Ironically, his former team, the Cincinnati Reds, would win the National League pennant that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1961.shtml |title=1961 National League Team Statistics and Standings |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 29, 2011}} Despite having talented players like Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Joe Adcock, Warren Spahn, and Lew Burdette, Tebbetts could manage only a fifth-place finish in 1962.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1962.shtml |title=1962 National League Team Statistics and Standings |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 29, 2011}}

In October 1962, Tebbetts signed a three-year contract to manage the Cleveland Indians, saying that he felt he owed a long-standing debt to new Indians General Manager, Gabe Paul.{{cite news |title=Tebbetts New Pilot Of Indians |agency=United Press International |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=October 6, 1962 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=okYqAAAAIBAJ&pg=3958,1566657&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} After managing the Indians to a fifth-place finish in 1963, he suffered a heart attack during spring training in Tucson, Arizona on April 1, 1964.{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts Hospitalized After Heart Attack; May Be Out Eight Months |agency=Vindicator State Wire |work=Youngstown Vindicator |date=April 2, 1964 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9DBKAAAAIBAJ&pg=987,630115&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} Just three months later, he returned to manage the team. After a fifth-place finish in 1965, Tebbetts led the Indians to fourteen victories in their first fifteen games of the 1966 season, but the team faltered and fell fifteen games out of first place before he resigned as manager in August.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1966-schedule-scores.shtml |title=1966 Cleveland Indians Schedule, Box Scores and Splits |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=July 4, 2011}}{{cite news |title=Birdie Tebbetts Ducks Out Of Wigwam |work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal |date=August 20, 1966 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q5otAAAAIBAJ&pg=839,3852837&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} Tommy John remembered Tebbetts's advice for pitchers when they faced hitters they really struggled against: tell the hitter exactly what they were going to throw. This was meant to confuse the hitter, who would be unsure whether to believe the pitcher or not.{{cite book|last1=John|first1=Tommy|last2=Valenti|first2=Dan|title=TJ: My Twenty-Six Years in Baseball|publisher=Bantam|location=New York|year=1991|isbn=0-553-07184-X|page=276}}

In eleven seasons as a major league manager, Tebbetts compiled a 748–705 win–loss record.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/tebbebi01.shtml |title=Birdie Tebbetts managing record |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 29, 2011}} He returned to the minor leagues as a manager in 1967, managing the Marion Mets in the Appalachian League.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tebbet001geo#standard_managing::none |title=Birdie Tebbetts minor league managing record |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=June 29, 2011}} From 1968 to 1997, Tebbetts scouted for the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Florida Marlins. His baseball acuity earned him a reputation as one of the most respected scouts in professional baseball.{{cite news |title=Rockies and Marlins Work Hard Now to Play in 1993 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |page=5 |date=June 15, 1992 |access-date=July 6, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l9AnAAAAIBAJ&pg=2366,7141671&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} Reggie Jackson credited Tebbetts' scouting reports for helping him hit three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series.{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/give_utley_his_props_but_jax_still_GDmZKrotu46kj2kn2QftqN |title=Give Chase his props – but Reggie's still tops |work=New York Post |access-date=June 29, 2011 |first=Kevin |last=Kernan |date=November 4, 2009}} He retired in 1997, having spent 60 years in baseball, including 53 years in the majors.

=Managerial Record=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"\|Team	rowspan="2"\|Year	colspan="5"\|Regular season
Games	Won	Lost	Win %	Finish
CIN\|\| {{mlby\|1954}} \|\|154\|\|{{WinLossPct\|74\|80}} \|\| 5th in NL
CIN\|\| {{mlby\|1955}} \|\|154\|\|{{WinLossPct\|75\|79}} \|\| 5th in NL
CIN\|\| {{mlby\|1956}} \|\|154\|\|{{WinLossPct\|91\|63}} \|\| 3rd in NL
CIN\|\| {{mlby\|1957}} \|\|154\|\|{{WinLossPct\|80\|74}} \|\| 4th in NL
CIN\|\| {{mlby\|1958}} \|\|113\|\|{{WinLossPct\|52\|61}} \|\| Resigned
colspan="2"\|CIN total \|\|729\|\|{{WinLossPct\|372\|357}} \|\|
MIL\|\| {{mlby\|1961}} \|\|25\|\|{{WinLossPct\|12\|13}} \|\| Interim
MIL\|\| {{mlby\|1962}} \|\|162\|\|{{WinLossPct\|86\|76}} \|\| 5th in NL
colspan="2"\|MIL total \|\|188\|\|{{WinLossPct\|98\|89}} \|\|
CLE\|\| {{mlby\|1963}} \|\|162\|\|{{WinLossPct\|79\|83}} \|\| 6th in AL
colspan="7" \|
CLE\|\| {{mlby\|1964}} \|\|90\|\|{{WinLossPct\|46\|44}} \|\| 6th in AL
CLE\|\| {{mlby\|1965}} \|\|162\|\|{{WinLossPct\|87\|75}} \|\| 5th in AL
CLE\|\| {{mlby\|1966}} \|\|123\|\|{{WinLossPct\|66\|57}} \|\| Resigned
colspan="2"\|CLE total \|\|537\|\|{{WinLossPct\|278\|259}} \|\|
colspan="2"\|Total{{cite web \|title=Birdie Tebbetts Managerial Record \|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/tebbebi01.shtml \|access-date=2010-07-17 \|website=Baseball Reference}}\|\|1453\|\|{{WinLossPct\|748\|705}} \|\|

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"

rowspan="2"|Team

rowspan="2"|Year

colspan="5"|Regular season

Games

Won

Lost

Win %

Finish

CIN|| {{mlby|1954}}

||154||{{WinLossPct|74|80}}

|| 5th in NL

CIN|| {{mlby|1955}}

||154||{{WinLossPct|75|79}}

|| 5th in NL

CIN|| {{mlby|1956}}

||154||{{WinLossPct|91|63}}

|| 3rd in NL

CIN|| {{mlby|1957}}

||154||{{WinLossPct|80|74}}

|| 4th in NL

CIN|| {{mlby|1958}}

||113||{{WinLossPct|52|61}}

|| Resigned

colspan="2"|CIN total ||729||{{WinLossPct|372|357}}

MIL|| {{mlby|1961}}

||25||{{WinLossPct|12|13}}

|| Interim

MIL|| {{mlby|1962}}

||162||{{WinLossPct|86|76}}

|| 5th in NL

colspan="2"|MIL total ||188||{{WinLossPct|98|89}}

CLE|| {{mlby|1963}}

||162||{{WinLossPct|79|83}}

|| 6th in AL

colspan="7" |

CLE|| {{mlby|1964}}

||90||{{WinLossPct|46|44}}

|| 6th in AL

CLE|| {{mlby|1965}}

||162||{{WinLossPct|87|75}}

|| 5th in AL

CLE|| {{mlby|1966}}

||123||{{WinLossPct|66|57}}

|| Resigned

colspan="2"|CLE total ||537||{{WinLossPct|278|259}}

colspan="2"|Total{{cite web |title=Birdie Tebbetts Managerial Record |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/tebbebi01.shtml |access-date=2010-07-17 |website=Baseball Reference}}||1453||{{WinLossPct|748|705}}

Later life, death, and legacy

Tebbetts moved to Anna Maria, Florida in the early 1960s.{{cite news |last=Litsky |first=Frank |date=March 26, 1999 |title=Birdie Tebbetts, Plain Speaker With 53-Year Baseball Career |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/26/sports/birdie-tebbetts-plain-speaker-with-53-year-baseball-career.html |access-date=June 28, 2011 |work=The New York Times}} He was appointed to the Veterans Committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame in February 1979.{{cite news |title=Baseball HOF Board Adopts 2 Changes |agency=Associated Press |work=The Victoria Advocate |page=2 |date=February 12, 1979 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-IYqAAAAIBAJ&pg=3030,3397116&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}} He received the Judge Emil Fuchs Award in 1986 for his long and meritorious service in baseball.{{cite news |title=Names In Sports |work=Star-News |page=2 |date=December 21, 1986 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SXxQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2590,1971808&dq=birdie+tebbetts&hl=en}}

Tebbetts died on March 24, 1999, in Bradenton, Florida, at the age of 86.

On May 28, 2009, Tebbetts was announced as a Local Legend of Nashua, New Hampshire, and commemorated with a plaque to be placed in Holman Stadium.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}} He was inducted into the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2014.