Stan Bronson Jr.
{{Short description|American batboy (1928–2018)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Stan Bronson Jr.
| image = Stan_Bronson_Jr.png
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1928|07|19}}
| birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|01|09|1928|07|19}}
| death_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
| other_names =
| occupation =
| years_active = 1958–2014
| known_for = Batboy at the University of Memphis
| awards = "Most Durable Batboy" per Guinness World Records
}}
Stan Bronson Jr. (July 19, 1928 – January 9, 2018){{cite web |url=https://www.memorialparkfuneralandcemetery.com/obituaries/Stan-Bronson-32960/ |title=Stan Bronson |website=memorialparkfuneralandcemetery.com |date=January 2018 |accessdate=February 12, 2025}} was an American special needs individual, notable for serving as a batboy for the Memphis Tigers baseball team for over 50 years. He was added to the 2008 edition of Guinness World Records as "Most Durable Batboy".{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-4000/most-durable-bat-boy- |title=Most durable bat boy |publisher=Guinness World Records |date=January 1, 2007 |accessdate=March 24, 2013}}
Biography
Bronson came to the University of Memphis (then Memphis State University) in 1958 when he asked head football coach Billy "Spook" Murphy for a job with the Tigers football team. Bronson's first job with Memphis was picking up footballs whenever the kickers would practice on the sidelines.{{cite web|last=Bussey |first=Nikki |url=http://www.dailyhelmsman.com/2.14446/stan-the-man-1.1846837 |title=Stan the Man |work=The Daily Helmsman |date=November 20, 2012 |accessdate=March 24, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Stukenborg |first=Phil |url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jul/04/university-of-memphis-icon-bat-boy-stan-bronson |title=University of Memphis bat boy Stan Bronson to celebrate 84th birthday at fundraising party |publisher=Commercialappeal.com |date=July 4, 2012 |accessdate=March 24, 2013}} He worked in the capacity as an equipment manager for the football team until he was in his 60s.
Bronson also served as a batboy for the Tigers baseball team beginning in 1958, and continuing on a regular basis through 2014. When a Tiger home game reached the seventh-inning stretch, Bronson made his way to home plate where he acknowledged, with a tip of his cap, the "Tiger faithful" at the game.
On April 25, 2010, Bronson's jersey (no. 47) was retired and displayed on the right field wall of FedExPark, joining the retired numbers of other Tiger notables.{{cite press release|url=http://www.gotigersgo.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/042110aag.html |title=Tiger Baseball to Retire Batboy Stan Bronson's Jersey on Saturday |website=gotigersgo.com |publisher=Memphis University |date=April 21, 2010 |accessdate=March 24, 2013}}
Bronson died on January 9, 2018, at the age of 89.{{cite news |url=https://gotigersgo.com/news/2018/1/10/baseball-stan-bronson-passes-away-tuesday |title=Stan Bronson Passes Away Tuesday |website=gotigersgo.com |date=January 10, 2018 |accessdate=February 12, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsK07-IWwNM Stan Bronson Jr.] from WATN-TV {{circa}} 2006 via YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bronson Jr., Stan}}
Category:People from Memphis, Tennessee