By By Shawn Wansley / EMG sports writer
Nov. 20, 2002
BAY SPRINGS Oakland Athletics pitcher Chad Bradford feels blessed to be where he is today.
Bradford, a former University of Southern Mississippi pitcher, was speaking to the Bay Springs Rotary Club Monday afternoon here at City Hall. His uncle, Shelton Culpepper, resides in Jasper County and invited Bradford to the weekly meeting.
Bradford, a Byram native, is a submariner' reliever, even comparing himself to former Kansas City Royals star Dan Quisenberry. He was 4-2 with a 3.11 earned run average and two saves for the American League West champion A's this past year.
Bradford said he was just good enough to get a scholarship offer to Hinds Community College after graduating from Byram High School. The Eagles made it to the juco World Series in Millington, Tenn., his freshman year and a scout for the Chicago White Sox saw him pitcher there.
He had a good sophomore year at Hinds and earned a scholarship to USM in 1996 where he played for Bay Springs native Hill Denson. After his only year with the Golden Eagles he was drafted by the White Sox again, this time in the 13th round. This time, he elected to turn pro.
He went to a mini-camp at Sarasota, Fla., and then to Class A ball at Hickory, N.C. Then he moved up to Winston-Salem, N.C., and then to Class AA with Birmingham. From there, he went to Class AAA Calgary.
In July of 1998 while playing in Albuquerque, N.M., he received his first call for "the show."
The White Sox were playing in Texas, so Bradford's family was able to drive over and watch him make his Major League debut.
He bounced around between the White Sox and the Class AAA Charlotte team the following year and made the White Sox playoff roster in 2000.
But after that season he was traded to the A's.
Bradford, who says he throws between 81 and 87 miles per hour, says his favorite ballpark is The Ballpark in Arlington, where the Rangers play.
Bradford, who says Brett Boone of the Mariners and Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox are two of the toughest hitters he has to face, talked about facing sluggers Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs and Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants.
Bradford, 28, says the A's made a good choice in hiring Ken Macha to replace Art Howe as manager. Howe went to the New York Mets.
Bradford hopes to continue pitching for several more years in the big leagues. After that, he hopes to continue to stay close with baseball, possibly as a coach.