Former Phillie of the Day - Doc Edwards

On May 2, 1970, Phillies catcher Tim McCarver suffered a broken finger after Willie Mays fouled a ball back in the bottom of the 6th inning. In that same inning, backup catcher Mike Ryan suffered a similar injury. Jim Hutto was pressed into service and caught the rest of the game.

For the next month, catching duties were split between Hutto, Mike Compton, and journeyman minor league call-up Del Bates. The Phillies were so unimpressed with Bates, who hit .133 in 22 games, that they signed bullpen coach and Former Phillie of the Day Howard Rodney "Doc" Edwards as a free agent.

Edwards, who got his nickname when he was a Navy medic, hadn't played in a big league game since July 5, 1965. So of course he went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in his first game, which the Phillies won 7-3 against the Astros on June 6. On June 9, he had both of the team's RBIs and caught Jim Bunning and Dick Selma as they combined on a two-hitter against the Braves. Edwards played in a total of 35 games for the Phillies in 1970, and he hit a respectable .269 in 78 at bats.

Edwards went on to have a long career as a manager, starting in 1973 with the West Haven Yankees of the Eastern League. He made it back to the majors as a manager in 1987, taking over after the Indians fired Pat Corrales (another catcher). Corrales, interestingly enough, managed the Phillies in 1982 and 1983. Anyway, Edwards lasted with the Indians until Sept. 12, 1989, when he was replaced by John Hart. He compiled a 173-207 record with Cleveland.

Edwards managed in minor league hotspots including West Haven, CT; Midland, TX; Wichita, KS; Quebec City, CAN; Denver; Rochester, NY; Charleston, WV; Portland, ME; Buffalo, NY; Albany, NY; Atlantic City, NJ; Sioux Falls, SD; and San Angelo, TX, where he managed until 2014.