Former Southern League president dead at 72

 AP-NY-06-03-01 1459EDT
 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Former Southern League president and major league coach Jimmy Bragan died Saturday from cancer. He was 72.

Bragan headed the Southern League for 14 years from his office in Trussville, assisted by his wife, Sarah. He was the brother of ex-major league manager Bobby Bragan and had two other four brothers who signed professional contracts.

``I've known Jimmy since 1941 or' 42,'' said Alex Grammas who managed the Milwaukee Brewers for two years and hired Bragan as a coach. ``He could turn a double play as well as any second baseman I've even seen and he was competitive, like all the Bragans. The only thing he lacked, like all the Bragans, was a lot of speed.

``But today I don't think of him at all as a player. I remember him as a friend, and I'm devastated.''

Bragan played and managed in the minor leagues and was head coach at his alma mater, Mississippi State. He coached for Montreal, Cincinnati and Milwaukee in the major leagues and was a major league scout.

During retirement, Bragan lived on a farm in Westover, Ala. outside Birmingham.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jimmy Bragan Jr. and Linwood Bragan, both of Birmingham; and a daughter, Sally Bragan Jackson of Mobile.