During his 11-year major league career from 1905 to 1915, Bridwell was regarded as a good fielder but never had a .300 batting average.

[1] Bridwell is best known for hitting the apparent walk-off single which led to Merkle's Boner in a September 1908 game.

The hit was nullified due to baserunner Fred Merkle's failure to touch second base, and because the crowd was already on the field, the game between the Giants and Chicago Cubs was ruled a tie.

Midway through the 1911 season, he was traded by the Giants, who went on to play in the 1911 World Series, to the Boston Rustlers.

On John McGraw's managing style, Bridwell later said: "He knew how to handle men, some players he rode and others he didn't.