CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Doc Edwards, who spent parts of his 57 years in professional baseball with the Cleveland Indians, died Monday at age 81.

Howard Rodney "Doc" Edwards managed parts of three seasons for Cleveland from 1987-89. He was first signed by the club as a catcher in 1958 before going on to play for the Kansas City A's, Yankees and Phillies. Edwards was a career .238 hitter, with 15 homers and 87 RBIs in 317 games.

Edwards began his coaching career with the Phillies organization and later came back to the Indians, eventually taking over as manager for Pat Corrales in 1987. The Tribe finished sixth in the American League East division in 1988 with a 78-84 record, but four of Edwards' players on that 1988 squad went on to become Major League managers, including current Indians skipper Terry Francona.

Edwards was dismissed late in the 1989 campaign after going 65-78. John Hart, then a scout with the club, replaced Edwards at the helm for Cleveland before eventually becoming the team's general manager.

Edwards posted an overall 173-207 record as a big league manager. He also coached the Mets and in the minor leagues with the Yankees, Cubs and Expos.

His last job in pro baseball was in 2014 with the independent San Angelo Colts.