60 years ago today at the corner of Grand and Dodier

[disgrig]

July 17, 2007 is the 60th anniversary of a momentous day in sports history. On July 17, 1947 the St. Louis Browns became the third major league team to hire African-American players. The Brooklyn Dodgers did it first with Jackie Robinson, the Cleveland Indians were second (but first in the American League) with Larry Doby, but the Browns took it one step further. They signed Henry Thompson and Willard Brown, both from the Kansas City Monarchs, and Thompson and Brown became the first two black teammates at the Major League level in the 20th century. It was a busy week 60 years ago for Richard Muckerman, Bill DeWitt, Sr. and the Browns as the team also signed two other African-American players. Lorenzo "Piper" Davis of the Birmingham Black Barons was signed to a 30-day option with the Browns though he and the Browns later could not agree to terms of payment and he was released without ever playing for the Browns. Charles "Chuck" Harmon was also signed by the Browns and he played for Class C Gloversville-Johnstown, NY in the Canadian-American League. Harmon is the only one of the four who finished the season for the Browns' organization. Thompson and Brown were released by the Browns in August after six weeks in the American League and they were re-signed by the Kansas City Monarchs. Davis finished the season with the Black Barons. Harmon and his team in Gloversville-Johnstown finished in second place in the Canadian-American League.

[dave_heller]

Of course, the Browns probably should have held on to Thompson; he turned out to be a pretty good player.

From baseball-reference.com concerning Willard Brown:

His home run for the St. Louis Browns on August 13, 1947 was the first hit by a black player in the history of the American League; it was an inside-the-park shot off future Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser of the Detroit Tigers.

[disgrig]

Yes, Henry Thompson and Willard Brown deserved better. Their were both great players but the didn't get enough time to adjust to the American League pitchers and they did not get used often enough to get the experience they needed in only six weeks.

If the Browns would have made it work with Thompson and Brown and they fielded more good players from the Negro League ranks, they might have been able to build a dynasty. If that had happened, the Browns might still be in St Louis and the Cardinals would have moved to greener pastures.

[Brownieand45sfan]

According to Wikipedia, Brown was disgusted at the poor play of his fellow Browns and quit. This, despite his own "buck and a quarter" batting average. That's more than an AL pitching adjustment problem, I think. "Adjustment" didn't stop Jackie Robinson from hitting .350 first year in the IL or .300 first year in the bigs, with a lot more pressure on his shoulders. Looks to me like Brown just stunk and was tactless enough to say his teammates were bad players.


Yes, Henry Thompson and Willard Brown deserved better. Their were both great players but the didn't get enough time to adjust to the American League pitchers and they did not get used often enough to get the experience they needed in only six weeks.

If the Browns would have made it work with Thompson and Brown and they fielded more good players from the Negro League ranks, they might have been able to build a dynasty. If that had happened, the Browns might still be in St Louis and the Cardinals would have moved to greener pastures.

[dave_heller]

Actually, that Wikipedia entry says part of Brown's struggles were due to the racism he encountered. And it doesn't say he quit the team, but rather that he "left the majors." Not sure if this means by his own volition or not. If I weren't leaving on a vacation tomorrow I'd do some research on this. :)

Still, you have to wonder if Thompson and Brown were white whether or not they'd be given a bigger opportunity. St. Louis wasn't known for its great race relations (there was a separate section in the stands for blacks until midway through the 1944 season).

(Oh, and Brown sure stunk ... all the way to the Hall of Fame)