1944

[Herr28]

Hello Browns fans! I have been a lifelong Cardinals fan who has known little to nothing about the Browns other than they also used to be in St. Louis. I have now found that that is much to my misfortune, as I have begun reading that book The Boys Who Were Left Behind, about the '44 Browns and Cards World Series. Wow! What a group of characters! I am only about a quarter of the way through the book, but am already finding myself dreading the end! What a colorful franchise and team!

Could any of you share more stories about these wonderful underdogs? I'd greatly appreciate it!

[dave_heller]

Please note that the book The Boys Who Were Left Behind plagiarized my book (As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns). Not to mention there are other incorrect "facts" in that book. I am not saying pick up my book and read it, but obviously it is a sore spot when I hear someone has bought or is reading this other book and I hope you will take this into consideration.

[westsidegrounds]

The Baltimore Orioles: The Story of a Colorful Team in Baltimore and St Louis by Fred Lieb was written in 1955, when there wasn't much to write about the present-day O's. So it's mainly a history of the Browns (and, secondarily, of the International League Orioles). Well worth reading, and readily available (from amazon, etc.).

[chicagowhitesox1173]

This was interesting and i'm not sure if it's in the books mentioned but i know I learned it from posts on this site was how Pete gray was a liability during the 1945 season and the Browns had a chance to win the pennant had the Browns played their regular starter. But they chose to sell Pete Gray to fans instead of winning a pennant. It was something along those lines but the original poster has a nice thread on it probably in the St. Louis Brown section.

[jerseygary]

I know the author may be reluctant to plug his book more, but out of all the Browns book I've read "As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns" is the best book about that season. Loaded with detail and great stories it is by far one of the best baseball books I've ever read. While most books simply dismiss the Browns and particularly their '44 season dismissively, that book treats the subject with a fresh perspective and really brought that team to life for me.

[Herr28]

Thanks for the information. Sorry it took a while to get back, but I have been very busy with my undergraduate degree and going back and forth to Houston, TX where my brother is a patient at MD Anderson. It was while I was there with him last summer that I was given that book. He has been battling a very aggressive cancer for almost a year now, and it was a great escape for me. We are both serious Cardinal fans, and I appreciate all the information you all have provided.

I will certainly read "As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns" as soon as I can. I instantly fell in love with that team last summer, and I am a huge fan of baseball history in general (easy being a fan and a history major)! Thanks to you all!