This Date in Browns History!

[Bill_McCurdy]

This thread will work best with broad contribution from all of you old Browns fans. (There's that redundancy again.) The object is to fill in the calendar pages with special or peculiar moments in Browns history. (I threw in the word "peculiar" because we had so many things happen that properly fall into that category.) I'll start things off with one that some of you may have read about that seems to fill the bill as a baseball oddity. Hopefully, someone else will have something to cover tomorrow, August 6th. - It would be great to eventually fill every day of the year. - Such a background of information would make great material for a St. Louis Browns calendar or day planner. - That is, if you don't mind starting your day with frequently painful reminders.

At any rate, I'll volunteer to be the leadoff man in this little enterprise:

August 5, 1923: Ruth Bats Right-Handed Against Browns. Against the Browns, Ruth again bats righthanded. After the Babe hits his 26th and 27th HRs off of Ray Kolp, relief P Elam Vangilder takes no chances with Ruth and walks him intentionally in the 11th and again in the 13th inning. Ruth bats righty against Vangilder. Bob Meusel's single wins the game 9-8.

Reference: Baseball Library.Com at the following link ...

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

Unfortunately, this limited information steals the thunder of the occasion by not telling us clearly if Ruth batted righthanded twice against Vangilder, or only once in response to the second free pass decision. Either way, the strategy did the Browns no good.

If you have information about this game, please post away.

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 6, 1952: A Battle of Pitching Titans. 46-year old Satchel Paige of the St. Louis Browns and Virgil Trucks of the Detroit Trucks square off in what must have been one heck of pitching duel. Satch and the Browns win the struggle in 12 innings by a score of 1-0.

August 6, 1916: Jimmy Austin Dukes It Out. Red Sox pitcher Rube Foster allows three hits in beating the Browns, 1–0. Most of the hitting in the game comes when Browns 3B Jimmy Austin and Boston C Chet Thomas mix it up. The Sox end the day .002 ahead of the White Sox, but will take three out of four in Chicago to open up some room.

Both of the above facts are courtesy of baseballlibrary. com ...

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

Again, I want to invite all readers to join in here. If you have questions, comments, more information on any fact presented here, - or some other fact in Browns history that we ought to record, please post it on this thread.

The only way that a new website about a 50-years-dead franchise can hope to stay alive and thrive is up to us Browns fans and students of baseball history. If we don't breathe some life into it, who will?

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 7, 1915. Sisler Pitches. Another Hall of Famer takes a turn on the mound, as George Sisler pitches to two Yankees in the 6th inning, hitting one and walking the other. The Browns-Yankees game is called at the end of 10 innings with the score tied 4–4.

Today's Fact Reference: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...ay/AUGUST7.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 8, 1996: Willard Brown Dies. Willard Brown died in Houston today at the age of 81. Brown made his debut with the Browns on 7/19/47 as the 2nd black to play for the St. Louis AL club. Hank Thompson was the first black to play in a Browns game. Thompson made his first Browns game appearance two days earlier on 7/17/47.

August 8, 1922: It Made a Big Difference At Season's End. Tom Zachary and the Senators beat the Browns Dixie Davis, 3–1, cutting the St. Louis lead in the AL to a game. It was just an ordinary loss, the kind that are bound to happen, sometimes, even to great teams like the '22 Browns. In the end, however, any of these "ordinary" losses to teams other than the Yankees were the difference between a tie for the pennant with New York and the 2nd place finish that actually resulted.


August 8, 1921: Shooting Star Stuart. In his first at bat, St. Louis Browns rookie Luke Stuart hits a home run, the first American League rookie to accomplish the feat. His 9th inning blast, good for two runs, comes off no less than Washington's Walter Johnson. Johnson, leading 16–3 at the time, cruises home with a 16–5 win. Stuart will play two more games and then leave the majors with this home run as his only hit. The next AL rookie to connect for a homer on his first at bat will be Earl Averill in 1929.

What a story! Luther Lane Stuart played little more than a month in the big leagues as a member of the '21 Browns, coming to bat only 3 times, but collecting his only major league hit in the form of a homer off the great Walter Johnson! - Makes you wonder how many times old Luke told that story in his lifetime. - Wonder too: How many people heard, but did not believe that Stuart was telling the truth?

Reference for Today's Facts: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...ay/AUGUST8.stm

Reference for Material on Luke Stuart: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play...hp?p=stuarlu01

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 9, 1944: Streaking Brownies Roll On!. The Browns win their ninth straight game for the second time this season in a 3-2 win over the Yankees in New York. They lead by 6 1/2 games. St Louis's other team, the Cardinals, after winning 26 in July, now leads the NL by 16 1/2 games.

August 9, 1931: Browns Split Twin Bill with ChiSox. After the White Sox take the opener, 4–2, over the Browns, Dick Coffman pitches the Browns to a 1–0 win. Bob Wetland takes the loss for Chicago.

For more info on Dick Coffman, click here ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...ffman_Dick.stm

August 9, 1922: Browns Derail "Big Train!" With the score even at six apiece, the Browns score two in the seventh off reliever Walter Johnson to beat the Senators, 8–6. The Browns finish an 11–5 home stand.

August 9, 1921: Browns Take Marathon from Sens, 8-6. The Browns go 19 innings with the Senators before topping Washington 8–6. Browns' star George Sisler is 6-for-9 in the game, while Brownie Dixie Davis pitches the distance allowing 13 hits. Nats star Joe Judge bangs an American League record-tying three triples in the game.

A George Sisler link ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...ler_George.stm

A Dixie Davis link ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...avis_Dixie.stm

What a ballgame! Sisler bangs out 6 hits. Davis pitches a 19-inning complete game victory; and Washington's Joe Judge collects a record-tying three triples. Can you imagine any contemporary pitcher taking his 7.8 million dollar arm down the road of a 19-inning game today? Back in the old days, they didn't count their pitches or their money. They just played ball.

Reference on Today's Facts: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 10, 1945: Browns Ownership Changes. Richard Muckerman buys out Don Barnes' interest in the St. Louis Browns and now controls 50 percent of the club.

August 10, 1915: Ruth Hits & Pitches Boston By Browns. Babe Ruth is 2-for-4 while pitching the Red Sox to 10–3 win over the Browns in the 2nd game of a twin bill. Ruth strikes out seven in winning his 10th.

We'll try to bring you some good news *as often as possible*. Therein lies the frequency problem.

Today's Reference Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...y/AUGUST10.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 11, 1950: The Brown with a Golden Arm. RF Ken Wood of the Browns nails two Tiger runners in the eighth inning of the second game of a doubleheader, tying a major-league mark for most assists by an outfielder in a single inning. The Browns prevail 2–1 in the night cap, after the Tigers take game one, 4–3, in 10 innings. The split with the Browns keeps the Tigers three games ahead of Cleveland and three 1/2 ahead of New York.

Today's fact reference link ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

Several of Ken Wood's teammates have remarked to me over the years about his terrific arm. According to one Brownie source, Ted Williams supposedly said that Wood had the best right field arm in the American League. This day in 1950 may have helped the Detroit Tigers spread the word of caution about trying to run on Ken Wood.

[prof93]

August 11 1947 In St. Louis the Browns' Willard "Home Run" Brown lives up to nickname when he hits a an inside-the-park round-tripper against Hal Newhouser. Brown who is pinch-hitting for catcher Joe Schultz in the second game of a doubleheader, is the first black to homer in the AL. The Tigers however win the game, 3-1

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 12, 1947: Browns Break Newhouser Spell. After losing the first game of a DH to Detroit, 7–1, the Browns take the nitecap 6–5, beating Hal Newhouser in relief. For Newhouser, it is his first loss to the Browns after 15 consecutive wins.

Today's Reference Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...y/AUGUST12.stm

PS: Thanks for the Aug. 11th entry on Willard Brown, prof93, and keep 'em coming. I got to see Willard play a few years later when he joined the Houston Buffs of the Texas League during the early 50's. By this time, Brown was no longer a candidate for another inside-the-park home run, having put on a lot of weight, but he was still quite popular with the fans during the final days of his career.

By the way, Brown's historic home run of 8/11/47 was the only homer of his brief major league career. Brown hit .179 in 67 times at bat as a '47 Brown and never made it back to the big leagues after that year. He died in Houston on August 8, 1996. Thanks to prof93, we can now go back and add Willard Brown's passing to that date in Browns history.

For more info on Willard Brown's MLB stats, ... http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/brownwi02.shtml

[prof93]

August 12,1948- In game 2 of a double header, the Indians rap out 26 hits to beat the Browns 26-3; 14 Indians' players hit safely in the game, a Major League record.

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 13, 1947: A Discrepancy To Be Resolved. Prof93, Baseball Library contains this entry that Willard Brown hit his landmark home run on August 13th, rather than the August 11th date you reported two days ago. Here's their entry and reference link:

"Willard Brown of the Browns is the first black player to homer in the American League when he hits a pinch inside-the-park blow in a 6–5 win over the Tigers. Hal Newhouser is the Detroit pitcher."

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...y/AUGUST13.stm

Whichever date is correct is OK, but let's see if we can resolve which date is accurate. Willard Brown's feat put him in the record books in a way that ought to be remembered. Now that we have the date issue to resolve, the chances are higher that we will recall it easier in the future.

August 13, 1921: A Sterling Sisler Day! (Also from Baseball Library.) George Sisler continues his hot hitting, collecting two doubles and hitting for the cycle in a 10-inning 7–5 win at Detroit. Sisler is 5-for-5.

Friday, August 13, 2004: Bad Luck. The St. Louis Browns are no more.

[FlashinTheLeatherIHSS]

[B]Friday, August 13, 2004: Bad Luck. The St. Louis Browns are no more.

2004? They were around in 2003?

[Bill_McCurdy]

Flash, my reaction was either helped along by the fact that this year the date makes it Friday the 13th, or else, I'm suffering one of the longest cases of delayed grief on record. - Denial is a powerful primary defense against reality.

[westsidegrounds]

For his impressive hitting performances there, Brown was known as "el Hombre" among fans in Puerto Rico.

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 14, 1952: Garver Gone. On a sad day for most Browns fans, and especially us kids who had become Browns fans because of him, Ned Garver was traded away today. The Browns sent Garver, along with Bud Black, Jim Delsing, and Dave Madison to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Dick Littlefield, Marlin Stuart, Don Lenhardt, and Vic Wertz.

reference: http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/...01.shtml#TRANS

August 14, 1948: Vico Victimizes Browns. Rookie George Vico drives in seven runs to pace the Tigers to a 10–3 win over the Browns. Vico is one better than a cycle, collecting two doubles, a triple and homer to back Virgil Trucks' sparkling one-hit relief effort over 6+ innings.

August 14, 1937: Auker Axes Browns. Tigers pitcher Eldon Auker hits two HRs while beating the Browns. Detroit wins 16-1 and 20-7, scoring an American League record 36 runs in the doubleheader. The DH sweep allows the Tigers to move into 2nd place, 10 games behind the Yankees.

August 14, 1921: Sisler Sizzles! Browns Win! The Browns open a home stand with a 7–5 win over Detroit. (In these historical note sites, it seems as though the Browns are always playing or trading with the Detroit Tigers.) In this game with the Motor City Bengals, the great George Sisler continues his hot hitting, going 4-for-4 to pace the Browns to victory.

Fact Reference Site: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...y/AUGUST14.stm

[westsidegrounds]

[B]] Tigers pitcher Eldon Auker hits two HRs while beating the Browns.

(In these historical note sites, it seems as though the Browns are always playing or trading with the Detroit Tigers.)

[/url]

Speaking of which, Auker ended up with the Browns (although via the Bosox). Did a good job for them, too.

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 15, 1951: Ned's Nadir. Al Rosen belts a first inning grand slam to jump start the Indians to a 9–4 win over the Browns, their 13th in a row. For Rosen, it is his 4th slam of the year, just the 9th player to accomplish the feat. Ned Garver gives up seven runs in the first inning in losing to Early Wynn.

In the same year that Ned Garver won 20 games for the 102-loss, last place Browns, he had this game to get out of his system. I guess you could say that on this date in history, Garver took an early loss in opposition to Early Wynn.

August 15, 1921: Another Sisler Streak Ends. A major-league record streak of 10 straight hits by the Browns' George Sisler is stopped by Detroit in the 4th inning, but he goes 2-for-3 with a 2-run homer in the 6th. The Browns win, 3–2.

August 15, 1915: Sisler Hurls Complete Game. George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns pitches a complete game against the Cleveland Indians, losing 1–0 to Guy Morton.

August 15, 1905: Waddell Shuts Out Browns. The A's Rube Waddell is the whole show today as he hurls a 5-inning no hitter over the Browns. The A's are ahead 2–0, when the rain starts pouring after the A's bat in the 5th. Waddell strikes out nine batters, and three more bounce out to Waddell. The one runner reaches on Rube's error.

Future Hall of Famer Rube Waddell will later finish his big league career as a member of the Browns during the 1908-1910 seasons. Check out his career stats. Can you imagine anyone other than a guy like Sandy Koufax being elected to the Hall of Fame today with only 193 career wins?

Waddell Link: http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wadderu01.shtml

Today's General Reference Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 16, 1922: Big Train Derailed Again. The St. Louis Browns beat Walter Johnson and the Washington Senators again, 11–2. Brownie star George Sisler is 1-for-5 with a run scored.

August 16, 1919: A Positive Brownie Record? Chances Are. The Browns set an AL record with 53 total chances against the A's, but lose 7-4. The Browns have 26 assists and St. Louis 1B George Sisler has 17 putouts. With no putouts, the St. Louis outfielders have the day off.

August 16, 1912: David vs. Goliath? David Has A Shot. Behind Earl Hamilton's seven hitter, the lowly Browns beat the front running Red Sox, 3–2. Tom "Buck" O'Brien takes the loss, but he will go on to a 20-13 record for the 1912 Red Sox in the only great full year he will enjoy as a member of the the Red Sox. O'Brien will be dealt to the White Sox in 1913 and he will be out of big league baseball for good at that season's end. Even with the loss to the Browns on this date, Boston remains in first place in the American League, 8 1/2 games ahead of the Philadelphia Athletics.

August 16, 1907: Big Spenders? Who Else? The Browns. The Washington Post reports that St. Louis Browns shorstop Bobby Wallace is the highest paid player in either league at a salary of $6,500. (Of course, we're kidding about the Browns being *big spenders*. Maybe, the stratospheric salary that the club paid Wallace back in 1907 was the turning point on the more frugal times that lay ahead.)

Today's Reference Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 17, 1948: Bearden Blanks Browns. Cleveland Indians' rookie Gene Bearden shuts out the St. Louis Browns, 8–0, to improve his record to 12–3.

August 17, 1933: Gehrig Breaks CGP Record Against Browns. Lou Gehrig plays his 1,308th consecutive game to break Everett Scott's mark, as the St. Louis Browns edge the New York Yankees, 7-6, in 10 innings.

Today's Reference Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 18, 1965: Ignominious Sisler Record Finally Tied. In a 3–2 Baltimore Orioles win over the Boston Red Sox, Brooks Robinson hits into his 3rd triple play, tying the record of George Sisler, who banged into triple plays in 1921, 1922, and 1926.

August 18, 1943: Clary Becomes a Brown. The Washington Senators send infielder Ellis Clary, pitcher Ox Miller and cash to the St. Louis Browns for pitcher Johnny Niggeling and popular third baseman Harlond Clift. Niggeling will split 48 decisions as a Senator, while Miller will win just three in St. Louis.

August 18, 1915: Browns Acquire Baby Doll. The St. Louis Browns send pitchers Bill James and Grover Lowdermilk to the Detroit Tigers for the future center fielder of the great '22 Browns, Babe Doll Jacobson.

Today's Reference Links: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

Baby Doll Notes: At Mobile (Southern League) in 1912, the grandstand band played "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" after Jacobson's Opening Day homer, and the next day's paper captioned his photo, "Baby Doll." After a decade in the minors, he spent 1917 in the majors, served a year in the military, and returned as a Browns' regular at 28. The best of Jacobson's ML career was contained in seven straight years over .300 (1919-25), five of them with Ken Williams and Jack Tobin flanking him in the Browns' best-remembered outfield. A burly righthander who swung a light bat, he hit well for average, if not for power. For all his heft (at 6'3" and 215-lb, he was the league's biggest man), he was also a capable fielder. At one time he held 13 fielding marks; his 484 putouts in 1924 stood as a record for 24 years. In 1927 he played seven consecutive games for the Red Sox without a putout or assist. (ADS)

Jacobson Reference Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb..._Baby_Doll.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 19, 1951: Eddie Gaedel's Big Day! It curiously turns out to be the most remembered day in the history of the St. Louis Browns. In his most interesting promotional stunt, Bill Veeck signs a 3'7" midget, Eddie Gaedel, who goes to bat as a pinch hitter for outfielder Frank Saucier. Gaedel is wearing the number *1/8* when he is called upon to bat in the first inning of the nightcap with the Tigers at Sportsman's Park. Lefty Bob Cain laughingly walks him on four pitches. Jim Delsing then pinch runs, but the Tigers win, 6–2. Two days later, MLB bars Eddie Gaedel from appearing in any more games.

Is there any other sport that formally bans participants for being *vertically challenged*? Makes you wonder how the banning of Gaedel would hold up today in this far more litigious culture of 2004.

A Few Gaedel Reference Links:

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...edel_Eddie.stm

http://sports.espn.go.com/page2/tvli...ranscript.html

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/08191951.shtml

http://www.baseballreliquary.org/Gaedel.htm

August 19, 1922: Browns Split DH with A's; Yanks Regain Lead. In Philadelphia, the Browns and A's split a pair, with St. Louis taking the opener, 9–5. Urban Shocker is backed by Ken Williams 31st HR. He hits his 32nd in the nitecap, but the A's win, 6–5, when Bing Miller bangs a 2-run HR in the eighth off Rasty Wright. The split allows the Yankees, winner over Chicago, to move back into first place.

General Reference Link on Today's Facts: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 20, 1948: 1 Former & 2 Future Browns Heat It Up for Indians. Many Browns players have had their best years, or biggest moments, either before or after their time on the St. Louis club roster. Here's a small example: Before the largest crowd (78,382) ever to attend a night game, fans pack Municipal Stadium in Cleveland and watch Satchel Paige become the fourth consecutive Indian pitcher to throw a shutout. The Ageless Wonder joins Gene Bearden, Sam Zoldak and Bob Lemon in blanking the opposition four straight times.

The Cleveland Indians, of course, went on to win the 1948 World Series. Of the four pitchers who tossed those consecutive shutouts, only Bob Lemon escaped an earlier or later tour of duty with the St. Louis Browns.

6/15/48: Sam Zoldak is acquired by the Cleveland Indians from the Browns in exchange for Bill Kennedy and $100,000.

1951: 45 year old (at least) Satchel Paige signs as a free agent to pitch for the Browns after being out of baseball in 1950.

2/14/52: Gene Bearden (now with Detroit) is traded by the Tigers to the Browns, along with pitcher Bob Cain and 1st baseman Dick Kryhoski in exchange for Dick Littlefield, Cliff Mapes, and Ben Taylor.

With the rare exception of guys like Ned Garver, it seems that former Browns pitchers who played with multiple teams always had their best years and/or biggest moments elsewhere from St. Louis. Read some about Urban Shocker, Bob Turley, and Don Larson for further enlightenment.

August 20, 1922: A's Pin Browns' Hopes for 1st Place Tie. The Philadelphia Athletics jump to a 5–0 lead over the St. Louis Browns, and hold on for a 7–6 win. As a result, the idle New York Yankees watch their AL lead expand to a full game.

Reference Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...y/AUGUST20.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 21, 1921: Browns Sweep DH From Yankees. At Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, the largest crowd of the season has plenty to cheer about. The Browns reward the faithful by sweeping a pair from the New York Yankees, winning 5–4 and 10–0. Browns pitcher Bill Bayne, who will finish the season with an 11-5 record, strikes out seven of the 1st nine Yanks in Game Two on his way to a 10 K run.

August 21, 1915: Ruth Beats Browns. Babe Ruth pitches his Boston Red Sox to a 4–1 win over the St. Louis Browns. At bat, the Babe is hitless.

Today's Reference Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...y/AUGUST21.stm

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 22, 1951: "Wild Thing, You Make Our Hearts Sting!" Tommy Byrne of the Browns keeps walking them and the Red Sox keep stranding them as St. Louis and Boston battle for 13 innings before the Sox win, 3–1. Brownie Byrne walks 16 Sox batters, tying the American League walk record set by Bruno Haas in 1915 (Haas walked 16 in a loss to the Yanks, his only ML decision), and Boston strands 22 runners: the AL record for stranded runners is 24, set by the Indians in 18 innings on July 10, 1932. Byrne breaks his personal record of 13 walks in a game he set in 1949. The Brownies don't help him much, stranding 14.

August 22, 1922: Basepath Larceny. At Boston, the Browns beat the Red Sox behind reliever Elam Vangilder, who takes over for Rasty Wright in the fourth inning with two on and a 4–1 lead. Ken Williams and George Sisler each have two stolen bases.

[Bill_McCurdy]

August 23, 1936: Browns Lose To Kid Pitcher. Seventeen-year-old Bob Feller makes his first start in the big leagues and strikes out 15, one less than the AL record, as the Cleveland Indians beat the St. Louis Browns, 4-1.

August 23, 1931: "Anger Management? What The Hell Is That?" - Lefty Grove. Lefty Grove is frustrated in his effort to win a record-breaking 17th game in a row, as A's left fielder Jimmy Moore misjudges a routine fly ball by Ski Melillo of the Browns, turning it into a 2-out double, to allow the game's lone run. The volatile Grove is outraged and unforgiving, not at Moore, but that Al Simmons, the regular OF, missed the game. Dick Coffman of the Browns allows just three hits to win, 1–0. The A's avoid a Browns sweep by winning the nightcap, 10–0, behind Waite Hoyt's 6-hitter.

an Oscar "Ski" Melillo link ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...illo_Oscar.stm

a Dick Coffman link ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...ffman_Dick.stm

August 23, 1903: Big Crowd Sees Double Brownie Loss. Before 21,400 in St. Louis the Boston Pilgrims sweep the St. Louis Browns, 5-3 and 4-2. To add insult to injury, Boston executes a triple play in the nitecap. Hughes and Young are the winners for 1st place Boston.

The fan turnout is impressive. After all, it's late August and the two-year old Browns are on their way to a 65-74 record and a 6th place finish in the American League. The fall in 1903 from their impressive 2nd place finish in 1902 fails to deter the optimism of St. Louis fans about the future of the Browns. "Write this down," shouts one fan on his way for a beer after the double loss, "it'll get better!"

OK. - - It'll get better.

Today's Reference Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm