This Date in Browns History!

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-02-2005, 04:38 AM

On This Date in History!

December 2, 1936: Browns Buy Ethan Allen from Cubs.

<- Not This One!

<- This One!

The St. Louis Browns have been known to buy some older players on the cheap, but they haven't really gone so far back as the Revolutionary War in their search for affordable talent. - Today they acquired veteran outfielder Ethan Allen for an undisclosed (think small) amount of cash from the Chicago Cubs. The 32 year-old Allen had his best years in the National League, but he will prove himself good enough for one more productive season by hitting .316 in 103 games for the 1937 Browns. Allen will then retire after going a still strong .303 in 19 games for the 1938 Browns.

Births on December 2

No Brownies Today!

Deaths on December 2

Pete Sims
Birth Name: Clarence Sims
Nickname: None
Born On: 05-24-1891
Born In: Crown City, Ohio
Zodiac: Gemini
Died On: 12-02-1968
Died In: Dallas, Texas
Cemetery: Forest Rose Cemetery, Lancaster, Ohio
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11½
Weight: 165
First Game: 09-16-1915 (Age 24)
Last Game: 09-23-1915
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Clarence "Pete" Sims worked in 3 games for the 1915 Browns, starting 2 and finishing another in relief. His record was 1-0, with an ERA of 4.32 for 8.1 total innings of work. These totals turned out to be the complete MLB record of Pete Sims, who never again appeared for the Browns or any other big league club beyond 1915. After a lifetime thereafter lived in the Land of Gone for Good, Pete Sims passed away in 1958 at the age of 77. - BCT/GB, Pete Sims!

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

Have Another Nice Off-Season Weekend, Everybody!

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-03-2005, 04:37 AM

On This Date in History!

December 3, 1940: Browns Acquire Galehouse from Red Sox.

Denny Wore It Well! - Too Bad He Had To Go!

The St. Louis Browns today purchased pitchers Denny Galehouse and Fritz Ostermueller from the Boston Red Sox. Galehouse will go 50-58 in six seasons in St. Louis. - Galehouse will return to the Red Sox late in the 1947 season. The following year, Galehouse will be the surprise starter for the 1948 Red Sox against the Cleveland Indians in a playoff game for the American Leaue pennant. When Galehouse loses that critical start, his name is forever linked to the long list of Red Sox victims of the so-called Curse of the Bambino. - Fritz Ostermueller will chip in an uninspiring record of 3-6 for the 1941-1943 Browns before moving on to Brooklyn and Pittsburgh for several productive years.

November 3, 1901: Official Birthday of The St. Louis Browns!

Happy Birthday, Browns!

Today is the official birthday of the St. Louis Browns. In an official meeting of club owners with President Ban Johnson, the Milwaukee franchise is officially dropped from the American League and is replaced by the St. Louis Browns.

Births on December 3

Bill Crouch
Birth Name: William Henry Crouch
Nickname: Skip
Born On: 12-03-1886
Born In: Marshallton, Delaware
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 12-22-1945
Died In: Highland Park, Michigan
Cemetery: Unknown
College: Eastern Michigan
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 6-01
Weight: 210
First Game: 07-12-1910 (Age 23)
Last Game: 07-12-1910
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Bill Crouch's MLB career all took place in the one game he worked for the St. Louis Browns on July 12, 1910. - Crouch started in that one game, going 8 innings and giving up 3 earned runs on 6 hits. He was not involved in the decision, but he did record a 3.38 ERA for all eternity to view on a rainy day. Bill struck out 2 that day, but he also walked 7 and threw one wild pitch. Based upon our limited surface information, draw your own conclusions about why he went immediatelt from Sportsman's Park to the Land of Gone for Good. - Bill Crouch was 59 when he died in 1945. - BCT/GB, Wild Bill Crouch!

Hooks Iott
Birth Name: Clarence Eugene Iott Bats : Both
Born On: 12-03-1919 Throws : Left
Born In: Mountain Grove, Missouri Height : 6-02
Died On: 08-17-1980 Weight : 200
Died In: St. Petersburg, Florida First Game: 09-06-1941
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-23-1947
Nickname: Hooks Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Hooks Iott had a 2-year (1941, 1947) MLB career record of 3 wins, 9 losses, and an ERA of 7.05. Most of Iott's mark was achieved as a New York Giant after he went there from the Browns during the 1947 season. Prior to the move, his only MLB record was 0-1 in 10.1 inings of work for the 1941 and 1947 Browns. - Hooks Iott was 60 when he died in 1980. - BCT/GB, Hooks Iott! - I remember you from the Texas League - and from the stories that former Brown farmhand Jerry Witte used to tell me of you. - Did you really relax after games you pitched for the 1946 Toledo Mudhens by riding the roller coaster that ran outside the outfield walls up there?

Deaths on December 3

So far, no Browns ever died on December 3rd.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-04-2005, 06:45 AM

On This Date in History!

December 4, 1952: Browns Get Fire Trucks as Early Christmas Present!

J.W. Porter Became a Tiger Today!

The Detroit Tigers today traded pitcher Virgil Trucks, who tossed two no-hitters during the 1951 season, along with pitcher Hal White and outfielder Johnny Groth, to the St. Louis Browns in exchange for 2nd baseman Owen Friend, outfielder Bob Nieman, and outfielder/catcher J.W. Porter.

Births on December 4

Jesse Burkett

The "Human Crab" Must've Had Great Lateral Movement!

Birth Name: Jesse Cail Burkett
Nickname: The Crab
Born On: 12-04-1868
Born In: Wheeling, West Virginia
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 05-27-1953
Died In: Worcester, Massachusetts
Cemetery: St. John Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 5-08
Weight: 155
First Game: 04-22-1890 (Age 21)
Last Game: 10-07-1905
Draft: Not Applicable

Hall of Fame (HOF, 1946) outfielder Jesse Burkett had a 16-year MLB career (1890-1905), hitting .338 with 75 dead ball era career HR's. Burkett also marked a career pitching record of 3-11, 5.56. "The Human Crab" played 3 years for the Browns near the end of his career (1902-1904), but hit over .300 only once for the St. Louis American Leaguers. He batted .306, .293, and .271 as a full-time player in his twilight Brownie years. - Jesse Burkett was 84 when he died in 1953.

Deaths on December 4

Joe Willis
Birth Name: Joseph Denk Willis
Nickname: None
Born On: 04-09-1890
Born In: Coal Grove, Ohio
Zodiac: Aries
Died On: 12-04-1966
Died In: Ironton, Ohio
Cemetery: Woodland Cemetery, Ironton, Ohio
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Height: 6-01
Weight: 185
First Game: 05-03-1911 (Age 21)
Last Game: 06-10-1913
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Joe Willis lost his only start for the 1911 Browns on May 3, 1911 and was soon shipped to the Cardinals for the balance of his brief MLB career. Willis posted a 1911-1913 record of 4 wins, 11 losses, and an ERA of 4.63. - Joe Willis was 75 when he died in 1966.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-05-2005, 10:11 AM

On This Date in History!

December 5, 2005: 26 Daily Posts To Go! - We're Coming to An End Here Soon!

... it ain't!

My last new data post on "This Date in Browns History" will take place on December 31, 2005. After that date, the little thread that began 16 months ago on August 5, 2004 will be as complete as I know how to make it. Since we didn't start keeping track of all Brownie births and deaths on a daily basis until January 1, 2005, it became important to me to use this wrap-around time to pick up those we missed during our early, less comprehensive start. I hope you've enjoyed reading these daily adventures as much as I have ejoyed researching and writing them. - Once we we finish here, some old friends, some new friends from this site, and the folks at Baseball Almanac (dot) Com are going to help me convert these materials into a hard copy version that will include full stats on everyone who has ever played for the Browns - and some timeline information recorded on this thread. This book-to-be is tentatively entitled (get this for humble simplicity): "The Baseball Encyclopedia of the St. Louis Browns."

After December 31st, it will be up to *The Commissioner* of our site to decide how he wants to handle the presence of this voluminous thread on the forum and I will respect his call on whatever he decides. He can pin it here for those who've never seen it, post it elsewhere on the site as a *read only* article, or he may choose to just let it simply slip down the slope of threads in the forum until someone decides to read it again and leave a *bump* post. Whatever he chooses to do is A-OK.

As for the rest of you, I thank you for hanging with me. It's been a nice 16-month ride and a lot of fun.

Long Live the memory of the St. Louis Browns!

Regards,

Bill McCurdy

Births on December 5

Joe Gedeon

9th Man Out Was A Brown!

Birth Name: Elmer Joseph Gedeon
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-05-1893
Born In: Sacramento, California
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 05-19-1941
Died In: San Francisco, California
Cemetery: East Lawn Memorial Park, Sacramento, California
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 167
First Game: 05-13-1913 (Age 19)
Last Game: 10-03-1920
Draft: Not Applicable

2nd baseman Joe Gedeon had a 7-season MLB career (1913-1920), batting .244 with only 1 HR in 2,109 official times at bat. He was a Brown for 3 years (1918-1920) before best known as the "9th man out" in the infamous Black Sox Scandal. - Joe Gedeon also was banned from baseball by Commissioner Landis for having guility knowledge of the White Sox conspiracy to fix the 1919 World Series, for not reporting what he knew, and for trying to benefit from gambling gangsters in the Midwest on the basis of that information. - Joe Gedeon stands out as the only Brown who truly was "gone for good" after the 1920 season. - Joe Gedeon died in 1941 at age 47.

Lin Storti
Birth Name: Lindo Ivan Storti
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-05-1906
Born In: Santa Monica, California
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 07-24-1982
Died In: Ontario, California
Cemetery: Bellevue Memorial Gardens, Ontario, California
College: None Attended
Bats: Both
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
First Game: 09-18-1930 (Age 23)
Last Game: 09-30-1933
Draft: Not Applicable

Infielder Lin Storti had a 4-season (1930-1933) all Browns MLB career, hitting .227 with 9 home runs. He was 75 at the time of his 1982 death.

Len Schulte
Birth Name: Leonard Bernard Schultehenrich
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-05-1916
Born In: St. Charles, Missouri
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 05-06-1986
Died In: Orlando, Florida
Cemetery: Glen Haven Memorial Park, Winter Park, Florida
College: State University of Iowa
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
First Game: 09-27-1944 (Age 27)
Last Game: 06-16-1946
Draft: Not Applicable

Infielder Len Schulte began his brief big league career on September 27, 1944 with the St. Louis Browns, drawing a walk in his only trip to the plate. The following year, 1945, Len got into 119 games as a utility infielder for the Browns, playing 71 games at 3rd base, 37 games at 2nd base, and 14 games at shortstop. He collected 106 hits for a .247 average, but showed no power. Of his total hits, 89 were singles and 16 were doubles. 1 triple found its way to the wall, but zero homers sprang from his porous, shock-absorbing bat.

By 1946, Schulte was finished after going 2 for 5. The return of talent from World War II, even for the Browns, gave the club better choices for its roster, and so, the 29-year old Schulte was ingloriously cut. He would never make it back for another day in the big leagues. - Len Schulte was 69 when he died in 1986.

Deaths on December 5

Jim Duggan
Birth Name: James Elmer Duggan
Nickname: Mer
Born On: 06-01-1885
Born In: Whiteland, Indiana
Zodiac: Gemini
Died On: 12-05-1951
Died In: Indianapolis, Indiana
Cemetery: Holy Cross Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana
College: Franklin College
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
First Game: 06-29-1911 (Age 26)
Last Game: 06-29-1911
Draft: Not Applicable

1st baseman Jim Duggan went 0 for 4 in his only big league game for the Browns on June 29, 1911. He did pick up a walk and one RBI, leading one to surmise that his career "BOB" came with the bases full. This one-game, gone-for gooder passed away in 1951 at the age of 66. - BCT/GB, Jim Duggan! - Way to make 'em pitch to you with the bases full!

Cliff Mapes
Birth Name: Clifford Franklin Mapes
Nickname: Tiger
Born On: 03-13-1922
Born In: Sutherland, Nebraska
Zodiac: Pisces
Died On: 12-05-1996
Died In: Pryor, Oklahoma
Cemetery: Graham Memorial Cemetery, Pryor, Oklahoma
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 6-03
Weight: 205
First Game: 04-20-1948 (Age 26)
Last Game: 09-28-1952
Draft: Not Applicable

Outfielder Cliff Mapes played 5 years in the majors (1948-1952), spending only the second half of the 1951 season as a Brown. Mapes hit for a career BA of .242 and he belted 38 HR's. - Cliff Mapes died in 1996 at the age of 74.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-06-2005, 03:05 AM

25 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 6, 1954: Trade? - Orioles Appear As Browns in Bird Feathers!

It's in the DNA!

New start? Orioles? - Does this following Orioles transaction sound a little bit like a trade that their Brownie predecessors might have made?

The Baltimore Orioles today sent catcher Clint Courtney, shortstop Jim Brideweser, and pitcher Bob Chakales to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Matt Batts, infielder Fred Marsh, and pitchers Don Johnson and Don Ferrarese. Courtney batted .270 in 397 at bats, striking out an American League-low seven times. Courtney's K ratio to times at bat was the American League's lowest since Joe Sewell retired in 1933.

Births on December 6

Dave Rowan
Birth Name: David Drohan
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-06-1882
Born In: Elora, Ontario, Canada
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 07-30-1955
Died In: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Cemetery: Unknown
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
First Game: 05-27-1911 (Age 28)
Last Game: 06-22-1911
Draft: Not Applicable

1st baseman Dave Rowan went 25 for 65 (.385 BA) for the 1911 Browns and, amazingly, never played another inning in the big leagues. How could this happen to a man who had time to go from "Drohan" to "Rowan" over a fairly brief period of time on top of a pretty fair burst of short-term offensive ability?

Dave Rowan was 72 when he passed away in 1955, taking the truth about a name change and his brief, but brilliant career as a Brown with him to the grave. - BCT/GB, Dave Rowan!

Deaths on December 6

Frank Crossin
Birth Name: Frank Patrick Crossin
Nickname: None
Born On: 06-15-1891
Born In: Avondale, Pennsylvania
Zodiac: Gemini
Died On: 12-06-1965
Died In: Kingston, Pennsylvania
Cemetery: St. Mary Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
First Game: 09-24-1912 (Age 21)
Last Game: 08-08-1914
Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher Frank Crossin played 56 games in this 3-season (1912-1914) all-Browns MLB career, batting .147 with 0 dead ball era homers. Why he doesn't play longer in the big leagues hardly merits the trouble of a seminar on all the possible reasons. - All the same, bless his heart, he got there - and he was a St. Louis Brown for three seasons. - Frank Crossin passed away in 1965 at the age of 74. - BCT/GB, Frank Crossin!

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-07-2005, 04:41 AM

24 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 7, 1953: The Winter of Our Discontent Is Upon Us.

The grass will grow green again, but without the St. Louis Browns.

It's been over two months since the St. Louis Browns played, and lost, their last game against the visiting Chicago White Sox on September 29th by a score of 2-1 in 11 innings. - The Browns cannot lose another - for they are no more.

The full reality of a permanent loss won't really hit home for Browns fans until next year - when the grass again grows green - and there is no Opening Day at Sportsman's Park for St. Louis of the American League. - Yes, we know. They don't call our old battleground "Sportsman's Park" anymore, but some of us will never think of the place as "Busch Stadium" - and for a very simple reason. - All of our memories of that venerable place are firmly tied to its rightful name. Who could blame us for failing to make the shift to "Busch" or any other new ersatz identity? It's like this. - If someone came along and renamed the street where you grew up playing sandlot ball, would you be able to accept that change in your heart?

Come spring, Browns fans will start to deal with the fact that a death has occurred in their baseball family. Til then, most of us will simply give ourselves over to getting ready for the holidays and going through the normal joys and perils of an ordinary winter season.

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

Births on December 7

Hobe Ferris
Birth Name: Albert Sayles Ferris
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-07-1877
Born In: Providence, Rhode Island
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 03-18-1938
Died In: Detroit, Michigan
Cemetery: Unknown
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-08
Weight: 162
First Game: 04-26-1901 (Age 23)
Last Game: 10-01-1909
Draft: Not Applicable

Infielder Hobie Ferris played his last two big league seasons for the 1908-1909. His career (1901-1909) BA was .239 with an incredible total of 40 dead ball era HR's. - Hobe Ferris was 60 when he died in 1938.

Denny Galehouse

Birth Name: Dennis Ward Galehouse
Nickname: Denny
Born On: 12-07-1911
Born In: Marshallville, Ohio
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 10-14-1998
Died In: Doylestown, Ohio
Cemetery: Chestnut Hills Cemetery, Doylestown, Ohio
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-01
Weight: 195
First Game: 04-30-1934 (Age 22)
Last Game: 05-03-1949
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Denny Galehouse had a 15-season MLB career (1934-1944, 1946-1949), winning 109, losing 118, and registering an ERA of 3.97. In 5 plus seasons with the Browns (1941-1944, 1946-1947), Galehouse won 50 and lost 58. - Denny Galehouse was 86 when he died in 1998.

Deaths on December 7

Bobo Newsom

Baseball's Most Traveled Warrior.

Birth Name: Louis Norman Newsom Bats : Right
Born On: 08-11-1907 Throws : Right
Born In: Hartsville, South Carolina Height : 6-02
Died On: 12-07-1962 Weight : 220
Died In: Orlando, Florida First Game: 09-11-1929
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-17-1953
Nickname: Bobo or Buck Draft: Not Applicable

For a man who died at a relatively young age, pitcher Bobo Newsom did a lot baseball-living in his time. The 20-year big league veteran began his MLB baseball career on September 11, 1929 with the Brooklyn Robins. Before his big league career ended in 1953, Newsom had played for 9 of the then existing 16 big league clubs, including multiple tours of duty with several teams. Newsom was a Brown on three separate occasions, but he was a Washington Senator five different times.

Newsom finished his league career with a record of 211 wins, 222 losses, and an E.R.A. of 3.98. The real story of Bobo Newsom, however, was his longevity and resilience. The following is a timeline on Bobo's big league clubs, with his tours of duty added to each:

(1.) Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers: 1929-30; 1942-43
(2.) Chicago Cubs: 1932
(3.) St. Louis Browns:1934-35; 1938-39; 1943
(4.) Washington Senators: 1935-37; 1942; 1943; 1946-47; 1952
(5.) Boston Red Sox: 1937
(6.) Detroit Tigers: 1939-41
(7.) Philadelphia Athletics: 1944-46; 1952-53
(8.) New York Yankees: 1947
(9.) New York Giants: 1948

Bobo Newsom was 55 at the time of his 1962 death.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-08-2005, 02:40 AM

23 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 8, 1941: Pearl Harbor Halts Browns Move to Los Angeles.

The Day of Infamy Changed Everything for Everybody!

A day after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, American League owners deny St. Louis Browns owner Donald Barnes' request that he be allowed to move his failing franchise to Los Angeles in the 1942 season. Stopped by the forces of destiny on the world's larger stage, the Browns will remain in St. Louis for another 12 seasons and two ownerships beyond Barnes. The delay doesn't halt the inevitable. - A club that continues to lose ball games loses paying fans - and a club without paying fans eventually loses its life. The Browns will not end up on the West Coast in 1942 as the Los Angeles Browns or Angels. They will find themselves transplanted to the East Coast in 1954 as the Baltimore Orioles.

Births on December 8

Jimmy Austin

One of the Golden Browns!

Birth Name: James Philip Austin
Nickname: Pepper
Born On: 12-08-1879
Born In: Swansea, Wales
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 03-06-1965
Died In: Laguna Beach, California
Cemetery: Melrose Abbey Cemetery, Anaheim, California
College: None Attended
Bats: Both
Throws: Right
Height: 5-07½
Weight: 155
First Game: 04-19-1909 (Age 29)
Last Game: 10-06-1929
Draft: Not Applicable

After breaking into the big leagues with the New York Highlanders in 1910-1911, infielder Austin played the rest of his long MLB career with the Browns from 1912 to 1929. That stretch of time is a little deceiving in sense that Austin's career pretty well ended with his 15 games and 31 AB's in 1922. After that time, Jimmy made what amounted to little more than ceremonial appearances in single games played in 1923, 1925, 1926, and 1929. - As a player and long time coach, Austin got three calls to service as interim manager of the Browns in 1913, 1918, and 1923, posting a 31-43 record as a field leader. The BB/TR 3rd baseman/utility guy hit .246 and 13 HR's over the course of his 18-year big league career. - Jimmy Austin was 85 when he died in 1965.

Sam Zoldak

A Smiln' Sad Sam Zoldak.

Birth Name: Samuel Walter Zoldak Bats : Left
Born On: 12-08-1918 Throws : Left
Born In: Brooklyn, New York Height : 5-11½
Died On: 08-25-1966 Weight : 185
Died In: New Hyde Park, New York First Game: 05-13-1944
College: Fordham University Last Game: 08-26-1952
Nickname: Sad Sam Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Sam Zoldak began his MLB career on May 13, 1944, with the St. Louis Browns. He played for 9 seasons on 3 different teams and ended his big league play in 1952 with a career pitching record of 45 wins, 53 losses and a 3.54 E.R.A. Zoldak was a rookie hurler for the 1944 Browns AL championship club with no W/L record, but later was 9-6 with the 1948 World Series Champion Cleveland Indians after posting a 2-4 record with the Browns earlier that same season. Zoldak was traded by the Browns to the Indians on June 15, 1948 for lefty Bill Kennedy and that ever-popular other player in these transactions - $100,000 cash. Sam Zoldak was 47 when he died in 1966.

Hank Thompson

He broke in with the Browns, but he established career with the NY Giants.

Birth Name: Henry Curtis Thompson
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-08-1925
Born In: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 09-30-1969
Died In: Fresno, California
Cemetery: Odd Fellows Cemetery, Fresno, California
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 5-09
Weight: 174
First Game: 07-17-1947 (Age 21)
Last Game: 09-30-1956
Draft: Not Applicable

2nd baseman/utility infielder Hank Thompson broke into the big leagues on July 17, 1947 as the first black player in the history of the St. Louis Browns. Hank batted .256 with 0 homers in 78 times at bat for the '47 Browns. It was also his only season in St. Louis. - Over his 9-year career (1947, 1949-1956), Thompson batted .267 with 129 homers. - Hank Thompson was 43 when he died in 1969.

Deaths on December 8

Lou Koupal
Birth Name: Louis Laddie Koupal
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-19-1898
Born In: Tabor, South Dakota
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 12-08-1961
Died In: San Gabriel, California
Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery, San Gabriel, California
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
First Game: 04-17-1925 (Age 26)
Last Game: 09-26-1937
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Lou Koupal had a 6 season MLB career (1925-1926, 1928-1930, 1937), winning 10, losing 21, and registering an ERA of 5.58. - Koupal was 4-9 with a 6.56 ERA in 1937, his last and only season as a Brown. - Lou Koupal was 11 days short of his 63rd birthday when he passed away in 1961.

Dave Madison
Birth Name: David Pledger Madison
Nickname: None
Born On: 02-01-1921
Born In: Brooksville, Mississippi
Zodiac: Aquarius
Died On: 12-08-1985
Died In: Macon, Mississippi
Cemetery: Brooksville Cemetery, Brooksville, Mississippi
College: Louisiana State University
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-03
Weight: 190
First Game: 09-26-1950 (Age 29)
Last Game: 08-20-1953
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Dave Madison played parts of 3 seasons in the big leagues (1950, 1952-53), finishing with a career record of 8-7, 5.70. In his only tour as a Brown, Madison went 4-3, 4.38 for the 1952 Browns before being dealt to the Tigers during the season. - Dave Madison was 64 when he died in 1985.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-09-2005, 04:07 AM

22 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 9, 1947: Browns Barter Berardino to Indians for Catfish and Cash!

Railroad Crossing! Look out for the cars!
Can you spell Berardino - without two "r"s?

The Cleveland Indians today picked up Johnny Berardino from the St. Louis Browns in exchange for Catfish Metkovich and $50,000. Because of a broken finger, Metkovich will be returned to Cleveland and the Indians will compensate the Browns by adding another $15,000 to complete the deal. At the end of the 1952 season , Berardino will drop baseball as well as the 2nd "r" in his name, and start a successful acting career in Hollywood. He will become best known as "Dr. Steve" on the daytime serial "General Hospital."

December 9, 1936: "Let There Be Light!" - American League.

The Lights Will See More Use in 1937.

The American League today approved seven night baseball games for St. Louis in 1937. These after-normal-working-hours games will give the Browns a chance to find out something about whether or not daytime workers will now choose to come see the Browns. - The product on the field may still be the biggest factor effecting attendance.

Births on December 9

Bert Blue
Birth Name: Bird Wayne Blue
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-09-1877
Born In: Bettsville, Ohio
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 09-02-1929
Died In: Detroit, Michigan
Cemetery: Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-03
Weight: 200
First Game: 06-15-1908 (Age 30)
Last Game: 09-04-1908
Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher Bert Blue had a 17-game big league careers with the Browns (11) and A's (6) in 1908 - and was then gone-for-good, in spite of a .286 BA (12 for 42) that included a double and 2 triples. - Ben Blue was 51 when he died in 1929. - BCT/GB, Ben Blue!

Curly Brown
Birth Name: Charles Roy Brown
Nickname: Curly or Lefty
Born On: 12-09-1888
Born In: Spring Hill, Kansas
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 06-10-1968
Died In: Spring Hill, Kansas
Cemetery: Spring Hill Cemetery, Spring Hill, Kansas
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 5-10½
Weight: 165
First Game: 09-08-1911 (Age 22)
Last Game: 06-01-1915
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Curly Brown posted a 3-6 record for the 1911-13 Browns. He also played the 1915 season with the Cincinnati Reds, adding 2 more losses to his career 3-8 record that came along with his final caree MLB ERA of 4.20. - Curly Brown was 79 when he died in 1968.

Joe DeMaestri

Joe's 77 Today!

Birth Name: Joseph Paul DeMaestri
Nickname: Froggy or Oats
Born On: 12-09-1928
Born In: San Francisco, California
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: Still Living
Died In: Still Living
Cemetery: n/a
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 174
First Game: 04-19-1951 (Age 22)
Last Game: 09-27-1961
Draft: Not Applicable

Middle infielder Joe DeMaestri had an 11-season MLB career (1951-1961), batting .236 with 49 HRs. - In his only year with the 1952 Browns, Joe batted .226 with 1 homer in 81 games. - On this date in 2005, DeMaestri is celebrating his 77th birthday. - Happy Birthday, Joe DeMaestri!

Deaths on December 9

Branch Rickey

Branch Rickey Died On This Date in 1965.

Birth Name: Wesley Branch Rickey
Nickname: The Mahatma
Born On: 12-20-1881
Born In: Flat, Ohio
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 12-09-1965
Died In: Columbia, Missouri
Cemetery: Rushtown Cemetery, Rushtown, Ohio
College: Ohio Wesleyan University
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 5-09
Weight: 175
First Game: 06-16-1905 (Age 23)
Last Game: 08-25-1914
Draft: Not Applicable

College graduate Branch Rickey began his career as a catcher for the Browns in 1905. He hit only .239 for his 343 at bats over four separate seasons (1905-1907, 1914), but his real contribution to the game was to come later through his genius vision, his shrewd, penurious business practices as a general manager in innovating the farm system, and for his courage to oppose the color line. - Branch Rickey was 11 days short of his 84th birthday when he died in 1965.

Jeff Heath
Birth Name: John Geoffrey Heath
Nickname: None
Born On: 04-01-1915
Born In: Fort William, Ontario, Canada
Zodiac: Aries
Died On: 12-09-1975
Died In: Seattle, Washington
Cemetery: Lake View Cemetery, Seattle, Washington
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11½
Weight: 200
First Game: 09-13-1936 (Age 21)
Last Game: 09-08-1949
Draft: Not Applicable

Outfielder Jeff Heath hit .293 with 194 HRs over the course of a 14-season MLB career (1936-49). In his two seasons as a Brown (1946-47), Heath hit .275 and .251 while slamming 39 homers. - Jeff Heath died in 1975 at the age of 60.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

Have a nice (hopefully, not shopping) weekend, everybody!

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-10-2005, 02:53 AM

21 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 10, 1946: McQuinn Heads for Last Round Up As a Yankee!

George McQuinn Will Finish His Career in Gotham!

George McQuinn will always be remembered as the 1st baseman for the 1944 Browns, the only club to ever win an American League pennant. Today, however, he rides off into the sunset as a member of the New York Yankees. Because of his recent release by the Philadelphia Athletics, the Yankees are able to sign the 36-year old veteran McQuinn to a playing contract for the 1947 season as a free agent. George has two good years left in him. He will hit .304 with 13 HRs and 80 RBI in 1947. After falling in 1948 to a BA of .248 with 11 HRs and only 41 RBI in 1948, George McQuinn will retire from baseball.

Births on December 10

Charlie (not Sheen) Shields

"1879? - Are we talkin' about your birth year - or your pitch count?"

Birth Name: Charles Jessamine Shields
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-10-1879
Born In: Jackson, Tennessee
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 08-27-1953
Died In: Memphis, Tennessee
Cemetery: Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
First Game: 04-23-1902 (Age 22)
Last Game: 06-10-1907
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Charlie Shields was 3-0 with an ERA of 3.30 for the 1902 Browns after joining the club that same rookie season from the Baltimore Orioles, where he was 4-11 with a 4.24 ERA. Shields came back to go 0-2 for the 1907 Cardinals as the conclusion of his 2-season gap-riddled MLB career. Overall, his record was 7-13, 4.27. - Charlie Shields was 73 when he died in 1953.

Patrick Newnam
Birth Name: Patrick Henry Newnam
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-10-1880
Born In: Hempstead, Texas
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 06-20-1938
Died In: San Antonio, Texas
Cemetery: St. Mary Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 180
First Game: 05-29-1910 (Age 29)
Last Game: 05-13-1911
Draft: Not Applicable

1st baseman Pat Newnam's brief two-year MLB career was spent with the 1910-11 Browns. In 123 total games, Newnam batted .213 and hit 2 HR's. Pat Newman passed away in 1938 at the age of 57.

Jim Stephens
Birth Name: James Walter Stephens
Nickname: Little Nemo
Born On: 12-10-1883
Born In: Salineville, Ohio
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 01-02-1965
Died In: Oxford, Alabama
Cemetery: Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, Alabama
College: Villanova University
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-06½
Weight: 157
First Game: 04-11-1907 (Age 23)
Last Game: 10-06-1912
Draft: Not Applicable

In a 6-year career as a Browns catcher, Jim Stephens batted only .220. The 5' 6 1/2" Stephens had virtually no power. In 1,252 total official AB's, "Little Nemo" hit only 3 homers. - Jim Stephens died in 1965 at the age of 81.

Art Griggs
Birth Name: Arthur Carle Griggs
Nickname: Art
Born On: 12-10-1884
Born In: Topeka, Kansas
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 12-19-1938
Died In: Los Angeles, California
Cemetery: Cremated
College: University of Pittsburgh
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
First Game: 05-02-1909 (Age 24)
Last Game: 09-02-1918
Draft: Not Applicable

Utility position player Art Griggs hit .280 for the 1909 Browns and .236 for the 1910 club while breaking into the big leagues. Over his career at several positions (1909-18), Griggs hit .277 with 5 dead ball era homers. - Art Griggs was 55 when he passed away in 1938.

Stan Gray *

Case of Mystery Man Stan Gray Now Solved! - How could Gray play in 383 games from 1912 to 1933 and only come to bat 20 times? - See Answer Below.

Birth Name: Stanley Oscar Gray Bats : Right
Born On: 12-10-1888 Throws : Right
Born In: Ladonia, Texas Height : 6-00½
Died On: 10-11-1964 Weight : 184
Died In: Snyder, Texas First Game: 09-17-1912
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-18-1933
Nickname: None Draft: Not Applicable

* Stan Gray was not a Brown. After consulting with MacMillan's Baseball Encyclopedia, we may now safely conclude that Stan Gray was a 6-game, 20-AB 1st baseman for the 1912 Pirates who had no connection to the Browns. His name similarity to former Browns pitcher Sam Gray apparently led to Sam Gray's career pitching record being added to Stan Gray's stat record at Baseball Almanac. Easy to see how that could happen.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play...php?p=graydo02

I will inform Baseball Almanac right away so that the error can be corrected at the online site. In the meanwhile, scratch Stan Gray from our list of former Browns. He never was one of our guys.

Verdo Elmore
Birth Name: Verdo Wilson Elmore
Nickname: Ellie
Born On: 12-10-1899
Born In: Gordo, Alabama
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 08-05-1969
Died In: Birmingham, Alabama
Cemetery: Gordo Cemetery, Gordo, Alabama
College: University of Alabama
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
First Game: 09-11-1924 (Age 24)
Last Game: 09-24-1924
Draft: Not Applicable

Right fielder Verdo Elmore had a 13-day MLB career with the 1924 Browns, going 3 for 17 with no homers and a .176 BA for all time as his ticket to the Land of Gone for Good. - Verdo Elmore was 69 when he passed away in 1969. - BCT/GB, Verdo Elmore!

Deaths on December 10

Walter Moser
Birth Name: Walter Frederick Moser
Nickname: None
Born On: 02-27-1881
Born In: Concord, North Carolina
Zodiac: Pisces
Died On: 12-10-1946
Died In: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cemetery: West Laurel Hills Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-09
Weight: 170
First Game: 09-03-1906 (Age 25)
Last Game: 09-09-1911
Draft: Not Applicable

In 2 years and 70.2 innings on the big league mound, pitcher Walter Moser fails to acquire a good nickname - or even shortened, less formal identity as "Walt." In fact, Walter fails to win a game at all. After going 0 and 4 for the 1906 Phillies, Walter is forced to wait five years for his second and last shot a victory in the majors. He goes 0 and 1 for the 1911 Boston American League club and is then quickly sold to the St. Louis Browns in the same season for an undisclosed pile of change. Walter Moser lasts all of 3.1 innings as a BR/TR starter for the 1911 Browns, picking up two losses and building a 21.62 ERA ticket to nowhere in the process. The Browns quickly give up on Moser, allowing him to finish his career through 1911 with a record of 0 wins, 7 losses, and ERA of 4.59. Almost needless to add, Moser is gone for good after his failure with the Browns, thus allowing his winless quest to stand unchanged in the big league record books for all time. - Walter Moser passed away winless in 1946 a the age of 65.

Carl Fischer
Birth Name: Charles William Fischer
Nickname: None
Born On: 11-05-1905
Born In: Medina, New York
Zodiac: Scorpio
Died On: 12-10-1963
Died In: Medina, New York
Cemetery: Mount Ridge Cemetery, Royalton, New York
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Height: 6-00
Weight: 180
First Game: 07-19-1930
Last Game: 07-02-1937
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Carl Fischer had a 7-year MLB career (1930-1935, 1937), finishing with a record of 46 wins, 50 losses, and an ERA of 4.63. - Fischer was 3-7 with a 5.57 ERA in 1932 after coming over from Washington during the season. It was to be his only time with the Browns. - Carl Fischer was 58 when he died in 1963.

Jack Tobin
Birth Name: John Thomas Tobin
Nickname: None
Born On: 05-04-1892
Born In: St. Louis, Missouri
Zodiac: Taurus
Died On: 12-10-1969
Died In: St. Louis, Missouri
Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 5-08
Weight: 142
First Game: 04-16-1914 (Age 21)
Last Game: 09-28-1927
Draft: Not Applicable

Right fielder Jack Tobin batted .331 and banged out 13 HRs for the almost-champion 1922 Browns. He went on to even better years, batting .352 in 1921 and and .341 in 1920. His career (1914-27) record with four clubs, but mostly with the Browns (1916-25) produced a .309 lifetime BA and 1,906 hits. The presence of a few more players like Jack Tobin in our club's past could have resulted in a much better win history for the St. Louis Browns. - Jack Tobin passed away in 1969 at the age of 77.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-11-2005, 02:59 AM

20 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 11, 1929: Another Browns-A's Swap.

Wally Schang Traded Today.

The Browns trade catcher Wally Schang to the Philadelphia Athletics for 3rd baseman Sammy Hale. Schang had some good years for the Browns during his 4 seasons with the club (1926-29), but hit only .237 in 94 games in 1929. Hale will go on to hit .274 in 47 games at 3rd base and 15 more as a pinch hitter for the 1930 Browns before retiring from baseball. Schang's return to the A's reunites him with his original club (1913-17). Schang will hit .174 in limited service with the 1930 A's and .184 with the 1931 Tigers before making his own exit from baseball. Schang's last three seasons in his 19-year big league career are not up to par with his talent level. Schang was a career .284 hitter.

December 11, 1927: Saddest Day In Browns History.

Greatest Brown Sold Today!

Some of you may disagree, but this is the one transaction in club history that I rate as our saddest moment in time. Today the Browns sell George Sisler, the greatest player in franchise history, and one of the greatest ballplayers of all time, to the Washington Senators for a mere $25,000 freakin' dollars. I don't care if those were big bucks in 1927, Sisler was priceless to the Browns, even when he was old and infirm. Can you imagine the Cardinals doing something like this with Stan Musial during the latter years of his career? I can't.

Births on This Date in History

Gene Wright
Birth Name: Clarence Eugene Wright
Nickname: Big Gene
Born On: 12-11-1878
Born In: Cleveland, Ohio
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 10-29-1930
Died In: Barberton, Ohio
Cemetery: Lakewood Cemetery, Akron, Ohio
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-02
Weight: 185
First Game: 10-05-1901 (Age 22)
Last Game: 04-18-1904
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Gene Wright had a 3-6 record with the 1903-1904 Browns. For his 4-season MLB career (1901-1904), Wright's record was 14 wins, 26 losses, and an ERA of 4.50. - Gene Wright was 51 when he died in 1930.

Walt Meinert
Birth Name: Walter Henry Meinert
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-11-1890
Born In: New York, New York
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 11-09-1958
Died In: Decatur, Illinois
Cemetery: Fairlawn Cemetery, Decatur, Illinois
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 5-07½
Weight: 150
First Game: 09-06-1913 (Age 22)
Last Game: 09-12-1913
Draft: Not Applicable

Right fielder Walt Meinert had a 4-game, 6-day big league career for the 1913 Browns, batting .375 (3/8) with no dead ball homers. - After 9/12/13, Walt was gone-for-good, but walking away from the game with a career BA that exceeded the likes of Cobb and Sisler. - Walt Meinert was 67 when he passed away in 1958. - BCT/GB, Walt Meinert!

Slick Coffman
Birth Name: George David Coffman
Nickname: Slick
Born On: 12-11-1910
Born In: Veto, Alabama
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 05-08-2003
Died In: Birmingham, Alabama
Cemetery: Gatlin Cemetery, Ardmore, Tennessee
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 155
First Game: 05-21-1937 (Age 26)
Last Game: 09-17-1940
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Slick Coffman was 2-2 with a 6.27 ERA for the 1940 Browns. For his entire 4-year big league career (1937-1940), Coffman won 15, lost 12, and recorded a 5.60 ERA

Deaths on This Date In History

Jim Bottomley
Birth Name: James Leroy Bottomley
Nickname: Sunny Jim
Born On: 04-23-1900
Born In: Oglesby, Illinois
Zodiac: Taurus
Died On: 12-11-1959
Died In: St. Louis, Missouri
Cemetery: Odd Fellows Cemetery, Sullivan, Missouri
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 6-00
Weight: 180
First Game: 08-18-1922 (Age 22)
Last Game: 09-16-1937
Draft: Not Applicable

Great Cardinal Hall of Fame 1st baseman Jim Bottomley played his last two years in the big leagues with the 1936-37 Browns, batting .298 and .239. He also took over for Rogers Hornsby as manager of the Browns for the last 79 games of 1937. Over his 16-season MLB career (1922-1937), Bottomley hit .310 with 219 HRs. - Jim Bottomley was 59 when he died in 1959.

Cliff Fannin

Career Brown Cliff Fannin Died Young.

Birth Name: Clifford Bryson Fannin
Nickname: Mule
Born On: 05-13-1924
Born In: Louisa, Kentucky
Zodiac: Taurus
Died On: 12-11-1966
Died In: Sandusky, Ohio
Cemetery: Unknown Cemetery, Toledo, Ohio
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 170
First Game: 09-02-1945 (Age 21)
Last Game: 09-27-1952
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Cliff Fannin had an 8-season, All-Browns MLB career (1945-1952) in which he won 34, lost 51, and recorded an ERA of 4.85. - Cliff Fannin died at age 42 in 1966.

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...DECEMBER11.stm

http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.co...day/today2S.pl

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-12-2005, 09:44 AM

19 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 12, 1949: AL Rule Committee Dashes Last Hope of the Browns!

"I coulda' helped those Browns so much!"

By a 7-1 vote, the American League Rules Committee today rejected a proposal to bring back the legal spitball. - Darn it!

Births on December 12

No (SL) Brown Eggs Ever Hatched on December 12th.

Deaths on December 12

Jim Weaver
Birth Name: James Dement Weaver
Nickname: Big Jim
Born On: 11-25-1903
Born In: Obion County, Tennessee
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 12-12-1983
Died In: Lakeland, Florida
Cemetery: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Erlanger, Kentucky
College: Western Kentucky University
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-06
Weight: 230
First Game: 08-27-1928 (Age 24)
Last Game: 05-08-1939
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Jim Weaver had an 8-season MLB career (1928, 1931, 1934-1939), winning 57, losing 36, and registering an ERA of 3.88. In his only time with the 1938 Browns, Weaver pitched 7 innings in 1 game and took the loss. - The barely-a-Brown Jim Weaver was 80 when he died in 1980.

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

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-13-2005, 01:41 AM

18 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 13, 1949: DUMP-DE-DUMP-DUMP! Browns Deal Dillinger!

"The way we did it on Dragnet was 'DUM-DE-DUM-DUM', but these are the Browns. The extra 'P' fits." DUMP-DE-DUMP-DUMP!

The St. Louis Browns today dealt star 3rd baseman Bob Dillinger (.324) and temperamental outfielder Paul Lehner to the Philadelphia A's for a reported $100,000 and infielders Frankie Gustine, Bill DeMars, and outfielders Ray Coleman, and Ray Ippolitto. Dillinger will play just a half-season in Philley before being swapped to Pittsburgh.

December 13, 1948: Browns Get Lollar in Trade with Yankees!

"The Browns traded for Lollar? - Believe what you will. I'm bettin' on the dollar!" DUMP-DE DUMP-DE-DUMP!

After a year with the New York Yankees, pitcher Red Embree is traded today, along with young catcher Sherm Lollar, pitcher Dick Starr and $100,000, to the St. Louis Browns. Embree will slump to 3–13 in St. Louis after having his only winning big league season in New York. Lollar is the prize, and he will catch in the majors through 1963. The Yankees receive pitcher Fred Sanford and catcher Roy Partee. Partee is ticketed for the minors, but Sanford will help the Yanks as a starter/reliever in 1949.

DUMP-DE-DUMP-DUMP!

December 13, 1930: Sisler's Playing Career Ends with Release by Braves!

The 15-year playing career of George Sisler ended today as the Boston Braves released him unconditionally. A lifetime .340 hitter who twice led the American League with averages above .400, Sisler will be among the first to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame for enshrinement in 1939.

Births on December 13

Pete Bigler
Birth Name: Ivan Edward Bigler
Nickname: Pete
Born On: 12-13-1892
Born In: Bradford, Ohio
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 04-01-1975
Died In: Coldwater, Michigan
Cemetery: Harris Creek Cemetery, Bradford, Ohio
College: Juniata College
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-09
Weight: 150
First Game: 05-06-1917 (Age 24)
Last Game: 05-06-1917
Draft: Not Applicable

Pete Bigler's entire big league career took place on May 6, 1917 when he was inserted into a game for the Browns as a pinch runner. He neither stole a base nor scored - nor was he heard from again. - Pete Bigler passed away at age 82 in 1975. - BCT/GB, Pete Bigler!

Deaths on December 13

Doc Shanley
Birth Name: Harry Root Shanley
Nickname: Doc
Born On: 01-30-1889
Born In: Granbury, Texas
Zodiac: Aquarius
Died On: 12-13-1934
Died In: St. Petersburg, Florida
Cemetery: Royal Palm Cemetery, St. Petersburg, Florida
College: Washington University in Saint Louis
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 174
First Game: 09-15-1912 (Age 0)
Last Game: 09-24-1912
Draft: Not Applicable

Shortstop Doc Shanley was 0 for 8 in 5 games for the 1912 Browns. He drew 2 walks and managed to record 1 run scored and 1 run batted in. After that time, he was gone-for-good. - Doc Shanley was 45 when he died in 1934. - BCT/GB, Doc Shanley!

George Baumgardner
Birth Name: George Washington Baumgardner
Nickname: None
Born On: 07-22-1891
Born In: Barboursville, West Virginia
Zodiac: Cancer
Died On: 12-13-1970
Died In: Barboursville, West Virginia
Cemetery: Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, West Virginia
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 178
First Game: 04-14-1912 (Age 20)
Last Game: 05-15-1916
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher George Baumgardner had a 5-season (1912-1916) all Browns MLB career, winning 36, losing 47, and registering a 3.22 ERA. - George Baumgardner was 79 when he died in 1970.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-14-2005, 04:23 AM

17 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 14, 1933: Round 'N Round The Trading Wheel Goes ...

"What's this trade have to do with me?" - Terry Bradshaw

The St. Louis Browns today acquired outfielder Smead Jolley, pitcher Ivy Andrews, and $40,000 from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitcher Carl Reynolds. St. Louis then sent Jolley, plus shotstop Jim Levey, and pitcher Wally Hebert to the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League in return for shortstop Alan Strange. - Strange will be traded to the Washington Senators for veteran shortstop Lyn Lary before the end of the 1934 season. Levey, meanwhile, will return east in the fall of 1934 to join the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National League, where he will play halfback for three seasons. How the move of Levey to the NFL Steelers butterfly-effects the football club's eventual signing of Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, and John Stallworth is unclear.

Births on December 14

John Anderson
Birth Name: John Joseph Anderson
Nickname: Honest John
Born On: 12-14-1873
Born In: Sarpsborg, Norway
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 07-23-1949
Died In: Worcester, Massachusetts
Cemetery: Swedish Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts
College: None Attended
Bats: Both
Throws: Right
Height: 6-02
Weight: 180
First Game: 09-08-1894 (Age 20)
Last Game: 10-02-1908
Draft: Not Applicable

1st baseman/outifielder John Anderson enjoyed a 14-year career in the big leagues (1894-1899, 1901-1908), hitting .290 with 49 homers. As a full-time player for the 1902-1903 Browns, Anderson batted .284 in each of his two St. Louis seasons, collecting 6 total HRs. Anderson was 75 at the ime of his death.

Syl "Sammy" Simon
Birth Name: Sylvester Adam Simon
Nickname: Sammy
Born On: 12-14-1897
Born In: Evansville, Indiana
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 02-28-1973
Died In: Chandler, Indiana
Cemetery: Locust Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-10½
Weight: 170
First Game: 10-01-1923 (Age 25)
Last Game: 09-27-1924
Draft: Not Applicable

Infielder Sylvester Adam "Sammy" Simon went 8 for 33 (.242) with 0 homers for the 1923-1924 Browns as his total big league experience and was then .... (ta da) ... gone for good! Sammy Simon died in 1972 at the age of 72.

Sammy Simon,
Met a pieman,
On his way to Brownsville.

Sammy stopped,
And ate his sweets;
He couldn't handle Moundsville.

BCT/GB, Sammy Simon!

Bob Weiland
Birth Name: Robert George Weiland
Nickname: Lefty
Born On: 12-14-1905
Born In: Chicago, Illinois
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 11-09-1988
Died In: Chicago, Illinois
Cemetery: Mount Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, Illinois
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 6-04
Weight: 215
First Game: 09-30-1928
Last Game: 04-26-1940
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Bob Weiland had a 12-year MLB career (1928-1935, 1937-1940) in which he won 62, lost 94, and recorded an ERA of 4.24. In his only year for the 1935 Browns, Weiland was 0-2 with an ERA of 9.56. - Bob Weiland was 82 when he died in 1988.

Jim Walkup
Birth Name: James Elton Walkup
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-14-1909
Born In: Havana, Arkansas
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 02-07-1997
Died In: Danville, Arkansas
Cemetery: Unknown
College: University of Arkansas
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-01
Weight: 170
First Game: 09-22-1934 (Age 24)
Last Game: 07-18-1939
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Jim Walkup had a career record of 16 wins, 38 losses, and a 6.74 ERA from 1934 to 1939. All but one loss and 12 innings were registered as a Brown. The club dealt him off to Detroit during the 1939 season for the inglorious end of his career. - Jim Walkup was 87 when he died in 1997.

Rusty Peters
Birth Name: Russell Dixon Peters
Nickname: Rusty
Born On: 12-14-1914
Born In: Roanoke, Virginia
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 02-21-2003
Died In: Harrisonburg, Virginia
Cemetery: Christ Church Unity Cemetery, Roanoke, Virginia
College: Washington & Lee University
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
First Game: 04-14-1936 (Age 21)
Last Game: 09-28-1947
Draft: Not Applicable

Infielder Rusty Peters had a 10-season MLB career (1936-1938, 1940-1944, 1946-1947), batting .236 with 8 HRs. In his last and only season with the 1947 Browns, Peters finished well at the plate, going 16 for 47 and a .340 BA in 30 games. - Rusty Peters was 88 when he died in 2003.

Deaths on December 14

So far, No Browns Ever Died on December 14.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-15-2005, 05:23 AM

16 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 15, 1927: Browns Say Goodbye to Ken Williams (for cash, of course)!

No One is Forever.

The St. Louis Browns today said goodbye to one of the icons of their great 1922 club by selling aging home run-hitter Ken Williams to the Boston Red Sox for $10,000. At 38, Williams is still a .300 hitter, but his power ability has fallen dramatically. Williams hit .323 with only 17 home runs for the 1927 Browns. He will hit .303 with only 8 homers for the 1928 Red Sox in 130 games and, after Williams hits .345 with only 3 HRs in 1929 in 74 games, he will be waived by Boston to the New York Yankees on January 29, 1930. That move will prove to be the end of the line for the ancient Brownie slugger. Ken Williams will retire before he ever plays a single official inning for the Yankees.

Births on December 15

No St. Louis Browns were ever born on December 15th.

For the record, comedian and ardent baseball fan Joe E. Brown was born on July 28, 1892. He died on July 6, 1973. If you've never seen Brown's hilarious 1930s baseball movies, "Alibi Ike" or "Elmer the Great," watch for them on Turner Classic Movies whenever they are shown.

Deaths on December 15

"Super! This is a another lucky day for all Browns everywhere!"

So far, no St. Louis Browns have ever died on December 15th.

Today's Reference Links ... MacMillan's Baseball Encyclopedia (hard copy)

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0113873/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-16-2005, 01:59 AM

15 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 16, 2005: Christmas Shopper* Marketing Survey Report.

A marketing report conducted at 16 retail malls in 8 strategic American urban consumer areas revealed today that 2,458 shoppers were approached by The MoneyTouch Survey Corporation on Saturday, December 10, 2005, and asked to respond to 300 questions each about their current holiday season buying plans. The following is a summary of major results:

91.04% (2247 of 2,458 shoppers) told interviewers: "Get lost! I've got better things to do than waste my time talking to you!"

Of the 211 shoppers who agreed to do the interview:

99.53% (210 of 211 actual interviewees) failed to complete the interview and walked away saying: "You've got to kidding! Don't ever bother me again!"

On the basis of the entire sample population that completed the consumer market survey (1 person), MoneyTouch arrived at a shocking conclusion:

100.00% of 2005 Christmas shoppers are searching for St. Louis Browns memorabilia and not finding any. - On the basis of our extensive survey process, it is clear that America's Christmas season retailers have been caught with their pants down by their failure to anticipate the needs of this year's consumer group.

* If the phrase "holiday shopper" is less offensive to you, please feel free to adjust our headline to include this statement - or any other phrase that is more compatible with your differential sensibilities.

Births on December 16

Scrappy Moore
Birth Name: William Allen Moore
Nickname: Scrappy
Born On: 12-16-1892
Born In: St. Louis, Missouri
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 10-13-1964
Died In: Little Rock, Arkansas
Cemetery: Roselawn Memorial Park, Little Rock, Arkansas
College: Vanderbilt & Georgia Tech
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-08
Weight: 153
First Game: 06-21-1917 (Age 24)
Last Game: 07-05-1917
Draft: Not Applicable

3rd baseman Scrappy Moore was 1 for 8 (.125) in 4 games for the 1917 Browns before hokking it out to the Land of Gone for Good. - Scrappy Moore was 71 when he died in 1964. - BCT/GB, Scrappy Moore!

Deaths on December 16

Debs Garms
Birth Name: Debs C. Garms
Nickname: Tex
Born On: 06-26-1907
Born In: Bangs, Texas
Zodiac: Cancer
Died On: 12-16-1984
Died In: Glen Rose, Texas
Cemetery: Squaw Creek Cemetery, Glen Rose, Texas
College: Howard Payne University
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 5-08½
Weight: 165
First Game: 08-10-1932 (Age 25)
Last Game: 09-25-1945
Draft: Not Applicable

Infielder/outfielder Debs Garms broke into MLB with a 4-year start as a St. Louis Brown (1932-1935). He played 12 seasons in the big leagues, (1932-1935, 1937-1941, 1943-1945), batting .293 with only 17 career homers. As a member of the 1940 Pittsburgh Pirates club, Debs won the National League batting championship with a .355 mark. - Debs Garms was 77 when he died in 1984.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-17-2005, 10:33 AM

14 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 17, 1934: Yankees Pluck Shocker from Browns!

Urban Shocker Was Another Cog in the '22 Browns Big Wheel.

The New York Yankees today acquired 4-time 20-game winner Urban Shocker from the St. Louis Browns for pitchers Milt Gaston, Joe Giard, and Joe Bush. Shocker led the Browns in wins in each of the past five seasons and he will go from here to be a mainstay on two pennant-winning staffs for New York. Bush had beaten the Browns 17 straight times after losing to them on June 12, 1922.

December 17, 1920: AL Spitballer Exemption Day.

Once Upon a Time, Baseball Had Players Known as Designated Spitters!

The American League today agreed to allow pitchers who used the spitball in 1920 to continue using it for as long as they are in the league. The National League will do the same. There will be 17 designated spitters in all, eight in the NL and nine in the AL. For the NL, the wet-guys are: Bill Doak, Phil Douglas, Dana Fillingim, Ray Fisher, Marvin Goodwin, Burleigh Grimes, Clarence Mitchell, and Dick Rudolph. For the American League, the wet-one are: A.W. Ayers, Slim Caldwell, Stan Coveleski, Red Faber, H.B. Leonard, Jack Quinn, Allan Russell, Urban Shocker, and Allen Sothoron.

Among the AL group, only Shocker and Sothoron have earned their water wings as members of the St. Louis Browns.

Births on December 17

Going way back, no Browns were ever born on December 17.

Deaths on December 17

Walt DeVoy
Birth Name: Walter Joseph DeVoy
Nickname: None
Born On: 03-14-1886
Born In: St. Louis, Missouri
Zodiac: Pisces
Died On: 12-17-1953
Died In: St. Louis, Missouri
Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
First Game: 09-13-1909 (Age 23)
Last Game: 10-03-1909
Draft: Not Applicable

Right fielder/1st baseman Walt DeVoy played 19 games for the 1909 Browns and was then gone for good from big league baseball. DeVoy batted .246 (16 for 79) with no dead ball era taters to his credit. - Walt DeVoy passed away in 1953 at the age of 67. - BCT/GB, Walt DeVoy!

Fritz Ostermueller
Birth Name: Frederick Raymond Ostermueller
Nickname: Fritz
Born On: 09-15-1907
Born In: Quincy, Illinois
Zodiac: Virgo
Died On: 12-17-1957
Died In: Quincy, Illinois
Cemetery: Calvary Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
First Game: 04-21-1934 (Age 26)
Last Game: 09-30-1948
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Fritz Ostermueller had a 15-year MLB career (1934-1948) in which he won 114, lost 115, and registered an ERA of 3.99. - Frtiz was 3-6 in three years with the Browns (1941-1943). He was only 50 when he died in 1957.

Hank Severeid

Hank Severeid: Great Catcher of The '22 Browns.

Birth Name: Henry Levai Severeid
Nickname: None
Born On: 06-01-1891
Born In: Story City, Iowa
Zodiac: Gemini
Died On: 12-17-1968
Died In: San Antonio, Texas
Cemetery: Sunset Memorial Park, San Antonio, Texas
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 175
First Game: 05-15-1911 (Age 19)
Last Game: 07-27-1926
Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher Hank Severeid is regarded by most as the greatest receiver in franchise history. For 11 seasons as a Brown (1915-1925), Severeid hit for a consistently high average and did a yeoman's job behind the plate. In his two best years, he batted .324 in 1921 and .321 for the great 1922 club. Over the course of his entire career (1911-1913, 1915-1926), Hank hit .289, but without any power. He hit only 17 career homers. - Hank Severeid will passed in 1968 at the age of 77.

Jim Park
Birth Name: James Park
Nickname: None
Born On: 11-10-1892
Born In: Richmond, Kentucky
Zodiac: Scorpio
Died On: 12-17-1970
Died In: Lexington, Kentucky
Cemetery: Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Kentucky
College: Kentucky Agricultural & Mechanical College
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-02
Weight: 175
First Game: 09-07-1915 (Age 23)
Last Game: 07-11-1917
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Jim Park had a 3-season, all-Browns MLB career (1915-1917) in which he won 4, lost 5, and recorded an ERA of 3.02 in 42 games and 122 innings of work. - Jim Park was 79 when he died in 1970.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-18-2005, 05:48 AM

13 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 18, 1903: Ban Johnson Gets Raise; Some Rules Change.

AL Boss To Get Fatter Paycheck.

The American League met today to deal with several items of business. Ban Johnson is re-elected American League president and given a raise to $10,000. The American League also votes to allow coaches at 3rd base and 1st base at all times.* Until now, only one coach was permitted on the field, except in situations where there were two or more base runners. The American League also institutes the "foul strike" rule currently in use by the National League since 1901: a foul will be counted as a strike unless there are already two strikes. Then, of course, it's just a foul ball, but the batter may still be retired for an out - if the ball is caught on the fly.

* The common sense coaching rule change noted here took place 102 years ago. You have to wonder when common sense will prevail again and allow clubs to do away with those "coaching boxes" they draw on the field. Based on where the coaches actually position themselves outside the baselines, the boxes seem to be a sad waste of perfectly good chalk.

Births on December 18

Dick Coffman
Birth Name: Samuel Richard Coffman
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-18-1906
Born In: Veto, Alabama
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 03-24-1972
Died In: Athens, Alabama
Cemetery: Athens City Cemetery, Athens, Alabama
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-02
Weight: 195
First Game: 04-28-1927 (Age 20)
Last Game: 06-28-1945
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Dick Coffman was 27-40 in 5 seasons as a Brown from 1928 to 1932. His (1927-45) career record was 72-95 with an ERA of 4.65. Dick Coffman died in 1972 at the age of 65.

Buddy Napier
Birth Name: Skelton Le Roy Napier
Nickname: Buddy
Born On: 12-18-1889
Born In: Byromville, Georgia
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 03-29-1968
Died In: Hutchins, Texas
Cemetery: Hutchins Cemetery, Hutchins, Texas
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
First Game: 08-14-1912 (Age 22)
Last Game: 07-16-1921
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Buddy Napier was 1-2, with a 4.97 E.R.A. as a righthanded pitcher for the 1913 Browns. His 4-year mark for 4 non-consecutive seasons played from 1913-1921 was 5-6, 3.92. Napier died in 1968 at the age of 78.

Sam Covington
Birth Name: Clarence Calvert Covington
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-18-1894
Born In: Henryville, Tennessee
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 01-04-1963
Died In: Denison, Texas
Cemetery: Oakwood Cemetery, Denison, Texas
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 6-01
Weight: 190
First Game: 08-25-1913 (Age 18)
Last Game: 04-27-1918
Draft: Not Applicable

"Sam" Covinngton was 9 for 60 (.150 BA) in 20 games as a 1st baseman for the 1913 Browns. He also saw very limited action for the 1917-18 Boston Braves and finished his short career with a BA of .178. Covington died in 1963 at the age of 68.

Deaths on December 18

Jim McLaughlin
Birth Name: James Robert McLaughlin
Nickname: None
Born On: 01-03-1902
Born In: St. Louis, Missouri
Zodiac: Capricorn
Died On: 12-18-1968
Died In: Mount Vernon, Illinois
Cemetery: Oakwood Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Illinois
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-08½
Weight: 168
First Game: 04-18-1932 (Age 30)
Last Game: 04-18-1932
Draft: Not Applicable

Jim McLaughlin's entire big league career consisted of one official time at bat for the 1932 Browns. He was 0 for 1 with 1 R.B.I. - Draw your own speculative conclusions on how McLaughlin got his lone ribbie. Oh well, Jim batted 1.000 on his R.B.I. production per times at bat. That's not too shabby as a major league memory. Of course, he's also a blue ribbon level gone-for-gooderby disappearing from the big leagues after only time at bat. - Jim McLaughlin died in 1968 at the age of 66. - BCT/GB, Jim McLaughlin!

George Caster
Birth Name: George Jasper Caster
Nickname: Ug
Born On: 08-04-1907
Born In: Colton, California
Zodiac: Leo
Died On: 12-18-1955
Died In: Lakewood, California
Cemetery: Sunnyside Memorial Park, Long Beach, California
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-01½
Weight: 180
First Game: 09-10-1934 (Age 27)
Last Game: 09-16-1946
Draft: Not Applicable

As a righthanded pitcher for 5 years (1941-45) with the Browns, George Caster won 24 and lost 25. His (1934-46) career mark was 76 wins and 100 losses with a 4.54 E.R.A. - George Caster died in 1955 at the age of 48.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-19-2005, 05:39 PM

12 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

On days when reporting,
Takes shovels and digs,
Unearthed for you here,
...Krichell, Koupal, and Griggs.

Births on December 19th

Paul Krichell

Paul Krichell's Gravesite

Birth Name: Paul Bernard Krichell
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-19-1882
Born In: New York, New York
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 06-04-1957
Died In: New York, New York
Cemetery: Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, New York
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-07
Weight: 150
First Game: 05-12-1911 (Age 28)
Last Game: 09-22-1912
Draft: Not Applicable

Paul Kritchell is best remembered today as the famous Yankee scout who signed Lou Gehrig for the New York Yankees. He also had a brief MLB playing background that was as "Browns" as could be. In 243 at bats as a catcher for the 1911-12 Browns, Paul completed his big league career with a BA of .222 and 0 homers. His baseball savvy and eye for talent would lead him to his more famous careeer as a scout. - Paul Krichell died at the age of 74 in 1957.

Lou Koupal
Birth Name: Louis Laddie Koupal
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-19-1898
Born In: Tabor, South Dakota
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 12-08-1961
Died In: San Gabriel, California
Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery, San Gabriel, California
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
First Game: 04-17-1925 (Age 26)
Last Game: 09-26-1937
Draft: Not Applicable

Louis Laddie "Lou" Koupal compiled a 6-12 career MLB record as a pitcher for the Pirates, Robins (Dodgers), and Phillies from 1925 to 1930. Lou made a comeback seven years later with the 1937 Browns. Koupal went 4 and 9 with the '37 Browns and retired again. His career record was 10-21 with a 5.58 ERA. - Lou Koupal died in 1961 at the age of 62.

Deaths On December 19th

Art Griggs
Birth Name: Arthur Carle Griggs
Nickname: Art
Born On: 12-10-1884
Born In: Topeka, Kansas
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 12-19-1938
Died In: Los Angeles, California
Cemetery: Cremated
College: University of Pittsburgh
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
First Game: 05-02-1909 (Age 24)
Last Game: 09-02-1918
Draft: Not Applicable

Utility position player Art Griggs hit .280 for the 1909 Browns and .236 for the 1910 club while breaking into the big leagues. Over his career at several positions (1909-18), Griggs hit .277 with 5 dead ball era homers. - Art Griggs was 55 when he passed away in 1938.

Today's reference link ... http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-20-2005, 03:45 PM

11 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

Births on December 20

Jimmy Williams

"I'm not the guy you're reading about here." - Jimy Williams

Birth Name: James Thomas Williams
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-20-1876
Born In: St. Louis, Missouri
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 01-16-1965
Died In: St. Petersburg, Florida
Cemetery: Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-09
Weight: 175
First Game: 04-15-1899 (Age 22)
Last Game: 10-03-1909
Draft: Not Applicable

Jimmy (2 "M") Williams played 11 seasons (1899-1909) for 4 different big league teams, spending his last two seasons (1908-09) as the 2nd baseman of the St. Louis Browns. Although Williams had some good previous years as a hitter, his offensive stroke was gone by the time he reached St. Louis. Jimmy's rookie year found him batting .355 in 152 games for the 1899 Pirates. In contrast, Williams batted only .195 in 110 games for the 1909 Browns. It was time for Jimmy Williams to go - and he did. - Jimmy Williams was 88 when he died in 1965.

Branch Rickey

Birth Name: Wesley Branch Rickey
Nickname: The Mahatma
Born On: 12-20-1881
Born In: Flat, Ohio
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 12-09-1965
Died In: Columbia, Missouri
Cemetery: Rushtown Cemetery, Rushtown, Ohio
College: Ohio Wesleyan University
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 5-09
Weight: 175
First Game: 06-16-1905 (Age 23)
Last Game: 08-25-1914
Draft: Not Applicable

It suffices to say that Branch Rickey gets many of our votes as the man who influenced baseball more than any other during the 20th century. His genius vision for developing a winning big league club through the development of a minor league farm club system, and, of course, his leadership in breaking the color line are at the heart of his contributions to baseball.

Make no mistake about Rickey. He was an honest man, but his shrewdness for business and his ego never strayed far from his motivations. Rickey's desire to see the color line broken was not purely motivated by an altruistic pursuilt of justice. Rickey wanted to tap into the enormous talent pool that he saw in the Negro Leagues - and he wanted to be the one who received credit for righting decades of injustice. In short, Branch Rickey was no Mother Theresa. He was more like the rest of us, laboring under the weight of our flawed personalities and various personal shortcomings. From an intellectual standpoint, he stood apart from his contemporaries. He was just a whole lot of baseball-smarter than the rest.

As an MLB player, Branch Rickey was a catcher, who also played a little outfield and 1st base for 4 seasons (1905-1907, 1914) and did little to set the world on fire with his BA of .239 and 3 HRs in only 120 games. - Branch Rickey was 11 days shy of his 84th birthday when he died in 1965.

Deaths on December 20

So far. No Browns have died on December 20. Ever.

Today's Reference Link ... http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play...hp?p=williji01

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-21-2005, 03:44 PM

10 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 21, 1952: Throwing Down The Gauntlet of Defiance Against All Odds!

"I have not yet begun to fight!" - John Paul Jones Veeck.

The problem was - it was too late. The U.S.S. Browns will take a mighty ball in the hull next spring when August Busch purchases the Cardinals. Admiral Veeck doesn't abandon ship because the other American League owners will not permit him to move the Browns ship to another port and remain on deck as captain. Forced to sell or face bankruptcy, Veeck staves off the Deep Six for a short time by selling Sportsman's Park to the long-term tenant Cardinals. At the end of the 1953 season, Veeck will sell the franchise to Baltimore interests. - The U.S.S. Browns will sail no more. Admiral Veeck had lost the good fight against all odds.

Births on December 21

George Curry
Birth Name: George James Curry
Nickname: Soldier Boy
Born On: 12-21-1888
Born In: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 10-05-1963
Died In: West Haven, Connecticut
Cemetery: Lakeview Cemetery, Bridgeport, Connecticut
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 185
First Game: 07-16-1911 (Age 22)
Last Game: 09-07-1911
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher George Curry was 0-3 with a 7.47 ERA for the 1911 Browns on his way to The Land of Gone for Good. He was 74 when he died in 1963.

Hal Haid
Birth Name: Harold Augustine Haid
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-21-1897
Born In: Barberton, Ohio
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 08-13-1952
Died In: Los Angeles, California
Cemetery: St. Vincent Cemetery, Latrobe, Pennsylvania
College: Belmont Abbey College
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-10½
Weight: 150
First Game: 09-05-1919 (Age 21)
Last Game: 08-25-1933
Draft: Not Applicable

Hal Haid made his big league debut as a righthanded pitcher for the Browns on September 5, 1919. It wasn't a banner day for young Hal. In two innings of relief work, he gave up 4 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks. He did register one strikeout before nightfall. Haid did not pitch in the majors again until 1928, when he returned as a Cardinal. From 1928-33, Haid pitched for the Cardinals, Braves, and White Sox, registering a career mark of 14-15 and an E.R.A. of 4.16. - Hal Haid died in 1952 at the age of 54.

Deaths on December 21

Blackie Schwamb
Birth Name: Ralph Richard Schwamb
Nickname: Blackie
Born On: 08-06-1926
Born In: Lancaster, California
Zodiac: Leo
Died On: 12-21-1989
Died In: Los Angeles, California
Cemetery: Cremated
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-05½
Weight: 198
First Game: 07-25-1948 (Age 21)
Last Game: 09-18-1948
Draft: Not Applicable

Ralph Richard "Blackie" Schwamb pitched 12 games for the 1948 Browns. He finished his brief major league career in those 12 games with 1 win, 1 loss, and an ERA of 8.53. He was born in Los Angeles on August 6, 1926. He stood close to 6'6" in height, but he weighed a beanpole 198 pounds.

What happened to Blackie? Well, beyond his apparent lack of control on the mound was a greater lack of control in his behavior toward his fellow man. In 1949, he committed a murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Now a fellow SABR member named Eric Stone has written a new book about Schwamb called “Wrong Side of the Wall, the Life of Blackie Schwamb, the Greatest Prison Baseball Player of All Time.” Here's what Stone had to say about his biography of Schwamb on this forum back on Februrary 21, 2005:

Sorry for sending out a big mass email, but there seem to be too many of you fellow SABR members with an interest in the St. Louis Browns, or St. Louis baseball generally.

I’m the author of a new biography: “Wrong Side of the Wall, the Life of Blackie Schwamb, the Greatest Prison Baseball Player of All Time.” Lyons Press. Schwamb was one of baseball’s hottest pitching prospects just after the Second World War. The Browns signed him in 1946 and he went up to the big league team in July of 1948. At the same time he was working his way up through the minors and even after he got into the majors, he was also working for gangsters in Los Angeles. In 1949 he committed a murder, was sentenced to life in prison, and had a remarkable baseball career in San Quentin and Folsom prisons playing against Northern California semi-pro teams that had a number of major and high-level minor league players on them. He was paroled in 1960 and almost made a comeback, becoming a starting pitcher for the Hawaii Islanders, the Triple-A, Pacific Coast League farm club of the then Kansas City As.

If you’re interested in the subject, you can get a better sense of the book by going to my website – link below – where you can read the introductory chapter. (There’s also the first chapter of the first book in a detective series I’m writing – it will come out in June – but that’s a different matter.)

My biography of Schwamb just came out a couple of weeks ago and is slowly but surely making its way into bookstores. At the moment it’s easier to find on Amazon (you can link to the page through my website) or Barnes & Noble dot com or any number of bookstores with an online presence. I’m also just gearing up for a book tour that over the next four or five months will take me to a lot of places around the U.S. for readings and signings and discussions, etc. If you want me to email you with dates and times when I’m going to be anywhere in your vicinity, please email me back and I’ll put you on the list. If any of you are near San Mateo, California on Feb. 27th; Phoenix, Arizona on March 13th; or Los Angeles on March 26th, I’ve got bookstore events there and then.

Once again, sorry for the mass email. If you write back I’ll respond individually, and I hope to meet at least some of you in person over the coming months.

Best regards,

Eric Stone

Website: http://www.ericstone.com

Nothing like a heart-warming humanitarian Brownie alumnus tale when it's only four days from Christmas to warm the cockles of our holiday hearts.

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.co...oday/todayb.pl

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-22-2005, 04:17 AM

9 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 22, 1953: Transplanted Browns Get New "Orioles" Name for Free.

Free as a Bird!

File another story under the "Same Planet - Different World" column. In Baltimore today, Jack Dunn III, whose family successfully owned and operated the Orioles for years in the International League, officially turns the old team name over to the new MLB Baltimore Orioles without receiving any compensation in exchange. - Seem incredible? Remember - the year was 1953, not 2005.

Births on December 22

Owen Shannon
Birth Name: Owen Dennis Ignatius Shannon
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-22-1879
Born In: Omaha, Nebraska
Zodiac: Capricorn
Died On: 04-10-1918
Died In: Omaha, Nebraska
Cemetery: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
First Game: 09-06-1903 (Age 23)
Last Game: 08-24-1907
Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher Owen Shannon broke into the big leagues with the Browns in 1903 and had a 9-game career in St. Louis, batting .214 (6 for 28) with no dead ball era homers. Shannon will return to the majors 4 years later with the 1907 Senators, going 1 for 7 to finish his short big time career with a BA of .200 and then hit the road for The Land of Gone for Good. - Owen Shannon died in 1918 at the age of 38. - BCT/GB, Owen Shannon!

Johnny Bero
Birth Name: John George Bero
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-22-1922
Born In: Gary, West Virginia
Zodiac: Capricorn
Died On: 05-11-1985
Died In: Gardena, California
Cemetery: Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, Culver City, California
College: Western Michigan College
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 170
First Game: 09-26-1948 (Age 25)
Last Game: 07-22-1951
Draft: Not Applicable

Infielder Johnny Bero broke into the big leagues by going 2 for 9 as a 2nd baseman for the 1948 Tigers. Three years later, Bero returned to The Bigs with the Browns for 61 games. For the Browns, he mainly played shortstop and batted .213 (34 for 160) with 5 homers. After 1951, Bero was gone for good, taking his career .201 BA with him. - Johnny Bero was 62 when he died in 1985. - BCT/GB, Johnny Bero!

Deaths on December 22

Bill Crouch
Birth Name: William Henry Crouch
Nickname: Skip
Born On: 12-03-1886
Born In: Marshallton, Delaware
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Died On: 12-22-1945
Died In: Highland Park, Michigan
Cemetery: Unknown
College: Eastern Michigan
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 6-01
Weight: 210
First Game: 07-12-1910 (Age 23)
Last Game: 07-12-1910
Draft: Not Applicable

Bill Crouch had a one-game pitching career for the Browns on July 12, 1910. Crouch started that day, going 8 inning and giving up 3 earned runs before his departure. Crouch was not involved in the decision, but he did take a 3.38 ERA with him on his own personal trip from there to The Land of Gone for Good. - Bill Crouch was 59 when he died in 1945. - Man! - Do we ever have the coffee pot going today! - BCT/GB, Bill Crouch!

Benny Bengough

Benny Bengough: 0 HRs in 1,125 MLB At Bats.

Birth Name: Bernard Oliver Bengough
Nickname: None
Born On: 07-27-1898
Born In: Niagara Falls, New York
Zodiac: Leo
Died On: 12-22-1968
Died In: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cemetery: St. Dominic's Cemetery, Torresdale, Pennsylvania
College: Niagara University
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-07½
Weight: 168
First Game: 05-18-1923 (Age 24)
Last Game: 09-24-1932
Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher Benny Bengough had a 10-season MLB career (1923-32), batting .255. Get this! - In 1,125 official times at bat, Bengough had zero home runs to his credit. - After playing his first 8 years with the Yankees, Bengough played the 1931-1932 seasons as a Brown, hitting .250 and .252 in two seasons and a total of 94 games. - Benny Bengough died in 1968 at the age of 70.

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-23-2005, 05:13 PM

8 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

Births on December 23rd

Albert "Al" Schweitzer

"This wasn't me! I was never that charitable!" - Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

Birth Name: Albert Caspar Schweitzer
Nickname: Cheese
Born On: 12-23-1882
Born In: Cleveland, Ohio
Zodiac: Capricorn
Died On: 01-27-1969
Died In: Newark, Ohio
Cemetery: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Newark, Ohio
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-06
Weight: 170
First Game: 04-30-1908 (Age 25)
Last Game: 10-08-1911
Draft: Not Applicable

This Albert Schweitzer hit .238 in 4 seasons as a righthanded hitting outfielder for the 1908-1911 Browns. His 208 hits in 874 times at bat included3 home runs. Schweitzer's years with the Browns were his entire big league career. - Albert ("Never Went to Africa") Schweitzer died in 1969 at the age of 86. Thank you, Albert Schweitzer, for giving us something to report on this slow date in Browns history - and BCT/GB to You!.

Fritz Maisel
Birth Name: Frederick Charles Maisel
Nickname: Flash or Fritz
Born On: 12-23-1889
Born In: Catonsville, Maryland
Zodiac: Capricorn
Died On: 04-22-1967
Died In: Baltimore, Maryland
Cemetery: Lorraine Park Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-07½
Weight: 170
First Game: 08-11-1913 (Age 23)
Last Game: 08-28-1918
Draft: Not Applicable

Fritz Maisel had 6-year career in the majors (1913-1918), featuring a 5-year stint with the Yankees as an infielder and a final year with the Browns as an outfielder. Fritz finished with a .238 career BA and 6 dead-baller long balls. He died in 1967 at the age of 77.

Tommy Thomas
Birth Name: Alphonse Thomas
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-23-1899
Born In: Baltimore, Maryland
Zodiac: Capricorn
Died On: 04-27-1988
Died In: Dallastown, Pennsylvania
Cemetery: Druid Ridge Cemetery, Pikesville, Maryland
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
First Game: 04-17-1926 (Age 26)
Last Game: 09-27-1937
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Tommy Thomas enjoyed a 12-year pitching career (1926-1937) including two years with the Browns (1936-1937). Thomas was 11-10 as a Brown and 117-128 overall, with a career ERA of 4.11. - Tommy Thomas was 88 when he died in 1988. He will die on April 27, 1988 in Dallastown, PA at the age of 88.

Deaths on December 23

No Browns Have Ever Died on December 23rd. So Far.

Today's Reference Link ... http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-24-2005, 02:38 AM

7 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 24, 2004: "GUY-dell" The Red Nosed Christmas Subject.

Bandleader Lombardo's 1st Name ... +

=
... the way you have to pronounce "Gaedel" in this parody to get the words in flow with the tune.

The Ballad of Eddie Gaedel (New Expanded 2004 Version - Repeating in 2005!)

A few years ago, I wrote a brief parody on Eddie Gaedel to the tune of "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer." For Christmas 2004, I've done some expansion work on the saga to the same old tune. To sing the following lyrics easier, just keep in mind these two things:

Verses are the stanzas that fit with "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer."

Choruses are the stanzas that fit with "Then one foggy, Christmas Eve."

As pointed out in the 2005 second posting of this parody, will also help if you pronounce the name "Gaedel" as GUY-dell. Also, the name "Saucier" needs to be pronounced here as Frank himself pronounces it as SAW-shay.

Sorry for another repeat as we head to the finish line on this thread, but I again had nothing better to offer on this subject the second time around.
.

(verse 1)
Bill Veeck – The Brownie owner
Wore some very shiny clothes,
And if – you saw his sport shirt,
You would even say it glows.

(verse 2)
All of the other - owners,
Used to laugh and call him names.
They wouldn’t let poor - Bill Veeck,
Join in all their owner games.

(chorus 1)
Then one sultry, summer night,
Veeck’s brain flipped to fidget,
Slappin’ down hard on his wooden leg,
He decided to sign a midget.

(verse 3)
His name was - Eddie Gae-del,
He was only three-feet tall.
He didn’t have much talent,
Even for our Brownie ball.

(verse 4)
Veeck sent him in for Saucier,
Told him not to swing at all,
Said if – you move that - bat once,
You won’t live to see nightfall.

(chorus 2)
It came true on the 19th day,
August, Fifty-One.
Dead last place and – goin’ nowhere.
It was time for Brownie fun.

(verse 5)
Gaedel did what - Veeck wanted,
Took 4 balls and walked to 1st.
Then he gave way to Delsing,
Running for the one soon cursed.

(verse 6)
Baseball slapped down a - ban on,
Guys who didn’t stand too high
That took the bat from - Eddie,
Baseball told him bye, bye, bye!

(chorus 3)
Baseball scions – just can’t stand,
Genius on the loose.
They thought banning Gaedel’s bat,
Would slay old Bill Veeck’s goose.

(verse 7)
Oh, how the purists hated,
Adding little Eddie's name,
To the big book of records,
"Gaedel" bore a blush of shame!

(verse 8)
Still, when you look up records,
Look up Eddie's O.B.P.
It reads a cool - One Thousand,
Safe for all eternity.

- Merry Christmas, Everybody!

December 24, 1940: Merry Christmas, Johnny Allen!

The Cleveland Indians brightened pitcher Johnny Allen's Christmas spirit today by selling him to the St. Louis Browns for $20,000. Allen, whose lifetime record spanned from 1932 through 1944, will go 2 and 5 with a 6.58 ERA for the 1941 Browns in 20 games, but he will be waived to the Dodgers on July 30th of that same year. Allen will reach Brooklyn in time to go 3-0 with a 2.51 ERA and help the Dodgers to their first pennant in 21 years. - Johnny Allen will finish after 1944 with a career record of 142 wins, 75 losses, and an E.R.A. of 3.75.

Births on December 24

Tod Sloan
Birth Name: Yale Yeastman Sloan
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-24-1890
Born In: Madisonville, Tennessee
Zodiac: Capricorn
Died On: 09-12-1956
Died In: Akron, Ohio
Cemetery: Chestnut Hill Memorial Park, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 175
First Game: 09-22-1913 (Age 22)
Last Game: 07-10-1919
Draft: Not Applicable

Outfielder Tod Sloan sprinkled 3 years of service (1913, 1917, & 1919) with the Browns and batted .234 with 2 HRs in his wholly Browns career. - Tod Sloan died in 1956 at the age of 65.

Jack Graham
Birth Name: John Bernard Graham
Nickname: None
Born On: 12-24-1916
Born In: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Zodiac: Capricorn
Died On: 12-30-1998
Died In: Los Alamitos, California
Cemetery: Unknown
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 6-02
Weight: 200
First Game: 04-16-1946 (Age 29)
Last Game: 09-25-1949
Draft: Not Applicable

1st baseman Jack Graham hit 24 homers and batted .238 for the 1949 Browns, but that season also marked the end of his big league career. Including some time with the Dodgers and Giants in 1946, Graham left a mark of .231 and 38 career homers. - Jack Graham passed away in 1998 at the age of 82.

Deaths on December 24

Johnnie Heving
Birth Name: John Aloysius Heving
Nickname: None
Born On: 04-29-1896
Born In: Covington, Kentucky
Zodiac: Taurus
Died On: 12-24-1968
Died In: Salisbury, North Carolina
Cemetery: Rowan Memorial Park, Salisbury, North Carolina
College: None Attended
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-00
Weight: 175
First Game: 09-24-1920 (Age 24)
Last Game: 09-05-1932
Draft: Not Applicable

Catcher Johnnie Heving's Browns career consisted entirely of 1 fruitless time at bat in 1922. It also was his only game appearance of the 1922 year, but Heving was no gone-for-gooder. Heving came back with the Red Sox and Athletics to play 8 seasons in the big leagues (1922, 1924-1925, 1928-1932), finishing with a BA of .265 and 1 HR in 399 games. - Johnnie Heving was 72 when he died on Christmas Eve in 1968.

Bill Friel
Birth Name: William Edward Friel
Nickname: None
Born On: 04-01-1876
Born In: Renovo, Pennsylvania
Zodiac: Aries
Died On: 12-24-1959
Died In: St. Louis, Missouri
Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri
College: Niagara University
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
First Game: 05-03-1901 (Age 25)
Last Game: 09-13-1903
Draft: Not Applicable

Utility position player Bill Friel was one of the original Browns who came over to St. Louis with the roster of the transfered Brewers from Milwaukee. The all around utility guy played every position at one time or another and batted .245 with 6 dead baller homers for his 3-year MLB career (1901-03). Bill Friel died on December 24, 1959 at the age of 82.

George McQuinn
Birth Name: George Hartley McQuinn
Nickname: Mac
Born On: 05-29-1910
Born In: Arlington, Virginia
Zodiac: Gemini
Died On: 12-24-1978
Died In: Alexandria, Virginia
Cemetery: Cremated
College: None Attended
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
First Game: 04-14-1936 (Age 25)
Last Game: 10-02-1948
Draft: Not Applicable

First baseman George McQuinn had an 8-season Browns career (1938-45) and was one of the American League pennant and World Series heroes of the Browns' 1944 American League championship club. Over his whole big league career (1936, 1938-1948), McQuinn batted .276 with 135 homers. - George McQuinn died on Christmas Eve in 1978 at the age of 68.

Bob Habenicht
Birth Name: Robert Julius Habenicht
Nickname: Hobby
Born On: 02-13-1926
Born In: St. Louis, Missouri
Zodiac: Aquarius
Died On: 12-24-1980
Died In: Richmond, Virginia
Cemetery: Riverview Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia
College: Saint Louis University
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6-02
Weight: 185
First Game: 04-17-1951 (Age 25)
Last Game: 05-03-1953
Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher Bob Habenicht, a native St. Louisan, had brief tours with both of his hometown clubs, the 1951 Cardinals and 1953 Browns. He racked up no decisions for either in 6 2/3 innings, but he was there long enough to leave a 6.76 E.R.A. as his career MLB mark. - Bob Habernicht died on Christmas Eve 1980 in Richmond, Virginia at the age of 54. - BCT/GB, Bob Habernicht!

Merry Christmas to All Former Browns and Brownie Fans! May Your Holiday Time Be Merry and Bright - and May You Enjoy a Safe, Peaceful, and Happy Time with Family and Friends!

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

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-25-2005, 06:40 AM

6 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

Merry Christmas, Browns Fans!

Births on Christmas Day

William J. "Barry" McCormick is born on December 25, 1874 on Maysville, Kentucky. In a big league career which spans from 1895 to 1904, Barry hits .238 as a righthanded infielder. McCormick is one of the original Browns, hitting .246 in 1902 and .217 in 1903. He will die on January 28, 1956 in Cincinnati at the age of 81.

Francis Rogers "Frank" Ellerbe is born on on December 25, 1895 in Marion County, South Carolina. Ellerbe is best remembered as the righthanded-hitting infielder on some great Browns teams of the early 1920's (1921-1924). In a major league career which extends from 1919 to 1924, Ellerbe finishes with a lifetime BA of .268. He live until July 7, 1988 when he passes away at the age of 92 in Latta, South Carolina.

Eugene Edward "Gene" Robertson is born on December 25, 1898 in St. Louis. In a Browns career which extends from 1919 through 1926, Gene will hit .319 for the 1924 club as a lefthanded batting 3rd baseman. His total career covers the years from 1919 through 1930. He finishes with a career BA of .280. Robertson will die on October 21, 1981 in Fallon, NV at the age of almost 83.

Lloyd Andrew "Lefty" Brown is born in my natal hometown of Beeville, Texas on December 25, 1904. I'm proud to say that Lloyd Brown and fellow Beeville native Melvin "Bert" Gallia both went on to pitch for the St. Louis Browns at separate times. Pretty good record for our town, especially when you consider that early 20th century Beeville was a very small place that also produced Curt Walker, who hit .304 playing outfield in the big leagues from 1919 to 1930. Lefty was only 1 and 6 in his only year with the 1933 Browns, but he achieved a lifetime big league mark of 91 wins and 105 losses for some bad teams from 1925 through 1940. Lloyd Brown also holds the ignominious record of giving uo 4 of Lou Gehrig's 23 record grand slam home runs. Brown died on January 14, 1974 in Opa-Locka, Florida at the age of 69.

Ned Franklin (The One & Only "Ned") Garver is born on December 25, 1925 in Ney, Ohio. Famous to Browns fans as the guy who went 20 wins and 12 losses for the last place 1951 Browns, who were only 52 wins and 102 losses as a team, Ned is a regular attendee of our annual Brownie Round Ups in St. Louis and one of the funniest after dinner speakers of all time. Garver pitched for the Browns from 1948 to 1952, but his total big league career extended to 1961. The righthander's lifetime record for some bad teams was 129 wins and 157 losses, with an E.R.A. of 3.73. - Ned Garver is 80 0n Christmas Day 2005 and very much alive and kicking.

Ned Garver, A Browns Icon.

Happy Birthday, Ned!

Michael John "Mike" Blyzka is born on December 25, 1928 in Hamtramck, Michigan. Mike only played two years in the big leagues, but they were both landmark years. He was a 2-6 righthanded pitcher for the last Browns ball club in 1953 - and a 1-5 hurler for the first Baltimore Orioles club of 1954. Until his recent death in Cheyenne, Wyoming on October 13, 2004 at the age of 75, Mike was a regular attendee of our annual Brownie Round Ups in St. Louis and one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet.

Deaths on Christmas Day

"Hallelujah!"

Through 2005, our franchise pattern holds. So far, no Browns have died on Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas 2005, Browns Fans!

Today's reference link ... http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.com/

**Bill_McCurdy** · 12-26-2005, 09:09 AM

5 Daily Posts To Go Til This History Thread is Completed! ...

On This Date in History!

December 26th is NOT exactly a Hall of Famer Day
In St. Louis Browns history, but we still remember.

Birthdates on December 26

Albert Joseph "Al" Milnar is born on December 26, 1913. The lefty pitcher will compile a Browns record of 2 wins and 2 losses for the 1943 and 1946 clubs. Milnar's overall big league record, mostly with the Indians, is 57 wins and 58 losses. His big league service span begins in 1936 and finishes with the Browns and Phillies in 1946. Al Milnar died earlier this year on June 30, 2005 at the age of 91.

Deaths on December 26

Philip "Phil" Stremmel dies on December 26, 1947 in Chicago at the age of 67. Born on April 16, 1880 in Zanesville, Ohio, Stremmel was a righthanded pitcher for the 1909-1910 Browns, compiling a 0 wins and 4 losses record as his totally ignominious baseball legacy. Regardless of his stats, the one condition that will not change is our often repeated fact. - He got there. For two seasons, Phil Stremmel did what millions of other ballplayers only dream of doing.

James Melvin "Jim" Bilbrey dies on December 26, 1985 at the age of 61 in Toledo, Ohio. Born on April 20, 1924 in Rickman, Tennessee, Bilbrey's entire MLB record is limited to one inning he pitched for the Browns on May 17, 1949. Bilbrey was not involved in the decision that day, but his 18.00 E.R.A. for that one inning of work probably led to the decision that kept him from further opportunity. Still, he had his shot.

BCT/GB, Jim Bilbrey!

Today's Reference Link ... http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.com/

Thread: This Date in Browns History!

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