This Date in Browns History!

Collapse
This is a sticky topic.
X
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Bill_McCurdy
    Registered User
    • May 2004
    • 782

    This Date in Browns History!

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

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

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

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



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

    If you have information about this game, please post away.
    Last edited by Bill_McCurdy; 08-07-2004, 12:08 PM.
    "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.
  • Bill_McCurdy
    Registered User
    • May 2004
    • 782

    #2
    August 6th

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

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

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



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

    The only way that a new website about a 50-years-dead franchise can hope to stay alive and thrive is up to us Browns fans and students of baseball history. If we don't breathe some life into it, who will? :atthepc
    Last edited by Bill_McCurdy; 08-07-2004, 12:06 PM.
    "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.

    Comment

    • Bill_McCurdy
      Registered User
      • May 2004
      • 782

      #3
      August 7th

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

      Today's Fact Reference: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...ay/AUGUST7.stm
      "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.

      Comment

      • Bill_McCurdy
        Registered User
        • May 2004
        • 782

        #4
        August 8th

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

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

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

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

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

        Reference for Material on Luke Stuart: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play...hp?p=stuarlu01
        Last edited by Bill_McCurdy; 08-12-2004, 04:20 AM.
        "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.

        Comment

        • Bill_McCurdy
          Registered User
          • May 2004
          • 782

          #5
          August 9th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

          Reference on Today's Facts: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm
          Last edited by Bill_McCurdy; 08-10-2004, 03:59 AM.
          "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.

          Comment

          • Bill_McCurdy
            Registered User
            • May 2004
            • 782

            #6
            August 10th

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

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

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

            Today's Reference Link: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...y/AUGUST10.stm
            "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.

            Comment

            • Bill_McCurdy
              Registered User
              • May 2004
              • 782

              #7
              August 11th

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

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

              Several of Ken Wood's teammates have remarked to me over the years about his terrific arm. According to one Brownie source, Ted Williams supposedly said that Wood had the best right field arm in the American League. This day in 1950 may have helped the Detroit Tigers spread the word of caution about trying to run on Ken Wood. :atthepc
              "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.

              Comment

              • prof93
                6 -Time MN AABC Champs
                • Mar 2004
                • 78

                #8
                August 11 1947 In St. Louis the Browns' Willard "Home Run" Brown lives up to nickname when he hits a an inside-the-park round-tripper against Hal Newhouser. Brown who is pinch-hitting for catcher Joe Schultz in the second game of a doubleheader, is the first black to homer in the AL. The Tigers however win the game, 3-1
                "Baseball is like church. Many attend. Few understand." - Leo Durocher -

                Comment

                • Bill_McCurdy
                  Registered User
                  • May 2004
                  • 782

                  #9
                  August 12th

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

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

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

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

                  For more info on Willard Brown's MLB stats, ... http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/brownwi02.shtml
                  "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.

                  Comment

                  • prof93
                    6 -Time MN AABC Champs
                    • Mar 2004
                    • 78

                    #10
                    August 12,1948- In game 2 of a double header, the Indians rap out 26 hits to beat the Browns 26-3; 14 Indians' players hit safely in the game, a Major League record.
                    "Baseball is like church. Many attend. Few understand." - Leo Durocher -

                    Comment

                    • Bill_McCurdy
                      Registered User
                      • May 2004
                      • 782

                      #11
                      August 13th

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

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



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

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

                      Friday, August 13, 2004: Bad Luck. The St. Louis Browns are no more.
                      Last edited by Bill_McCurdy; 08-13-2004, 05:49 AM.
                      "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.

                      Comment

                      • FlashinTheLeatherIHSS
                        Registered User
                        • Jul 2004
                        • 1

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Bill_McCurdy
                        [B]Friday, August 13, 2004: Bad Luck. The St. Louis Browns are no more.
                        2004? They were around in 2003?

                        Comment

                        • Bill_McCurdy
                          Registered User
                          • May 2004
                          • 782

                          #13
                          2004? 2003?



                          Flash, my reaction was either helped along by the fact that this year the date makes it Friday the 13th, or else, I'm suffering one of the longest cases of delayed grief on record. - Denial is a powerful primary defense against reality.
                          "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.

                          Comment

                          • westsidegrounds
                            Registered User
                            • Sep 2003
                            • 2606

                            #14
                            For his impressive hitting performances there, Brown was known as "el Hombre" among fans in Puerto Rico.

                            Comment

                            • Bill_McCurdy
                              Registered User
                              • May 2004
                              • 782

                              #15
                              August 14th

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

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

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

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

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

                              Fact Reference Site: http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...y/AUGUST14.stm
                              Last edited by Bill_McCurdy; 08-14-2004, 05:29 AM.
                              "Our fans never booed us. - They wouldn't dare. - We outnumbered 'em." ... Browns Pitcher Ned Garver.

                              Comment

                              Ad Widget

                              Collapse
                              Working...
                              X