This Date in Browns History!

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 2, 2005: Ancient Browns Fan Blown Away by Invitation.



In late May 2005, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts is hosting the next stop of Cooperstown's "Baseball As America," the historical exhibit now playing in St. Louis. The Houston MFA has asked me to deliver the introductory lecture at the museum auditorium on May 21st, the night before the public exhibit begins here. I have accepted the invitation to be the Houston leadoff man with equal volumes of humility and passionate commitment to the job at hand. Please keep your rabbit feet charms warm for me, Brownie fans. All I can do is give this surprise time at bat my best shot.

If you want more information on the "Baseball As America" exhibit, here's the link ... http://www.baseballasamerica.org/




April 2, 1937: Dizzy, Daffy, & Ducky In Fist Fight with The Press!


Dizzy & Daffy Dean Were a Fightin' Machine in '37!

Former Browns Broadcaster Dizzy Dean, brother Paul "Daffy" Dean, and outfielder Joe "Ducky" Medwick have a scuffle in a Tampa, Florida hotel lobby with New York News reporter Jack Miley and Chicago Times writer Irv Kupcinet. Two of the three Cardinal players, Dizzy and Ducky, will later be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but not for anything they did this night. The substantive issues that sparked this latest battle between players and the press are now lost in the mist of history - and whatever the boys may have been drinking on that long ago night in 1937. - Paul Dean later pitched in three decisionless games for the 1943 Browns. - Dizzy Dean also hurled four scoreless innings for the 1947 Browns as a publicity stunt.




Births on April 2


Edward Tilden "Ed" Siever is born on April 2, 1877 in Goddard, Kansas. The BL/TL pitcher will mark a career record with the Tigers and Browns of 83 wins, 83 losses, and an impressive ERA of 2.60 from 1901 to 1908. Siever starts and ends his career with the Tigers. The Browns are the slimmer middle of his big league sandwich when he goes 23 wins and 29 losses for the 1903-1904 St. Louis American Leaguers. - Ed Siever will pass away on February 4, 1920 in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 42. The reason for his early death is unknown without further research.


Charles William "Jack" Harper is born on April 2, 1878 in Galloway, Pennsylvania. The BR/TR pitcher is one of the original 1902 Browns. He contributes a fine record of 15 wins, 11 losses, and ERA of 4.13 to the club's maiden voyage through the American League. Sadly, 1902 also will be Harper's only year as a Brown. Over the road of his full career (1899-1906), Jack Harper will compile an MLB record of 80 wins, 64 losses, and an ERA of 3.55. Brownie original Jack Harper will pass away on September 30, 1950 in Jamestown, New York at the age of 72.

BCT/GB, Jack Harper! - Few of the many pitchers who shall follow 1902 will give us 15 wins in a single year!



Earl Henry "Earl" Pruess is born on April 2, 1895 in Chicago, Illinois. The BR/TR right fielder is another member of the Brownie chapter of the unofficial "Moonlight Graham Club." "Gibby", as Preuss is sometimes called, gets into one game as a right fielder for the Browns on September 15, 1920. Based on his one batting opportunity, Pruess either got hurt early, or else, he became a late inning replacement. He draws a walk in his his only MLB time at bat and does come around to score. - After this one day, however, Earl "Gibby" Preuss joins the ranks of those long-forgotten-til-now Brownies-Gone-For-Good. - Ed Preuss will die on August 28, 1979 in Branson, Missouri at the age of 84.

BCT/GB, Earl Preuss! An MLB career OBP of 1.000 ain't too shabby!



Deaths on April 2


Charles Claude "Charlie" Jones passes away on April 2, 1947 in Two Harbors, Minnesota at the age of 70. The BR/TR utility guy played 74 games as an outfielder for the 1908 Browns in his only year of service to the club. He finished the season hitting .232 with 0 homers. For his MLB career (1901, 1904-1908), the man they sometimes called "Casey Jones" batted .233 with 5 HR's. - Charlie Jones was born on June 2, 1876 in Butler, Pennsylvania. He attended Grove City College prior to entering professional baseball.



Have a Nice Weekend, Everybody, and Take Heart!
- The New Baseball Season is Finally Here!

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!




April 3, 1960: Another Link on Courtney Team Chain.



The Baltimore Orioles today pick up former St. Louis Browns Browns catcher Clint Courtney (1952-1953), along with shortstop Ron Samford, from the Washington Senators in exchange for 2nd baseman Billy Gardner.



April 3, 1938: Another Link on Goslin Team Chain.



Former St. Louis Brown Goose Goslin (1930-1932), recently released by the Detroit Tigers, signs today for his third tour of duty with the Washington Senators.



Births on April 3


John Edmond "John" Frill is born on April 3, 1879 in Reading, Pennsylvania. The BR/TR pitcher will lose one game in three starts for the 1912 Browns, registering a 20.79 ERA in only 4.1 total innings of work. He will be moved to Cincinnati before the 1912 season is done. For his career with the Highlanders, Browns, and Reds (1910, 1912), Frill will post a record of 3 wins, 3 losses, and a 5.85 ERA. - The world will know fewer frills on September 28, 1918. That's the date that John Frill will pass away in Westerly, Rhode Island at the tender age of 39 from causes unknown to us at this writing.


Bert "B.G" Graham is born on April 3, 1886 in Tilton, Illinois. The BR/TR 1st base/2nd base spot player will have a brief whirl with the 1910 Browns as his only big league exposure and then be gone-for-good. Graham will play 8 games and go 3 for 26 (.115) with 0 HR's. He gets his hits when they count, however, driving in a season/career total of 5 RBI. - B.G. Graham will leave this world on June 19, 1971 in Cottonwood, Arizona at the age of 85.

BCT/GB, Bert "B.G." Graham!



Deaths on April 3



Alvin Floyd "General" Crowder


Browns Gave up General Crowder & Heinie Manush To Acquire Goose
Goslin (Slugging Away Above) In Deal Completed on June 13, 1930.

Alvin Floyd "General" Crowder passes away on April 3, 1972 in Winston-Salem at the age of 73. Over the course of his 11-year big league pitching career (1926-1936), the BL/TR hurler compiled a record of 167 wins, 115 losses, and an ERA of 4.12. Crowder was 21-5, with a 3.69 ERA for the 1928 Browns and he achieved a Browns mark of 44 wins and 32 losses during his 4 years in St. Louis (1927-1930). Crowder was dealt by the Browns to the Senators on June 13, 1930, along with outfielder Heinie Manush, in exchange for outfielder Goose Goslin. Crowder went on to two more 20 + win seasons for the Senators in 1932 and 1933. Over those two banner seasons, he won 50 games total. "The General" was another good one that got away, but you don't acquire Hall of Famers like Goose Goslin for nothing. Sometimes you have to trade another Hall of Famer like Heinie Manush and a great pitcher like Crowder to get what you think will better serve the needs of your club's talent and treasury. - General Crowder was born on January 11, 1899 in Winston-Salem, NC.


Merritt Patrick "Sugar" Cain dies on April 3, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 68. Merritt Cain is the first of two unrelated pitchers called "Sugar Cain" in Browns history. The second will be Bob Cain, who pitched for the Browns in 1952-1953. - Merritt "Sugar" Cain does his work for the 1935-1936 Browns by going 10-9 in those two seasons. For his big league career (1932-1938), Merritt Cain won 53. lost 60, and had an ERA of 4.83. - Merritt Cain was born on April 5, 1907 in Macon, Georgia. - Oh yeah, Merritt Cain was one of those BL/TR guys.


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

http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.co...oday/todayb.pl

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!




April 4, 1960: Another Link on Sievers Team Chain.


Roy Sievers

The Chicago White Sox today send catcher Earl Battey and 1st baseman Don Mincher plus cash to the Washington Senators for 1st baseman and former St. Louis Browns 1949 American League Rookie of the Year Roy Sievers. It's the 3rd link in Sievers's career team movement chain, with two more to links to come. After two seasons the White SSox will deal Roy to the 1962 Philadelphia Phillies. In time, the Phillies will move Sievers back to Washington during the 1964 season. Roy Sievers will then play 12 games for the 1965 Senators before ending the chain by retiring from baseball.



Births on April 4


Joe Vosmik


Joe Vosmik: Too Good To Stay a Brown.

Joe Vosmik is born on April 14, 1910 in Cleveland, Ohio. The BR/TR outfielder will post an outstanding career BA of .307 over the course of his 1930-1944 big league time. In his lone year as a member of the 1937 Browns, Vosmik will collect 193 hits and bat .325. Of course, that performance meantsthat he will be too good to keep any longer than a single season. On December 2, 1937, the Browns will trade Vosmik to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Bobo Newsom, outfielder Buster Mills, and shortstop Red Kress. - Joe Vosmik will pass away on January 27, 1962 in Cleveland, Ohio at the age of 51.



Deaths on April 4

Charles Anthony "Charlie" Schnell passes away on April 4, 1988 in Reading, Pennsylvania at the age of 94. The BR/TR catcher was 4 for 19 (.211) with 0 homers for the 1912 Browns as his only MLB appearance and was then gone-for-good. - Charlie Schnell was born on November 29, 1893 in Hampstead, Maryland.

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 5, 1966: Last Brown Standing.



Former Brown Don Larsen is released today by the Baltimore Orioles. It looks like the end of Larsen's career, but Don isn't ready to quit. Larsen will be out of the big leagues in 1966, but he will come back in 1967 in one last gasp try as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

Pitcher Don Larsen, of course, will be best remembered forever as the author of the only perfect World Series game. As every serious baseball history fan knows, Larsen threw that 2-0 gem for the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers on October 8, 1956. The question here is, once we stray too far from Browns history, how many of those same fans also know of Larsen's place on our ledger of less glorious records?

Larsen's in our Brownie record book, although, by the time he did what he did, the franchise had been dead for nearly 14 years. It's doubtful that anyone wrote of it at the time, and it's probable that only a few people even took note of Larsen's incidental achievement.
On July 7, 1967, Don Larsen became the last surviving former member of the St. Louis Browns to appear in a major league game. Of all the players who had worn a Browns uniform from 1902 through 1953, Don Larsen was the last man to appear in a big league game beyond the end of the club's existence in St. Louis. The finale came for Larsen in an inauspicious final appearance on the mound for the Chicago Cubs. After that date, 7/07/67, Don Larsen never played another game in the majors, but he had gone far enough. Don Larsen will always be on record as the last Brown standing - and the last Brown down.



April 5, 1960: Former Brown Dale Long Dealt Away.



The New York Giants today purchase the contract of former Browns 1st baseman Dale Long from the Chicago Cubs. Long still has some gas left in the tank. He will continue to play for three more years, ending his career as a member of the New York Yankees on July 18, 1963.



Births on April 5


William Henry "Big Bill" Dineen is born on April 5, 1876 in Syracuse, NY. Dineen was a BR/TR pitcher with a lot of effective pitching time in the big leagues between 1898 and 1909. His best years will blossom before his three-year finish with the Browns (1907-1909) when he registers four 20-win seasons with the Boston AL club. "Big Bill" was only 6'1", but that is tall physical stature for his era. Dineen will post a career MLB mark of 170 wins, 177 losses, and an ERA of 3.01. He will die on January 13, 1955 in Syracuse, New York at the age of 78.


Thomas Gerald "Tom" Phillips is born on April 5, 1889 in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. The BR/TR pitcher breaks into the big leagues by posting a record of 1 win, 3 losses, and an ERA of 2.96 for the 1915 Browns. It's Phillips's only year as a Brown, but still he hangs around MLB long enough (1915, 1919, 1921-1922) to finish out with a career record of 8 wins, 12 losses, and an ERA of 3.74. - Tom Phillips dies young. He will pass away on April 12, 1929 at the age of 40.


Merritt Patrick "Sugar" Cain is born on April 5, 1907 in Macon, Georgia. Merritt Cain is the first of two unrelated pitchers called "Sugar Cain" in Browns history. The second will be Bob Cain, who pitches for the Browns in 1952-1953. - Merritt "Sugar" Cain does his work for the 1935-1936 Browns by going 10-9 in those two seasons. For his big league career (1932-1938), Merritt Cain will win 53. lose 60, and rack up an ERA of 4.83. - Oh yeah, Merritt Cain is one of those BL/TR guys.- Sugar Cain I will die on April 3, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 68.


Robert Clinton "Bobby" Hogue is born on April 5, 1921 in Miami, Florida. The BR/TR will post a 1-1, 5.19 ERA record in a partial season, 18-game stint with the 1951 Browns. His career (1948-1952) MLB record will close at 18 wins, 16, losses, and an ERA of 3.97. - Bobby Hogue will die on December 22, 1987 in his hometown of Miami, Florida at the age 65.



Deaths on April 5


Arthur Herman "Art" Bader passes away on April 5, 1957 in St. Louis, Misouri at the age of 70. The BR/TR left fielder went 0 for 3 in 2 games for the 1904 Browns before joining the gone-for-gooder club. His one walk at bat balanced out in some way with his one error in rhe field. - Art Bader was born on September 21, 1886 in St. Louis, Missouri.

BCT/GB, Art Bader!



Robert Baxter "Bob" Clemens passes away on April 5, 1964 in Marshall, Missouri at the age of 77. The BR/TR outfielder is 3 for 13 (.231) with no homers in 7 games for the 1914 Browns before ho-humming his way into the chasm known here as the Land of Gone for Good. To his credit, Clemens was an alumnus of Missouri Valley College before he embarked upon his brief big league career. - Bob Clemens was born on Auhyst 9, 1886 in Odessa, Missouri.

BCT/GB, Bob Clemens!

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 6, 1932: No Truth To The Rumor.



In spite of fast-landing and abundant evidence, there is no substance to the rumor that the entire pitching staff of the The Class D Arizona-Texas League's El Paso Longhorns are all former members of the St. Louis Browns. Today's season opening game with the Albuquerque Dons, however, isn't helping much to plant the flag of truth.

In one of the highest scoring professional baseball games in history, the men from Albuquerque defeat the boys from El Paso today by a score of 43-15! Talk about opening a can of worms! Hey! This is the first game of the season for both clubs!

In a game played at Tingley Field in Albuquerque, El Paso scores 11 runs in the top of the 1st - then goes on from there to lose the game by 28 runs!

The game takes only 2 hours and 40 minutes to play - in spite of the fact that the two clubs combine for 58 runs, 46 hits, and 12 errors! (Where are the rumors about former Brownie fielders?) Amazingly, only one home run is hit in the game, but the two clubs do manage together to pile up a total of 13 triples and 10 doubles. (There may be some truth to the grapevine tale that the official scorer of this game is later lured away by the Browns at mid-season in 1932.)



Births on April 6






Deaths on April 6


Rolla Hamilton "Rolla" or "Lefty" Mapel passes away on April 6, 1966 in San Diego, California at the age of 76. The BL/TL pitcher worked in 4 games and pitched 20 innings for the 1919 Browns, finishing with a record of 0 wins, 3 lossess, and an ERA of 4.50. After 1919, Lefty Mapel is (you guessed it) - gone for good from the big leagues. - Lefty Mapel was born on March 9, 1890 in Lees Summi, Missouri.

BCT/GB, Lefty Mapel!


On a slow day in Browns history, it's hard to dispel a belief in astrology. We could chalk up April 6th as one of those days that "wasn't in the stars" for the St. Louis Browns, but then we'd have to get past the head count on births and deaths and settle for the greater realization of how that easy explanation applies to all matters in the history of our club. That is to say - most days of the year were like that.

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 7, 1908: Browns-Cards in Benefit Game for Chris Von der Ahe.


Chris Von der Ahe: "der boss president"
of the original St. Louis Browns

The final score didn't matter and that's just as well because we couldn't find it. Today the Browns and Cardinals played a benefit game, raising $5,000 for the beleaguered Chris Von der Ahe, the former owner of the original Browns who were eventaully renamed the "Cardinals." Von der Ahe had fallen on hard times with his health and finances by 1908, and the two St. Louis clubs wanted to help him out. I'm not sure what they did to raise $5,000 in one day at the ballpark back then, but that was a pretty nice nest egg gift to the old brewer, saloonkeeper, and baseball innovator.

Christian Friedrich (or: Frederick) Wilhelm von der Ahe (?1851-June 5, 1913) came to the United States in 1867 from Germany. He became a brewer and owner of the St. Louis Browns baseball team from 1882 to 1898. Von der Ahe bought the old Browns because the stream of fans who came to drink beer at his saloon after games helped him smell the money to be made in baseball.

The original Browns were so-named by Von der Ahe simply because that was the color of the uniforms they wore, but the loud-talking man with the bushy moustache and exaggerated German accent wasn't lacking for imagination in most areas. He hired future Chicago White Sox owner Charles Comiskey to manage the Browns and play first base. Von der Ahe dubbed himself "der boss president."

The original Browns (later Cardinals) were successful, winning four straight league championships starting in 1885. Income from baseball, beer, and other investments made von der Ahe wealthy. Amazingly, he quickly made $500,000 off the baseball team alone. That was a pretty good profit off his original investment purchase of the franchise for $1,800, don't you think?

Von der Ahe saw concessions, especially beer sales, as the way to make money in baseball. He set the ticket price at a quarter in the calculated hope that fans would then spend far more money on beer. He was right. The old Browns twice led the league in attendance because of this plan and they were soon able to expand the size of the ballpark.

Von der Ahe's nose for the dollar left no stone unturned. He didn't mind his players drinking after the game - as long long as they did their drinking in one of his saloons. Supporting other saloonkeepers was strictly forbidden. A player could be fined or even fired if he was caught doing so.

Egos are not a 21st century invention. In 1885, Von der Ahe erected a larger-than-life statue of himself outside of Sportsman's Park.

The eccentric Von der Ahe was also ahead of his time when it came to the business of baseball. He operated a farm club called the St. Louis Whites and he "invented" the post-season championship series, mostly to raise additional monies. They didn't use the term "revenue streams" in those days, but old Chris didn't miss many fishing holes when it came to casting for dollars.

It's an oft-repeated tale, but ego finally did Von der Ahe in. In 1887, after a poor showing by the Browns in the "World Series," the angry owner vowed to withhold his players' share of the earnings. He also soon fired Comiskey and started running the team himself. In 1892, the Browns rejoined the National League after the American Association collapsed. Back in the National League, with "der boss president" now also serving as manager, the club quickly slipped into last place.

Beseiged by legal and financial problems, Von der She moved his club to a larger park in 1892. He surrounded the place with amusement park fun, including water rides, an artificial lake, a beer garden (of course), and a horse track that rimmed the outer perimeter of the outfield. The horse track was hated by outfielders and the league office, for slightly different reasons.

(Old Chris may have inadvertently been the inventor of the outfield warning track. The thought of all those horses running around the perimeter of the inside-the-park wall also inspires what could've been a great trivia question back in 1892. - How do Browns outfielders know they've reached the warning track? Answer: They check the bottoms of their shoes.)

The press called the new facility "Coney Island West" - and they nicknamed Von der Ahe as "Von der Ha Ha." Under the heavy losses he incurred from his grand scheme and lack of support all around, Von der Ahe was forced into selling his best players to stay afloat. - This, of course, would become a way of life in the years ahead for the new Browns as well.

1898 was a year of calamity for Von der Ahe. (Where were the good C&W song writers back then when old Chris really needed them?) - Part of the ballpark burned down, his second wife divorced him, and his bondsman kidnapped him for not paying his debts. In a highly public trial connected with the fire, Von der Ahe lost his baseball team. The Browns then changed hands twice and changed their name twice, first to the St. Louis Perfectos and then to the St. Louis Cardinals. The American League version of the St. Louis Browns (1902-1953) had no connection to Von der Ahe's team aside from the name, which was designed to challenge the NL Cardinals by evoking the memory of their former identity with St. Louis fans.

After losing his team and his wealth, Von der Ahe was reduced to tending bar in a small saloon. Thus we see the need for today's benefit game in clearer light. In spite of his excesses, and maybe even because of them, people in St. Louis still respected Von der Ahe as a man with great reach to his soul. Like Bill Veeck, who would much later follow, Chris Von der Ahe was a man who did things that others had neither the imagination nor the courage to try.

Chris Von der Ahe died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1913. He was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, with the statue that once stood in front of Sportsman's Park adorning his grave.



Births on April 7


Arthur Coggshall "Art" or "Six O'Clock" Weaver is born on April 7, 1879 in Wichita, Kansas. The B?/TR catcher will hit .183 in his 4-year (1902-1903, 1905, 1908), 83 times at bat career - which most probably explains why we are unclear today on his right or left side hitting stance at the plate. The reason for his unusual nickname of "Six O'Clock" also remains a mystery. All I know is that the clock struck midnight pretty early on our "six o'clock" guy. In his only season with the 1905 Browns, Weaver will hit .120 in 28 games. Oh yeah, Weaver's career will include no homers. - Art Weaver will pass away on March 23, 1917 at the age of nearly 38.



Joseph Frederick "Joe" Hassler is born on April 7, 1915 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The BR/TR shortstop will hit .239 (11 for 46) in his brief 37-game MLB career (1928-1930). Hassler is 2 for 8 in 3 games for the 1930 Browns and, almost inevitably, he is thereafter gone-for-good. - Joe Hassler will leave this old world for good on September 4, 1971 from Duncan, Oklahoma at the age of 56.

BCT/GB, Joe Hassler! - Thanks for stopping by Brownsville on your way to eternity!



Oral Clyde "Oral" Hildebrand is born on April 7, 1907 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The BR/TR Butler University alumnus will record an MLB pitching record of 83 wins, 78 losses and an ERA of 4.35 from 1931 to 1940. He has 16 wins and 27 losses as a member of the 1937-1938 Browns. - Oral Hildebrand will die on Spetember 8, 1977 in Southport, Indiana at the age of 70.



Deaths on April 7



Johnny Tillman
Birth Name: John Lawrence Tillman Bats : Both
Born On: 10-06-1893 Throws : Right
Born In: Bridgeport, Connecticut Height : 5-11
Died On: 04-07-1964 Weight : 170
Died In: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania First Game: 09-20-1915
College: None Attended Last Game: 09-22-1915
Nickname: Ducky Draft: Not Applicable

Pitcher John "Ducky" Tillman wasn't long for "Lake Big Leagues." Tillman pitched for the Browns in 2 games in September 1915, registering a 1-0 record with an ERA of 0.90 for 10 innings of work in 2 days (September 20-22). For reasons now lost in time to easy answers, Tillman never worked again in the big leagues. - Johnny Tillman was 70 when he died in 1964. - BCT/GB, DuckyTillman! - You "done good," even if you were done fast!



Olen Edward "Ollie" Voigt passes from this earth in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 7, 1970 at the age of 70. The BL/TR hurler from the University of Illinois posted an 8-game, 16.1 innings career with the 1924 St. Louis Browns. Ollie finished his "15 minutes of fame" with a winning percentage that even Cy Young couldn't master. Voigt's winning percentage is right at 1.000 with 1 win, 0 losses, and a 5.51 ERA. - Ollie Voight was born on January 29, 1900 in Wheaton, Illinois.

BCT/GB, Ollie Voigt! Nothing like showing up long enough for one measure of perfection!

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclop...is-von-der-Ahe

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!




April 8, 1922: Browns Win Game As Cardinals Unveil Iconic Logo!



It's an historic day at Sportsman's Park. The St. Louis Cardinals take the field in a pre-season game with the St. Louis Browns dressed in new sartorial splendor. For the first time ever, the Cardinals are wearing their new uniforms with the two red birds on a bat and the script "Cardinals" written on the front of each jersey. - The Browns win the game, 3-2, behind the steady pitching of Urban Shocker as Willie Sherdel takes the loss for the Cardinals. The game result and score are a repeat of the outcome that occurred between the two clubs only a week earlier. This time, however, the Cardinals are sporting a symbol that will long outlast any memory of the actual game itself. April 8, 2005 marks the 83rd anniversary of those two red birds on a bat theme in St. Louis Cardinals history.



Births on April 8



Ralph Edward "Hap" Myers is born on April 8, 1888 in San Francisco, California. The BR/TR 1st baseman attends the University of California before embarking upon a 5-year MLB/Federal League career (1910-1911, 1913-1915) in which he hits .268 and 4 HR's. - In 11 games for the 1911 Browns, Hap Myers goes 11 for 37 (.297) before being moved that same season to the Red Sox. - At 6'3", Hap was a big player for his day. - He will pass away on June 30, 1967 in San Francisco at the age of 79.



Dee Wilman "Dee" Sanders is born on APril 8, 1921 in Quitman, Texas. The BR/TR pitcher got into 2 games and pitched 1.1 innings for the 1945 Browns as his only MLB exposure. The Univeristy of Oklahoma alumnus recorded no wins or losses, but he left an ERA balloon of 40.50 on the books before departing to the Land of Gone-For-Good. - Dee Sanders is still living.

Happy 84th Birthday, Dee Sanders!



Deaths on April 8



William Henry "Big Bill" Abstein passes away in St. Louis, Missouri on April 8, 1940 at the age of 57. The BR/TR 1st baseman was only 6'0" and 185 lbs., but his relative height to the average shorter players of his day gained him the nickname of "Big Bill." Of course, he may have received that descriptor for having a big nose. (Big Bill? This "Big Bill" also played for the Pirates. Don't Pirates keep parrots? And don't parrots have big bills?) Having never seen Abstein's picture, it's hard for me to say. - At any rate, the shadow of this Groundhog Day born baby was not very long. Abstein played in only 3 big league seasons (Pirates: 1906, 1909 and Browns: 1910). In 23 games for the 1910 Browns, "Big Bill" hit only .143. He batted .242 with 1 HR over the whole course of his 619 AB MLB career. - Bill Abstein was born on February 2, 1883 in St. Louis.

BCT/GB, "Big Bill" Abstein!



Robert Max "Bob" or "Sugar" Cain


Sugar Cain II

Robert Max "Bob" or "Sugar" Cain passes away on April 8, 1997 in Cleveland, Ohio at the age of 72. The BL/TL pitcher was the second "Sugar Cain" in Browns history. The other ambi-dextrose Cain was an earlier hurler named Merritt Cain (See "Births on April 5.") - Bob Cain's most memorable moment came as a Detroit Tiger pitching against the Browns on August 19, 1951. By pitching to Eddie Gaedel of the Browns, Bob Cain became the only pitcher in MLB history to face a midget batter in an official game. In the process, he also became the only MLB pitcher to ever walk a midget batter. - Bob Cain's 5-year MLB record (1949-1953) included 37 wins, 44 losses, and an ERA of 4.50. As a member of the 1952-1953 Browns, Cain won 16 and lost 20. - Bob Cain was born on October 16, 1924 in Longford, Kansas.

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 9, 1953: Veeck Sells Sportsman's Park To Cardinals.

"This Bud's For You, St. Louis fans!" - August Busch

New Cardinals owner August Busch buys Sportsman's Park for $800,000 from Browns owner Bill Veeck. In baseball history's grandest role reversal, Busch turns around and gives the Browns a 5-year lease. It's a 180 degree turn in the relationship between the two St. Louis clubs. Until today, it was the Browns who had been the "landlords" and the Cardinals who had been the "tenants." It had been that way for 33 years - ever since 1920. - Now it all had been turned around in the deal hammered out by Veeck and Busch.

The sale itself s not the only hammer that falls. After purchasing venerable Sportsman's Park, Busch quickly renames it as "Budweiser Park." This gross commercial action outrages the St. Louis community. Busch quickly reacts to the protest as a potential damage to his commercial interests and changes the ballpark's name again to Busch Stadium. The storms quiets, even though many remain unhappy that the old "Sportsman's Park" identity is now lost. In a way they are consoled by the fact, at least, that the new Cardinals owner only renamed the ballpark by his family name, and not by his beer product. A year from this time, Busch will introduce a new beer product called "Busch Bavarian." - By then, there will be no further public protests.

All this happened 52 years ago from 2005 - before even people like August Busch thought of how much money was out there to be made on the sale of stadium naming rights to other commercial interests. We've come a long way from purist concerns about commercialization of ballpark names since 1953, haven't we?



April 9, 1922: Browns Take City Series From Cardinals.

"Not today, George!"

A record crowd of 29,000 fans show up at Sportman's Park today to watch the Browns top the Cardinals, 6-3, to win the St. Louis City Series. George Sisler will be thrown out at home three times during the game. Sisler will go on to lead the American League in stolen bases during the 1922 season.



April 9, 1907: Cardinals Take City Series From Browns.


"One of these days, some St. Louis National League
baseball genius is going to see a couple of guys like us
sitting on a tree branch and figure out that we might also
look fairly good perched on a baseball bat. - Why heck!
We might even become part of a famous team logo!"

Without the adorning assistance of two redbirds on a bat across their uniform breasts, the St. Louis Cardinals still whip the St. Louis Browns, 9-1, to take the City Series, 4 games to 3. The two teams will further stoke their same city rivalry in the fall with a post-season rematch. The Cardinals also will take that one by a acore of 5 to 2.



Births on April 9


Oliver Daniel "Ollie" Pickering is born on April 9, 1870 in Olney, Illinois. The BL/TR outfielder will hit for a total BA of .272 in an 8-year career that stretches over time from 1896 to 1908. Ollie will hit .276 in his one full season as a starter for the 1907 Browns. - Ollie Pickering will pass away on January 20, 1952 in Vincennes, Indiana at the age of 81.


Malcolm Joseph "Joe" McDonald is born on April 9, 1888 in "unknown parts" of Texas - and that covers a lot of ground - and much more than McDonald covers as a big leaguer. The BR/TR 3rd baseman will play 10 games for the 1910 Browns, going 5 for 32 and a .157 career batting average. After 1910, of course, Joe McDonald is gone-for-good. - Joe McDonald will die on May 30, 1963 in Baytown, Texas, just east of Houston, at the age of 75. - It's probable that McDonald worked in the Humble Oil/Exxon refinery after his baseball days. That's the major reason people live in Baytown to the present day. That's not a certainty, but a pretty good bet. There isn't much other reason to be in Baytown - unless you were born there and don't know any better.

BCT/GB, Joe McDonald!


Joseph Denk "Joe" Willis is born on April 9, 1890 in Coal Grove, Ohio. The BR/TL pitcher loses his only start for the 1911 Browns on May 3, 1911 and is soon shipped to the Cardinals for the balance of his brief MLB career. Willis posts a 1911-1913 record of 4 wins, 11 losses, and an ERA of 4.63. - Joe Willis will dies on December 4, 1966 in Ironton, Ohio at the age of 75.


Walter C. "Heinie" Jantzen Henie Jantzen is born on April 9, 1890 in Chicago, Illinois. The BR/TR right fielder will hit .185 (22 for 119) and 1 HR for the 1912 Browns as the totality of his big league career and then be (big surprise!) gone-for-good. - He will survive those less ethnicallly sensitive days with the nickname "Heinie" and then vanish into the woodwork of American culture. - Heinie Jantzen will pass away on April 1, 1948 in Hines, Illinois, just 8 days shy of his 58th birthday.


Earl Welton "Earl" Caldwell is born on April 9, 1905 in Sparks. Texas. The BR/TR pitcher has one those tenure interrupted careers as a big leaguer (1928, 1935-1937, 1945-1948). In spite of the fact he needs 20 years and 3 different decades to get in 8 seasons of MLB, the man they sometimes call "Teach" will close out his career with 33 wins, 43 losses, and an ERA of 4.69. - Caldwell wins 10 and loses 18 in his three seasons as a Brown (1935-1937). - Earl Caldwell will pass away on September 15, 1981 in Mission, Texas at the age 76.



Deaths on April 9


Philip "Phil Ketter" Ketterer passes away on April 9, 1965 in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of (4 days shy) 81. Why Ketter dropped the last two letters on his given name suring his playing career, all I can say is "... er ... I dunno." All I know is that the B?/TR Ketter hit .333 (2 singles in 6 times at bat) in 2 games as a catcher for the 1912 Browns and was then gone-for-good. In the case of Ketter(er), his MLB career began on May 23, 1912 and ended exactly two days later on May 25, 1912. He wasn't even there long enough to complain about the travel or the long hot summers, but, ah yes, he was there - if ever so briefly. Phil Ketter was born on April 13, 1884 in good old St. Louis, Missouri.

BCT/GB, Phil Ketter(er)!


Alfred Voyle "Roxie" Lawson dies on April 9, 1977 in Stockport, Iowa at the age (4 days shy) of 71. The BR/TR Iowa Weslayan College alumnus pitched for 9 seasons in the big leagues (1930-1931, 1933, 1935-1940), registering a career record of 47 wins, 39 losses, and an ERA of 5.37. In his two seasons as a Brown 1939-1940), Roxie won 8 games and lost 10. - Roxie Lawson was born on April 13, 1906 in Donnellson, Iowa.


William Aulton "Bill" or "Lefty" Kennedy passes away on April 9, 1983 in Seattle, Washington at the age of 62. The BL/TL pitcher had a 3-year record with the Browns (1948-1950) of 11 wins and 19 defeats. For his 8-year total MLB career (1948-1957). Kennedy recorded 15 wins, 28 losses, and an ERA of 4.73. - Bill Kennedy was born on March 14, 1921 in Carnesville, Georgia.


Richard Jerome "Dick Kokos" Kokoszka


Richard Kokoszka:
"What's in a Name?"

Dick Kokos dies on April 9, 1886 in Chicago at the age of 58. The BL/TL outfielder adopted the box-score-friendlier name of "Dick Kokos" from the git-go and went on to a 5-year (1948-1950, 1953-1954) big league career as one of of the last Browns and first Orioles. In 1,558 total AB's, Kokos hit a respectable .263 and banged out 59 HR's. - Dick Kokos was born on February 28, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois.

BCT/GB, Mr. Kokos! You were one of my favorites as a kid. I'm still looking for that Bowman card of yours that I kave kept for years. As I said earlier on your birthdate post, it's around here somewhere.


Postscript. It's a good thing that everyday isn't this busy on the mountain climb search of Browns history - especially when it happens on days when my real time world is making other demands upon me.

Never fear. God willing, we'll get there - one day at a time. I love this stuff and the Browns are worth every moment of it.

Have a nice weekend, everybody!

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 10, 1950: Widmar Chooses Eating Now Over Legal Battle on Principle.



The power of the reserve clause in baseball rears its head in Brownsville. Al Widmar is the latest example of a player choosing to take what he can get over unemployment. Based on his 22 wins for Baltimore of the International League in 1949, St. Louis Browns pitcher Al Widmar quits the team in a salary dispute with the Browns. Widmar threatens a suit against baseball unless the team grants him a pay raise. The Browns do not react to his individual words of threatened legal assault upon the system which keeps Widmar from seeking work elsewhere in baseball.

Al Widmar is no Curt Flood. Within a week, Widmar signs with the Browns for what the club is willing to pay him.



April 10, 1917: Browns Win Drill Team Competition.



Laurel: "Those St. Louis Browns certainly were excellent students, weren't they, Ollie?

Hardy: "Why, they certainly were, Stanley! - They most certainly were!"

The United States entry into the Great World War and a cold, damp spring wrap themselves around the start of the 1917 baseball season like a wet blanket. 48 National League games will be postponed in the first month - and half of the big league clubs will show losses this year. It gets worse at the lower levels of organized baseball as 8 of the 20 minor leagues will fold before the season is over.

As a morale and, hopefully, fan-attractive gate promotion, the American League gets the Army to assign drill sergeants to each AL team for daily pre-game drills. The players are taught to march on the field with bats instead of rifles. A final contest will be held for a $500 prize. The St. Louis Browns will take the money as best marching club in the American League. - It must have been the quality of their instruction, combined with that old Brownie hunger to be first in something.



Births on April 10


Thomas Griffith "Tom" or "Tut" Jenkins is born on April 10, 1898 in Camden, Alabama. The BL/TR outfielder will go to a 6-year MLB career (1925-1926, 1929-1932), hitting .259 and 3 homers. In his 4 seasons of limited action as a Brown (1929-1932), "Tut" gets all of his 3 HR's in the 81 games he plays in 1931 and hits .265 on the year. 1931 is the only season in which Jenkins plays more than 25 games. - Tom Jenkins will pass away on May 3, 1979 in Weymouth, Massachusetts at the age of 81.


Edward Harold "Ed" Strelecki is born on April 10, 1905 in Newark, New Jersey. The BR/TR pitcher will win 1 and lose 3 for the 1928-1929 Browns and also pitch 24.1 innings for the 1931 Reds with no record. His career ERA will settle for all time at 5.78. = Ed Strelecki will die on Jamuary 9, 1968 in his birthplace of Newark, New Jersey at the age of 62.


Frank "Frankie" Pack is born on April 10, 1928 in Morristown, Pennsylvania. The BL/TR position player strikes out in his only time at bat in the big leagues on June 5, 1949 in behalf of the St. Louis Browns. One AB up on the legendary Moonlight Graham, Pack surpasses Graham by getting no opportunity to play for even a single pitch in the field. As a result, his actual position goes unrecorded in the sources available to our research. Pack was just a 1 AB, 1 "K", and gone-for-good guy. - Frankie Pack packed it in on January 26, 2000 in Hendersonville, North Carolina at the age of 71.

BCT/GB, Frankie Pack!



Deaths on April 10


Owen Dennis Ignatius "Owen" Shannon passes away on April 10, 1918 in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 38. The BR/TR catcher/1st baseman played in 9 games for the 1903 Browns, going 6 for 28 (.214) with 2 doubles and 3 RBI. Shannon returned to the big leagues for a 4-game stint with the Senators that reduced his career BA to an even Mendoza (.200). On that note, he departed MLB for The Land of Gone for Good. - Owen Shannon was born on December 22, 1879 in Omaha, Nebraska.

BCT/GB, Owen Shannon!


Horace Wilbur "Hod" Leverette passes away on April 10, 1958 in St. Peterburg, Florida at the age of 68. From April 22, 1920 to May 8, 1920, the BR/TR pitcher played in 3 games, workin g10.1 frames for the Browns, 2 as a starter and 1 in relief. For his efforts, Hod posted a career record of 0 wins, 2 losses, and an ERA of 5.23. Please note the whole truth about Hod's brief, but complete MLB career: Leverette did not make a single error in the field in 7 chances. These chances also resulted in him getting credit for 7 assists. - Flawless-fielding Hod Leverette goes to his grave in the self-affirming knowledge that, over the course of his very short stay in the big leagues, he was perfect in the field. - Must've been the glove. - Hod Leverette was born on February 4, 1889 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

BCT/GB, Hod Leverette!



James "Jim" or "Jiggs" Wright dies on on April 10, 1963 in Oakland, California at the age of 62. The BR/TR pitcher recorded 1 win, 0 losses, and an ERA of 5.79 for the 1927-1928 Browns as the total scope of his MLB experience and was then gone-for-good. - Jim Wright was born on September 19, 1900 in Hyde, England.

BCT/GB, Jiggs Wright!


Chester Lillis "Chet" Johnson dies on April 10, 1983 in Seattle, Washington. The BL/TL pitcher had no record, but an ERA of 5.00 in 5 games for 1946 Browns before he joined the legion of other lost baseball souls in the MLB Gone-For-Good Club. - University of Washington alumnus Chet Johnson was born on August 1, 1917 in Redmond, Washington.

BCT/GB, Chet Johnson!

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 11, 1950: Former "Brown" Dean Back In Texas League! *

Why pitch again? "It was a great day for baseball," says Diz.

* For One Pitch. The Texas League season opener between the Dallas Eagles and the Tulsa Oilers is staged in the Cotton Bowl at Dallas. Independent Dallas owner Dick Burnett is determined to open some media eyes, fan wallets, and minor league game attendance record books. He puts together what amounts to a ringer club of Cooperstown All Stars to start the game as "Dallas Eagles." After much harranging over how long the former greats should be allowed to play, the promotion is reduced to little more than a ceremonial start by the former greats. - How good would this team have been had any club had these guys together during their primes? The Dallas starters in the field include Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Tris Speaker, Dizzy Dean, Travis Jackson, Frank Baker, and Charlie Gehringer , as well as Duffy Lewis and Dallas manager, Charlie Grimm, the only two non-Hall of Famers. Former Cardinal, Cub, and ceremonial Brown Dizzy Dean throws one pitch to start the game. Then the squad is replaced by the regular Dallas Eagles team, but with a sense of mission accomplished. The 53,578 fans who showed up established a since-broken minor league attendance record as the largest minor league baseball crowd of all time. As Dean and company stroll from the field, a mighty cheer bids thanks to the former greats for taking the field one more time.

I'm not sure if Dallas owner Dick Burnett knew the great Bill Veeck, but there had to be a little mutual admiration going on here. Wish I could quote Bill Veeck on his thoughts about this one. I'll bet they would've been good.



Births on April 11


No Browning Today! No Browns Ever on April 11!



Deaths on April 11


Charles Vincent "Charles" Moran passes away on April 11, 1934 in Washington, DC at the age of 55. The righthanded throwing infielder's batting preference has long been forgotten, so, let's explore why. - Moran had a 3-year big league career that was split between the Senators (1903-1904) and Browns (1904-1905). The Georgetown University alumnus batted .207 with 1 HR in 970 times at bat and then was gone for good from the big time. - Any more questions about why his BL or BR stance has been noted in history books as "?" ? - I dunno. You might think somebody would've remembered, but they didn't. - Charles Moran was born on March 26, 1879 in Washington, DC.

Goodbye, Charlie! - Well try to make sure that you're not totally forgotten!


Leo Moses "Leo" Dixon passes away on April 11, 1984 in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 93. The BR/TR catcher spent 4 years in the majors (1925-1927, 1929), playing his first 3 seasons as a Brown. He missed 1928, but came back to play 14 games for the 1929 Reds as the final wrap on his career. - Dixon had a career BA of .206 with 1 HR in 427 official times at bat. - Leo Dixon was born on September 4, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois.


Astrological Contrast Shows Up Again. Yesterday, April 10, we had all kinds of things going on. Today, April 11, is as quiet as a Browns September pennant drive. - Maybe there's something to this astrological factor. In a way, we already know that to be true. The Browns' baseball fates were often governed by the stars - and those stars mostly played for the New York Yankees.

Have a great week, everybody!

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



Due to the fact that I'll be travelling to Dallas on Tuesday, April 12th for a Texas Baseball Hall of Fame board meeting - and also staying there through April 13th to watch a Texas Rangers game, I'm writing the post for April 12th tonight. The post for April 13th will be written (God willing) the night of April 13th, when I'll be back in Houston. The normal schedule of early morning, same day posting here on "This Date in Browns History" will resume on Thursday, April 14th.

April 12, 1922: An Urban League Moment.

Shocker: One of The Two Urbans Who Faced Off Today,

In an Urban opener, Urban Shocker of the St. Louis Browns overcomes Urban Faber of the Chicago White Sox by a squeaker score of 3–2. The Sox outhit the Browns, 9–3, but the Browns did what a club is supposed to do. They got their hits when they counted and turned them into more runs – which is the object of the game, however you get there, to score more runs than the other team.


April 12, 1905: Browns To Help Senators Win Bonus.

The boys from Washington are going to love our St. Louis Browns by season's end. The Washington club owners offer their players a $1,000 bonus if they finish higher than 8th - and $500 for each position they finisher higher. Well, by season's end in 1905, the Senators will only rise to 7th, but they will collect the basic money. Thanks to the Browns last place tank job, the Sens finish in 7th by 11 full games. - Way to go, Browns!





Births on April 12



Samuel Lester "Sam" or "Slam" Agnew is born on April 12, 1887 in Farmington, Missouri. The BR/TR catcher will "slam" only 2 HRs and hits only .204 in in his 7-year MLB career ((1913-1919), so he must have received his nickname in some other way. (Did Denny's serve "Grand Slams" back in the Deadball era?) - Agnew will be a Brown during his first 3 years (1913-1915(, and he will hit .208, .212., and .203 during his time in St. Louis. - Slammin' Sam Agnew will pass away on July 19, 1951 in Sonoma, California at the age of 73.


William F. "Bill" Bailey is born on April 12, 1889 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Bill Bailey enjoys an 11-year career (1907-1912, 1914-1915, 1918, 1921-1922) as BR/TR pitcher that starts with 6 years as a Brown from 1907-1912. Bailey finishes with a career record of 38 wins, 76 losses, and an ERA of 3.57. - Bill Bailey heads on home to eternity on November 2, 1926 in Houston, Texas at the tender age of 37.


William Francis "Wild Bill" Miller is born on April 12, 1910 in Hannibal, Missouri. It is the Year of Halley's Comet, and Miller is born in the same hometown where Samuel Clemens was also born, and in the same year that Hannibal's famous writer passes away. - Sadly for Miller, his career comet has no tail - and he will prove to be no "Mark Twain"-level talent as a pitcher. - "Wild Bill" is another of our one-game-wonder boys. He starts one game for the Browns on October 2, 1937 and lasts all of 4 innings, and giving up 6 runs on 7 hits and a homer along the way. He does strike out 1 batter, but he walks 4 other batters and hits another guy. (Wonder how Miller got that "Wild BiIl'' tag that has followed him so fluidly into the record books?) The Browns do not recover from Bill's early ineffectivemess and the BR/TR Miller ends up with the loss and a career record of 0 wins, 1 loss, and an ERA of 13.50. Miller never gets another shot in the bigs. After this failed first start, he is (altogether now!) - gone for good! - Hannibal's Bill Miller dies on February 26, 1982 in Hannibal, Missouri at the age of nearly 72.

BCT/GB, Wild Bill Miller!



Deaths on April 12


Thomas Gerald "Tom" Phillips dies young. He passes away on April 12, 1929 at the age of 40. The BR/TR pitcher broke into the big leagues by posting a record of 1 win, 3 losses, and an ERA of 2.96 for the 1915 Browns. It was Phillips's only year as a Brown, but still he hung around MLB long enough (1915, 1919, 1921-1922) to finish out with a career record of 8 wins, 12 losses, and an ERA of 3.74. - Tom Phillips was born on April 5, 1889 in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.


Timothy J. "Tim" McCabe dies on April 12, 1977 at the age of 82. The BR/TR pitcher won 5, lost 1, and posted a career ERA of 2.92 in 4 seasons for the 1915-1918 Browns. - Tim McCabe was born on October 19, 1894 in Ironton, Missouri.

Today's Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...ay/APRIL12.stm

http://www.todayinbaseballhistory.com/

Reminder: Because of my "road game," the post for April 13th will not appear here until the early evening hours of that same date. We'll be back on schedule with regular same-day, early morning posting on Thursday, April 14th.

Have a great Tuesday and Wednesday, everybody!

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!




April 13, 1916: Cleveland's O'Neill Starts Catcher DP Record Against Browns.



In a 4–2 Indian loss to the Browns, Cleveland catcher Steve O'Neill completes a double play with shortstop Ray Chapman. It is O'Neill's first defensive DP of the year, but he will be involved in 36 for the whole 1916 season, an MLB record for catchers that still stands today, according to the Baseball Library (Dot) Com.




April 13, 1911: Hail To The Browns ... (and the Indians too!)



With the Cleveland Indians leading the St. Louis Browns, 3–1, in the 9th inning at Cleveland's League Park, the game has to be stopped because of a severe storm that moves in to the area. Many fans are bruised by hailstones.



Births on April 13


Philip "Phil Ketter" Ketterer Phil Ketter(er) is born on April 13, 1884 in St. Louis, Missouri. Why Ketter dropped the last two letters on his given name suring his playing career, all I can say is "... er ... I dunno." All we know is that the B?/TR Ketter will hit .333 (2 singles in 6 times at bat) in 2 games as a catcher for the 1912 Browns. He will then gone-for-good. In the case of Ketter(er), his MLB career begins on May 23, 1912 and ends exactly two days later on May 25, 1912. He isn't even around long enough to complain about the travel or the long hot summers, but, ah yes, he will be a major leaguer - if ever so briefly. Phil Ketter will pass away on April 9, 1965 in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of (4 days shy) 81.

BCT/GB, Phil Ketter(er)!


Alfred Voyle "Roxie" Lawson is born on April 13, 1906 in Donnellson, Iowa. The BR/TR Iowa Weslayan College alumnus will pitch for 9 seasons in the big leagues (1930-1931, 1933, 1935-1940), registering a career record of 47 wins, 39 losses, and an ERA of 5.37. In his two seasons as a Brown 1939-1940), Roxie will win 8 games and lose 10. - Roxie Lawson will die on April 9, 1977 in Stockport, Iowa at the age (4 days shy) of 71.



Deaths on April 13


Joseph Peter "Joe" Kutina pass away in his home town of Chicago on April 13, 1945 at the age of 60. The BR/TR 1st baseman hit .222 in 95 games for the 1911-1912 Browns and was then gone-for-good from the big leagues. Joe Kutina was born on January 16, 1885 in Chicago.

BCT/GB, Joe Kutina!

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 14, 1925: Cleveland "Browns" 21 - St. Louis Browns 14.


For George today: No steak! And no sizzle!

In a game which produces the proverbial football-score outcome, the Cleveland Indians defeat the St. Louis Browns by a score of 21-14. The Indians clinch the deal with 12 runs in the 8th, an outcome which hardly inspires the confidence of manager George Sisler in his Browns club's 1925 pitching staff. Perhaps Sisler spent too much time in the field thinking about managerial concerns today when he really needed to stay focused on the game. During the painful and ultimately fatal procession of today's series of unfortunate events, Sisler is found guilty of 4 errors at 1st base.


April 14, 1917: Cicotte No-Hits Browns, 11-0!


April 14, 1917: One of the
future "8 Men Out" Smiles as
He Gets "9 Browns Out" with
No Hits Along The Way.

At Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, Eddie Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitches a no-hitter against the St. Louis Browns, winning easily, 11–0. Cicotte faces only 30 batters, with the only near-hit coming as a line drive by Jimmy Austin that Chick Gandil fumbles. The zeitgiest of anti-German sentiment that exists in America because of World War I is apparent in the way Austin's batted ball is reported. In dealing with the opinion of some observers that Austin's "safe on an error" call was really a hit, an unnamed reporter for the Chicago Tribune acknowledged the merits of that possibility in this way: "And not without cause, for Jimmy's drive had whiskers like a German who was trapped for ten days on Vimy Ridge." - Not incidentally to this grand start, Eddie Cicotte's 28 wins and 1.53 ERA eventually will top the American League in 1915 as the White Sox go on to win the pennant and then the World Series over the New York Giants.



April 14, 1915: A Stolen Browns Moment, But An Incomplete Story.

In the season opening game between the Chicago White Sox and the St. Louis Browns, reserve outfielder Ernie Walker of the Browns steals home in the 11th inning. - Unfortunately, that's all we're told about the game. Minor details, such as, what happened to send the game into extra innings and which team ultimately won the game were not considered important reporting facts by whomever wrote the bones of this report for baseball reference (dot) com. Without further research, we don't even know if Walker's steal of home was simply a run scored, or if it was a tally that tied or won the game. Put this one in the "needs further research" hopper.



Births on April 14


Jesse Herbert "Jesse" Doyle is born on April 14, 1898 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The BR/TR pitcher goes on to a 4 win, 7 loss record for the 1925-1927 Tigers, returning to the big leagues for one bad innng of work for the 1931 Browns. The closure on Doyle's career record is 4 wins, 7 losses, and an ERA of 6.22. Doyle will give up 3 earned runs on 3 hits and a walk in that July 9, 1931 outing for the Browns. All he accomplishes on that day is to put the last nail in the coffin of his career and to raise his MLB ERA. (Some days are better than others.) - Jesse Doyle will pass away on April 15, 1961 in Belleville, Illinois at the age of 63.

BCT/GB, Jesse Doyle!



Deaths on April 14


Ralph Lee "Ralph" Winegarner passes away on April 14, 1988 in Wichita, Kansas at the age of 78. The BR/TR pitcher is one of baseball history's comeback kid stories, although the results are not the stuff of inspiration for another Hollywood movie. After winning 8 and losing 6 in 4 seasons for the Cleveland Indians (1932, 1934-1936), Southwestern College alumnus Winegarner comes back to pitch 9 games and 16.2 innings for the 1949 Browns. He is uninvolved in any W/L decisions that season, but he does pour a little gasoline on his career ERA by posting a 7.56 mark for his 1949 effort. Winegarner finishes with a career record of 8 wins, 6 losses, and an ERA of 5.33. - Ralph Winegarner was born on October 29, 1909 in Benton, Kansas.

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!




April 15, 1947: Browns-Killer Newhouser Strikes Again!



The Browns open the season at Sportsman's Park In St. Louis against the Detroit Tigers, but there is no joy in Brownsville by the end of the day. The mean old Tigers start their standard Browns-Killer, Hal Newhouser. The great Detroit (and later Cleveland) future Hall of Fame lefty does that thing he does so well. Newhouser shuts out the Browns, 7-0, for his 13th straight win against the boys from St. Louis. (We wish to thank noted baseball historian Al Spatz for keeping up with this painful streak for the rest of us.) The painful streak, by the way, will extend to 15 consecutive wins for Newhouser before the Browns finally break the spell on August 12th of this season.



April 15, 1924: Sisler Returns - This Time, As Browns Playing Manager.



George Sisler returns to is first action since 1922. This time, he's back to also make his debut as the playing manager of the 1924 St. Louis Browns after missing all of the 1923 season due to impaired vision caused by severe sinusitis. Sisler goes 2 for 4 today as the Browns defeat the Chicago White Sox, 7-3.



April 15, 1922: Browns Roll White Sox, 14-0!


Frank Ellerbe Starts 1922
With Only HR of the Year

The St. Louis Browns get a magical year off to a great start by clobbering five Chicago White Sox pitchers for 21 hits and an easy 14–0 win behind Elam Vangilder. Vangilder gives up only three hits as 3rd baseman Frank Ellerbe homers for St. Louis. It will be Ellerbe's only HR of the year.


April 15, 1915: White Sox Blast Browns, 16-0!


Red Faber had a fun
day on April 15, 1915.

April 15th shapes up as a feast or famine day in Browns history. We won't dally this morning over how unequally those two conditions balanced out over the entire life of the Browns, but 1915 definitely was one of those downer years. Today the Chicago White Sox cruised behind pitcher Red Faber to a cruel (but not unusual) 16-0 shellacking of the hapless St. Louis Browns. (Please forgive the redundancy in that last sentence.)



Births on April 15




No Brownies came out of the oven today.



Deaths on April 15


Jesse Herbert "Jesse" Doyle passes away on April 15, 1961 in Belleville, Illinois at the age of 63. The BR/TR pitcher had a 4 win, 7 loss record for the 1925-1927 Tigers, returning to the big leagues for one bad innng of work for the 1931 Browns. The closure on Doyle's career record is 4 wins, 7 losses, and an ERA of 6.22. Doyle surrendered 3 earned runs on 3 hits and a walk in that July 9, 1931 outing for the Browns. All he accomplished on that day was to put the last nail in the coffin of his career and to raise his MLB ERA. (Some days are better than others.) - Jesse Doyle was born on April 14, 1898 in Knoxville, Tennessee.


Norman Andrew "Nick" Cullop dies on April 15, 1961 in Tazewell, Virginia at the age of 73. The BL/TL pitcher (whom some called "Tomato Face") had a career (1913-1917, 1921) MLB record of 57 wins, 55 losses, and an excellent ERA of 2.73. Tomato Face Cullop's 1921 return to the majors for his only year with the Browns earned him no more than a 2-loss finish to his big league run. - Nick Cullop was born on September 17, 1887 in Chilhowie, Virginia.


Frederick Paul "Dutch" Schliebner dies on April 15, 1975 in Toledo, Ohio at the age of nearly 84. The BR/TR 1st baseman only played a split year with the Brooklyn Robins and St. Louis Browns in 1923 and was then gone-for-good. Unlike many of our brief time guys who suddenly vanish, Dutch Schliebner is a little harder to understand as a guy who could not have played longer - somewhere other than for the Browns. Perhaps, he was injured in some way. That's always my first question. - Schliebner was acquired by the Browns early in the 1923 season when it became apparent that George Sisler's eye problem was going to cause him to miss the whole year. That's a tough act to follow, but Dutch Scliebner still hit .275 with 122 hits and 4 homers in 121 games in 1923. His brief earlier time in 1923 with Brooklyn only lowered his one-year career BA to .271 with 141 total hits, including 23 doubles, 6 triples, and 4 HRs. Of course, with Sisler returning in 1924, Dutch had no future with the Browns, but on the face of his stats, he could've played somewhere. The answer to his disappearance lies elsewhere this morning without further research. - Dutch Scliebner was born on May 19, 1891 in Charlottenburg, Germany.

Have a nice weekend, everybody!


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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 16, 1953: White Sox 1 - Browns 0.



Harry Brecheen: Today's
Losing Pitcher Deserved
Better Fate, But This Is
Baseball & How It Goes.

It's not a good day for the Browns, but then again - how many are? Lefty Billy Pierce of the Chicago White Sox is the perpetrator of today's bad news game as he shuts out the Browns on one hit. Bobby Young's double in the 7th is the only St. Louis safety in the 1-0 bleaching. Harry Brecheen takes the heartbreaking loss for the Browns, also going the distance and giving up only a single fatal run and two hits.


Births on April 16


Philip "Phil" Stremmel is born on April 16, 1880 in Zanesville, Ohio. The BR/TR pitcher for the 1909-1910 Browns will compile a record of 0 wins, 4 losses, and an ERA of 4.02 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. Phil Stremmel will die on December 26, 1947 in Chicago at the age of 67.

BCT/GB, Phil Stremmel!




Deaths on April 16


Howard Richard "Dick" Kauffman passes away on April 16, 1948 in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania at the age of nearly 60. The BB/TR alumnus of Bucknell University was a 1st baseman, outfielder, pinch hitter in 44 games for the 1914-1915 Browns, batting .259 with 0 HR's and a fast track pass to The Land of Gone-For-Good. - Dick Kauffman was born on June 22, 1888 in East Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

BCT/GB, Dick Kauffman!


Samuel David "Dolly" or "Sad Sam" Gray dies on April 16, 1953 in McKinney, Texas at he age of 55. The BR/TR pitched enjoyed a 10-year MLB career with the Athletics (1924-1927) and Browns (1928-1933), posting a career mark of 111 wins, 115 losses, and an ERA of 4.18. Gray had a Browns record alone of 67 wins and 82 losses. His best record year came as a member of the 1928 Browns when "Not-So-Sad-Sam" Gray won 20, lost 12, while recording an ERA for the season of 3.19. - Sad Sam Gray was born on October 15, 1897 in Van Alstyne, Texas.


George Lawrence "George" or "Pooch" Puccinelli passes away on April 16, 1956 in San Francisco, California at the age of 48. The BR/TR outfielder had a 4-season bench player career (1930, 1932, 1924, 1936) in which he batted .283 with 19 homers. In his only season with the 1934 Browns, "Pooch" hit .231 and 2 homers in 26 trips to the plate. - George Puccinelli also was born in San Francisco on June 22, 1907.


August Joseph "Gloomy Gus" Williams passes away on April 16, 1964 in Sterling, Illinois at the age of 75. The BL/TL outfielder had a 5-year All-Browns MLB career (1911-1915) in which he batted .263 with 12 homers. - Gloomy Gus Williams was born on May 7, 1888 in Omaha, Nebraska.



An April 16th Footnote: On a day in which "Sad Sam" came and "Gloomy Gus" went, let's hope that the net effect is an astrological wash and that the mood of Brownsville is no worse today than it was yesterday on April 15th.

Have a great Saturday, everybody, and a BCT/GB to all of you!

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 17, 1945: Pete Gray Debuts! - Browns Win 9th Straight Opener!


Pete Gray

Pete Gray, the one-armed outfielder, makes his MLB debut for the St. Louis Browns in a 1945 Season Opening Game with the Detroit Tigers. Coming off the Browns' only pennant year in 1944, Sportsman's Park fans is a buzz with the new hope - and also with curiosity about their new one-armed ballplayer. Pete is not fullly tested in left field, as no chances come his way during the game. That's pretty unusual in itself. Perhaps the Tiger lineup was filled with lefthanded batters who didn't know how to hit to the opposite field. It would seem that, if they were able to hit the ball, the Tigers would've tested Gray's defensive abilities as much as possible. On offense, Pete Gray singles once off Tiger pitcher Les Mueller in four times at bat. The Browns defeat the Tigers, 7–1, for their 9th straight Opening Day win, a major-league record that the 1975-83 Mets eventually tie.



April 17, 1936: Cleveland Spoils Browns Opener, 13-10!

Indians Scalp Browns!*

* How many times has that cliche headline been used in Cleveland baseball history?

The Cleveland Indians spoil the St. Louis Browns home opener at Sportsman's Park as cold weather keeps the crowd a few head counts short of 1,500 fans in attendance. The Indians take the game in 10 innings by a score of 13-10. The Browns will follow this disappointing 1936 start at the gate and on the scoreboard by reeling off a record number of 9 consecutive openig day wins from 1937 to 1945.


April 17, 1915: Hank Severeid Impresses in Browns Debut!


Hank Hammers
3-Run Shot To
Beat Chicago.

Hank Severeid didn't wait long to impress St. Louis fans. In his first game as a Brown, Severeid hits his first MLB home run, a 3-run blast off Hi Jasper of the Chicago White Sox. It is only the Browns' second hit of the day when Hank connects, ut it is ultimately the difference-maker. The Browns win, 4-3, over Chicago and the fans are thrilled. How little they realize in 1915 of the grand ride of hope that lays ahead for them in 1922 - and Hank Severeid just took his place today as a cog in that wheel. Hank Severeid played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1911 to 1913 and had not homered in 176 previous times at bat.



Births on April 17


Herbert Scott "Scott" Perry is born on April 17, 1891 in Denison, Texas. Perry's 7-year MLB career (1915-1921) begins as a Brown, but that phase of it amounts to little more than the cracking of the champagne bottle against the hull of a new ocean vessel on Christening Day. The BR/TR pitcher works 2 innings for the Browns on May 13, 1915, giving up 5 hits and 3 earned runs. The christening is almost Scott Perry's burial, but he proves resilient thereafter with 3 other clubs, finally becoming a 20-game winner for one season with the 1918 Athletics. For his career, Scott Perry will post a record of 40 wins, 68 losses, and an ERA of 3.07. - Scott Perry will pass away on October 27, 1959 in Kansas City, Missouri at the age of 68.



Deaths on April 17


Edwin Collins "Big Ed" Miller passes away on Aprl 17, 1980 in South Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania at the age of 91. The BR/TR utility player had a hopscotch 3-year MLB career (1912, 1914, & 1918). Big Ed Miller hit .196 and .138 in his first 2 years of limited action as a Brown. He came back in 1918 with the Indians to rack his best season average of .229. It was enough to bring Miller's career BA to an even .200 with no homers in 200 times at bat. - "Big Ed" Miller was born November 24, 1888 in Annville, Pennsylvania. At 6'0" even, Miller wasn't really that tall by our 21st century standards, but he stood out among the Lilliputians who played the game in the early 20th century. Of course we don't know for sure. Maybe Miller acquired the "Big Ed" tag for his loud mouth or large ego. - Those two traits were around back then as much as they are today. Unfortunately, there's no sign of them going away either.

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 18, 1950: Former Brown Al Papai Helps Billy Martin Set MLB Record.


Al Papai Looked like this on his record setting
day because Al Papai looked this way everyday.

In a game played at Fenway Park before 31,822 fans, the New York Yankees overcome a 9-0 deficit to win the game, 15-10. As a part of a big 9-run 8th, rookie Billy Martin sets an MLB record by becoming the first player to get two hits in the same inning in his first game as a major leaguer. Martin's first hit in the 8th is a double off the great Mel Parnell. Martin's second hit that same inning is a single off former Browns pitcher Al Papai. - Left unmentioned is the fact that Martin was the first major leaguer to collect two hits in the same inning of his first MLB game off two pitchers whose last names both started with "P" - and with one of them having also pitched for both St. Louis clubs in 1949.



Births on April 18


William Lear "Bill" or "Beverly" Bayne is born on April 18, 1899 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The BL/TL pitcher has a 9-year MLB career (1919-1924, 1928-1930) in which he wins 31, losses 32, and posts an ERA of 4.84. As a Brown during his first five seasons, Bayne won 23 and lost 19. - I have no idea why they sometimes called the guy "Beverly." - Bill Bayne will pass away on May 22, 1981 in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 82.



Deaths on April 18


Herbert Clyde "Harry" Niles passes away on April 18, 1953 in Sturgis, Michigan at the age of 72. The BR/TR utility position player had a 5-year MLB career (1906-1910) that began with 2 seasons as a Brown. For his total career, Niles hit .247 with 12 HR's. - Harry Niles was born on September 10, 1880 in Buchanan, Michigan.


John Irving "Jack" or "Slug" Burns died on April 18, 1975 in Brighton, Massachusetts at the age of 67. The BL/TL 1st baseman enjoyed a 7-year MLB career (1930-1936) and almost all of it was spent as a Brown. After playing his entire career with the Browns, he was dealt to Detroit after the club was only 9 games deep into the 1936 season. He finished his MLB career with 138 games played as a member of the 1936 Tigers. For his entir career, Jack Burns hit a respectable .280 with 44 homers. - Jack Burns was born on August 31, 1907 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 19, 1928: Detroit Tigers 9 - St. Louis Browns 8.

Based on available sources, we are not told where this game is played. All we know is that some combination of pitching wildness and /or a cantankerous umpire's microscopic strike zone figured into today's business. Together, the Browns and Tigers pitchers issue 18 walks. Detroit wins, 9-8. Even when they don't come pretty, a win is a win is a win.


April 19, 1922: St. Louis Browns 15 - Cleveland Indians 1.

Ken Williams and his buddy Sisler helped run down the Tribe today.

At Cleveland, the Browns' Elam Vangilder fires his 2nd straight three-hitter. If that ween't enough, Vangilder also homers to lead St. Louis to a 15–1 win over the Indians in their own house. Meanwhile, the Browns running game goes wild as George Sisler and Ken Williams each steal three bases.



Births on April 19


Albert Roy "Roy" Mitchell is born on April 19, 1885 in Belton, Texas. The BR/TR pitcher will start his big league career with the Browns (1910-1914). His 5 years in St. Louis produce a record of 28 wins and 35 losses. Additional time with the White Sox and Reds (1918-1919) allows Mitchell to finish his MLB career with a record of 32 wins, 37 losses, and an ERA of 3.43. - Roy Mitchell will pass away on September 8, 1959 in Temple, Texas at the age of 74.


Charles Henry "Chick" Shorten is born on April 19, 1892 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The BL/TL utility outfielder was only a Brown during the near-magical season of 1922, but he was a key man off the bench that year, hitting .275 with 2 homers. For his total career (1915-1917, 1919-1922, 1924), Shorten also hit .275 on the money. He only had one other career homer to go with the two he collects as a '22 Brown. - Chick Shorten will pass away on October 23, 1965 in Scranton, PA at the the age of 73.


Joseph Harley "Bugs" Morris is born on April 19, 1892 in Weir City, Kansas. The BR/TR pitcher has every reason to claim the nickname "Bugs" as his rightful baseball moniker. It "bugs" me just to think about his frustration. In 2 MLB seasons (1918, 1921) Morris will post a career record of 0 wins, 5 losses, and ERA of 6.69. Morris pitches 4 games for the 1918 Browns and loses 2. Then he comes back 3 years later with the 1921 White Sox and loses 3. He ends up back with the Browns in 1921, pitching 3 more games with no further decisions. - Bugs Morris will pass away on November 21, 1957 at the age of 65.

BCT/GB, Bugs Morris!


Glenn Richard "Glenn" or "Red" McQuillen is born on on April 19, 1915 in Strasburg, Virginia. The BR/TR outfielder and alumnus of McDaniel College will have a 5-year, patchy career as a utility man for the 1938, 1941-1942, & 1946-1947 Browns. McQuillen will hit .274 with 3 homers during his 210 game, All Browns career. In 1942, McQuillen will set a single season franchise record by hitting into 21 double plays.- Glenn McQuillen will die on June 8, 1989 in Gardenville, Maryland at the age of 74.



Deaths on April 19





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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!


April 20, 1938: Feller Gets 1st of 12 1-Hitters; Browns Are Victims Today, 9-0.


Rapid Robert!

Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians pitches the first of 12 career one-hitters today, beating the St. Louis Browns, 9-0. Feller also had three career no-hitters in a career that began in in 1936. The 17-year old Iowa school boy got off to a wonderful start that was equally embarrassing to the 1936 Browns. Feller fanned 15 Browns in his major league debut. The date was July 19, 1936. Although t was the first official game humiliation performed by the kid on a major league club, the St. Louis Cardinals probably were the only other club that wasn't laughing today at the Browns' fate. Feller had faced 9 Cardinals earlier in a spring training game and fanned 8 of them. It wasn't long before the humiliation factor disappeared. Once Feller established himself as one the great pitchers of all time, getting your finest flower beds mowed down by a dedicated trespasser became a lot more acceptable as an undesirable outcome.


April 20, 1933: Simmons Gets Rare Defensive Gem Against Browns.


"On the day I made that unassisted double play,
this not the way I caught the ball for the 1st out!"
... Al Simmons

Chicago White Sox outfielder [B]Al Simmons[/B] makes an unassisted double play against the St. Louis Browns today. Although details are missing about it's execution, it isn't hard to imagine what most probably happened, is it? All it would take is an outfielder playing shallow, who makes an unexpected running catch on a dying quail drive to the outfield, and a runner and/or third base coach who thinks from the crack of the bat that "there's no way he's catching that ball!" - The rest of the dots we can fill in for ourselves.



Births on April 20


Charles Judson "Charlie" or "Eagle Eye" Hemphill is born on April 20, 1876 in Greenville, Michigan. The BL/TL outfielder has a long career (1899, 1901-1911), hitting a very respectable .271 with 22 homers in the heart of the deadball era. Hemphill joins the Browns early in their first year of 1902 and he hits .317 in the 103 games he plays for St. Louis that year. Charlie will also be a Brown through the 1907 season. - Old Eagle Eye Hemphill will pass away on June 22, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 77.


Francis Edward "Frank" or "Squash" Wilson is born on April 20, 1901 in Malden, Massachusetts. The BL/TR outfielder (1924-1926, 1928) played ony 6 games in his final season for the Browns, going out with no hits in 5 trips to the plate. For his 168 game career, Wilson batted .247 with 1 HR. - Frank Wilson will pass away on November 25, 1974 in Leicester, Massachusetts at the age of 73. - Wilson was an alumnus of Boston College.


James Melvin "Jim" Bilbrey is 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.- Jim Bilbrey dies on December 26, 1985 at the age of 61 in Toledo, Ohio.

BCT/GB, Jim Bilbrey!



Deaths on April 20

None, so far, but the day's not done. Help me get through this virus that doesn't want to let go, Lord. - Goodnight, everybody!


General Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!




April 21, 1944: Kreevich Homers Twice! A Sign of Good Times To Come!


1944 American League Champion St. Louis Browns!

Outfielder Mike Kreevich hits 2 HRs as the St. Louis Browns defeat the Chicago White Sox, 5-3. It's a virtual sign of better days ahead in the immediate future of the Browns. In the preceding 3 years, a period involving 297 games, Kreevich had tallied just one homer. Now he bangs two in one game? - Keep this up, Mike, and Browns fans are going to start thinking "pennant" again. - How bizarre would that be?



April 21, 1943: Browns Win 7th Straight Opener!


Al Hollingsworth

"Hey, buddy, don't complain about the sparse crowd at Sportsman's Park today! - Don't you know there's a war on?" ... War time travel restrictions do impact Opening Day at St. Louis. A crowd of only 4,000 shows up at Sportman's Park, but these fortunate few get to watch the Browns lefty Al Hollingsworth blank the Chicago White Sox, 3-0. It is the Browns' 7th consecutive Opening Day win.




April 21, 1929: Browns' Herb Cobb Gives Up Pitcher Whitehill's 1st HR!


Earl Whitehill

Detroit pitcher Earl Whitehill hits his first big league home run today, and he does it off Browns reliever Herb Cobb, helping himself to a 16–9 win. Whitehill will hit two more homers this year, then just one more for the rest of his career. Interesting how that works sometimes.



April 21, 1922: White Sox 10 - Browns 5. (10)

The Browns had 'em down, but couldn't hold 'em. Going into the 9th with a 4-2 lead over the White Sox, the Browns give up 2 runs for a tie and a trip into extra innings. The Pale Hose are just getting warmed up, blasting two Brownie relievers for 6 runs and an eventual victory over St. Louis by a score of 10-5 in ten innings.



Births on April 21



Stanley Andrew "Stan" or "Happy Rabbit" Rojek



Stan Rojek is born on April 21, 1919 in North Tonawanda, New York. The BR/TR "Happy Rabbit" makes the 1952 Browns his last short hop on the way to retirement early that season. The middle infielder goes 1 for 7 (.143) in 9 games as a Brown, hanging it all up for good on May 13, 1952. Rojek plays most of his career in the National League with the Dodgers (1942, 1946-1947), Pirates (1948-1951), and Cardinals (1951). His career BA is .266 with 4 HR's in 522 games. - Stan Rojek will pass away on July 9, 1997 in the place where he was born 78 years earlier, North Tonawanda, New York.



Deaths On April 21



... Not Today!

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 22, 1947: Feller One-Hits Browns (Again), 5-0!


Still Rapid.
Still Robert.
Still Feller.

Al Zarilla's single in the 7th inning is the only hit that St. Louis manages against Cleveland's Bob Feller as the Indians beat the Browns, 5–0. Today's feat is only one of twelve one-hitters that Feller will throw during his career.



Great Pitcher Sidebar.



Neither Nolan Ryan nor Roger Clemens, of course, were around to play during the life span of the St. Louis Browns. That's OK. Given our record of getting and holding onto great talent, it's unlikely that we would have been able to benefit from the availability of either. It's more likely that both could have enjoyed overlapping careers with the St. Louis Cardinals because of the NL club's strong partisan following in the Houston area through the time that Houston got its own MLB franchise in 1962. Both Ryan and Clemens grew up in the greater Houston metro area. Under the rules in play through the last year of the Browns, they could've signed with anyone they wanted. Not only was Houston a rabid Cardinal town back in the 1940's and 1950's, the town overflowed with Cardinal scouts and bird dogs. There's no way the Cardinals (or Yankees) would've missed the potential of a Ryan or a Clemens.

Here's the irony about the records of these two great ones. Nolan Ryan has thrown 7 no-hitters and won 0 Cy Youngs. - Roger Clemens has won 7 Cy Youngs and thrown 0 no-hitters.

Go figure.



April 22, 1926: Browns Double Pleasure Way To Defensive Gem!


"Double your pleasure,
Double your fun!
Get two outs on this play,
............ Instead of one!"

The St. Louis Browns pull off 5 double plays against the Chicago White Sox today, tying the American League record for most double plays in a 9-inning game. In the their excitement to bring us this fact, Baseball Library (dot) Com forgets to tell us who won the game. As Browns fans, let's hope that this great defensive effort wasn't wasted on a losing cause.



April 22, 1922: Ken Williams Hits Zenith Day of His Great Career!



Years ago, long before people started writing about the great 1922 Browns, I came across the name "Ken Williams" in some arcane statistical reference book that I found as a kid in the downtown Houston public library. I remember thinking: "Wow! Who was this guy? Look what he did! How come we don't know as much about Ken Williams today as we do about Babe Ruth?" Of course, I was too young then to realize that playing for the New York Yankees was the best way to be remembered, and also far too naive to understand that accomplishing great things for the St. Louis Browns was no guarantee against being forgotten. - As it turns out, Ken Williams was not the great player nor was he the incredible character that was Babe Ruth, but, in 1922, he was better than Ruth statistically. For that reason alone, he is worth more than a footnote comment n baseball history.

On this date, April 22, 1922, the Browns' Ken Williams hits three home runs and two singles against the visiting White Sox, with George Sisler on base each time, to lead St. Louis to a 10–7 win. In so doing, Ken Williams becomes the first American League player to hit three home runs in a single game.

Given a head start on the suspended Babe Ruth in 1922, Ken Williams will also take the American League home run and RBI titles and become the first 30-30 man, with 39 home runs and 37 SBs.

A big Brownie cap tip and God Bless to you, Ken Williams - on this anniversary of your greatest moment in baseball time.



Births on April 22

Not Today!




Deaths on April 22


Louis Klopsche "Lou" Finney


Lou Finney

Lou Finney passes away on April 22, 1966 in Lafayette, Alabama at the age of 55. The BL/TR outfielder had a 15-year MLB career (1931, 1933-1942, 1944-1947) in which he hit .287 with 31 HR's. Finney played 73 games for the 1945-1946 Browns, hitting .280 and 2 HR's for his period of limited play as a member of the St. Louis AL club. - Lou Finney was born on August 13, 1910 in Buffalo, Alabama.



Frederick Charles "Fritz" or "Flash" Maisel dies on April 22, 1967 in Baltimore, Maryland at the age of 77. Maisel's 6-year career in the majors (1913-1918) amounted to a 5-year stint with the Yankees as a BR/TR infielder - and a final year with the Browns as an outfielder. Fritz Maisel finished with a .238 career BA and 6 HR's. - Fritz Maisel was born in Catonsville, Maryland on December 23, 1889.

Have a great weekend, everybody! This is the first day this week that I've felt like I actually was going to live through this upper respiratory infection so - that's good news to me. - You guys stay healthy too. There are some bugs out there that really want to take us out.

General Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 23, 1952: Wow! By 1-0, Browns Win Dual 1-Hitter Duel With Feller!


Bob Cain Defeats Bob Feller
in Matching 1-Hitters Game.

If there is a scale of baseball justice (and the existence of that fine instrument has never been proven), the St. Louis Browns just received a small equity payment today. They beat Bob Feller at his own 1-hitter game by keeping the Indians from scoring. Amazingly, Bob Cain of the Browns and Bob Feller of the Indians each pitched a one-hitter this afternoon, with the Browns prevailing, 1-0. The outcome ties an MLB record for the fewest hits by 2 teams in a regular season game that reaches a normal W/L conclusion. Little Bobby Young is the early unsung hero. Young pickled a triple in the first inning and then scored the only run of the game. To make the early season victory even Brown Sugar Sweeter, today's win over Cleveland moved the Browns into first place, if only for a little while.



April 23, 1922: Browns Take White Sox on Williams' HR, 4-2.


..WIN WITH KEN!

The St. Louis Browns top the Chicago White Sox, 4–2, as Ken Williams poles a homer off Clarence "Shovel" Hodge. Pitchers with nicknames like "Shovel" need to be more careful pitching to guys like Ken Williams. Williams enjoys helping pitchers dig their own graves.



April 23, 1902: Cardinals in Court Battle With Browns Over Players!



The battle between the established National League and the fledgling American League is heating up as a result of AL club raids and NL player defections. In St. Louis, lawyers for the NL Cardinals initiate proceedings in the circuit court of St. Louis to restrain pitcher Jack Harper, infielder Bobby Wallace, and outfielder Emmet Heidrick from playing with the St. Louis American League team. All three have signed contracts with the Cards. In the end, the Cards fail. These successful player raids by the "new" American League will provide the strongest rationale for peace between the two major leagues.



Births on April 23


Elam Russell "Elam" Vangilder is born on April 23, 1896 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The BR/TR pitcher is one of the golden boys, along with ace Urban Shocker, of the club now equally revered for their greatness and disappointment, the 1922 Browns. Vangilder won 19, lost 13, and posted a 3.42 ERA for the Browns team that lost the 1922 AL pennant to the New York Yankees by a single game. In his 9 seasons as a Brown (1919-1927), Vangilder posted a W-L record of 88-91. He closed his career with 2 additional seasons as a Tiger (1928-1929), bringing his final career record to 88 wins, 102 losses, and an ERA of 4.28. - Elam Vangilder will pass away on April 30, 1977 in the place where he started, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 81.

A Great Big BCT/GB to You, Elam Vangilder!


James Leroy "Sunny Jim" Bottomley



"Sunny Jim" Bottomley is born on April 23, 1900 in Oglesby, Illinois. The BL/TL Cardinal-earned Hall of Fame 1st baseman finishes his career with the 1936-1937 Browns. For his career (1922-1937), Bottomley will hit .310 with 229 HR's. He finishes as the playing manager of the 1937 Browns. - Sunny Jim Bottomley will pass away on December 11, 1959 in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 59.


Walter Irving "Walter" Brown is a born-to-be-a-Brown (but aren't they all?) on April 23, 1915 in Jamestown. New York. The BR/TR pitcher is another of our treasured Brownie short-timers. Heck! Our club has enough cup-of-coffee guys to launch a whole flotilla of Starbucks stores. - Come to think about it, maybe the Browns did give Starbuck's their start. - Walter Brown will go 1-0 with a 4.89 ERA in 19 games and 46 innings of relief work for the 1947 Browns and then drop off the big league radar forever. - Brown will die on February 3, 1991 in Westfield, New York at the age of 75.

Here's a great big BCT/GB and a Starbucks styrofoam mug of steaming hot cappucino toast to you, Walter Brown!



Deaths on April 23


Charles Elmer "Charlie" Miller passes away on April 23, 1972 in Warrensburg, Missouri at the age of 82. An apparent late-season look-see shortstop, Charlie handled two assists flawlessly in the field on September 18, 1912 for the Browns and went 0 for 2 at bat. From there, he Warhols into history, never to be seen again on the big league scene. - Charlie Miller was born on January 4, 1892 in Warrensburg, Missouri.

BCT/GB, Charlie Miller!

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

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

Have a great weekend, everybody!

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!



April 24, 1946: HOF Class Includes 2 Former Browns.


Rube Waddell & Eddie Plank

The National Baseball Hall of Fame woke up with a voracious appetite for new members this morning. Eleven former players - Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, Frank Chance, Jess Burkett, Tom McCarthy, Rube Waddell, Eddie Plank, Ed Walsh, Jack Chesbro, Clark Griffith, and Joe McGinnity - are named to the Hall of Fame. - Waddell and Plank, of course, were former Browns pitchers who also shared another common thread. They each had their best years as members of the Philadelphia Athletics.




April 24, 1922: Williams' HR Paces Browns Past Tigers, 6-2.


1922 & 1944: The Very
Best of All The Rest.

That magical, but ultimately heartbreaking year is just getting cranked. The St. Louis Browns trip the Detroit Tigers, 6–2, today as slugging Ken Williams again homers, this time, a two-run shot off Detroit's Red Oldham.



April 24, 1913: Gus Williams of Browns Ties an MLB Triples Mark.


Which is least probable: Having tripletts? Or getting
3 triples in one 9-inning baseball game?

At Chicago today, Gus Williams of St. Louis hits three straight triples in a 3–1 Browns win over the White Sox. The three triples in one game ties a major league mark.



Births on April 24


Henry Neitz "Hennie" Smoyer is born on April 24, 1890 in Fredericksburg, PA. The Albright College alumnus will grow up to become a BR/TR infielder who goes 3 for 14 (.214) with 0 homers for the 1912 Browns - and then be gone for good from big league baseball. Hennie will not last long enough to even earn a decent "Hank" exchange for his Henry first name. (It's a good thing Henry Aaron was great enough later on to escape the same fate. "Hennie Aaron" hardly befits the man who will one day break Babe Ruth's record for career homers.) - No, Hank Aaron had little in common, talent wise, with our birthday boy, Hennie Smoyer - although, I feel certain that both men loved the game. Our much more modestly gifted Hennie Meyer will pass away quietly on February 28, 1958 in DuBois, PA at the age of nearly 68.

BCT/GB, Hennie Smoyer!



Samuel "Sam" Harshany is born on April 24, 1910 in Madison, Illinois. The BR/TR catcher will enjoy a brief 4-year, All Browns MLB career (1937-1940) as a limited action player. He will hit .238 with 0 homers (43 for 181) in 61 games during his fleeting moment in the soft limelight of Browns baseball. Although short, Sam Harshany will not forget his days as a Brown. He will even find a way to make it to one of the annual Brownie Reunion Banquets in about 1997. He will even describe his time with the Browns to me as the happiest period of his long life. - Sam Harshany will pass away on February 1, 2001 in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 90.

BCT/GB and God rest your happy soul, Sam Harshany!



Deaths on April 24


Albert Eugene "Fuzz" White passes away on April 24, 2003 in Springflield, Missouri at the age of 86.The BL/TR right fielder was 0 for 2 in two times at bat for the 1940 Browns, He returned years later to go 3 for 13 for the 1947 Giants - and that's it. As fas as MLB is concerned, there wasn't anymore. He was gone, leaving behid him a career BA of .200 with 0 extra base hits. - Fuzz White was born on June 27, 1916 in Springfield, Missouri.

BCT/GB, Fuzz White!

Have a Nice Sunday, Everybody!

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

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

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!




April 25, 1951: "Mr. Robinson" Assures White Sox of DH Split with Browns.


"Where Have You Gone,
Eddie Robinson? ..." *

In the opening game of a double header, an 8–6 win over the St. Louis Browns, Eddie Robinson of Chicago becomes the 8th player, but only the first White Sox player to hit a ball over the right field grandstand that was added 26 years ago at Comiskey Park. Robinson's blast comes off Al Widmar of the Browns. Also homering today are Jim Delsing and Ken Wood of St. Louis, and Al Zarilla of the White Sox. In the nitecap, Browns ace Ned Garver beats Marv Rotblatt of the White Sox, 7-4, to split the DH.

* Where has he gone? Eddie Robinson nows live in Fort Worth, Texas. On April 12, 2005, he accepted our invitation to join the board of our Texas Baseball Hall of Fame.

And here's to you, Mr. Robinson,
Texas loves you more than you will know,
Wo wo wo!

God bless you please, Mr. Robinson,
Our Hall holds a place for those who play,
All the way ... like you did today!



April 25, 1943: Gentry Ties Shocker's International League Mark.


Urban Shocker

Rufe Gentry of Buffalo in International League wins an 11-inning no-hit game against Newark, 1-0. The last Interntional League no-hitter of this length was thrown by a future star Brown, Toronto's Urban Shocker, back on July 22, 1916. - This sort of record just goes to show you what great pitchers were capable of doing before the pitch count mentality took over baseball and trained pitchers to believe that something like this feat would be impossible.



April 25, 1933: Another Future Brown in Sensational Debut!

Russ Van Atta makes a spectacular pitching debut for the New York Yankees, winning 16-0 over the Senators, while also getting 4 hits in a game marred by a wild free-for-all. Ben Chapman, Buddy Myer, and Earl Whitehill all are suspended 5 days and fined $100 each for their individual participation and various contributions to today's merry mayhem.



April 25, 1922: Ken Williams's Bat Is Homer Hot!

In a 5–3 win over the Detroit Tigers, Ken Williams smashes his 6th home run in 4 days, this one off Howard Ehmke, and tying Babe Ruth's 1921 feat for the most home runs in that short a time slot. Ken is not done. In 4 more days, on April 29th, he'll pole two more homers.



April 25, 1914: Browns "Hold" Tigers with a 2-4-2 DP on Double Steal Try.


"Not Today, Cobb!"

St. Louis Browns catcher Frank Crossin throws out Detroit's Sam Crawford at 2nd base. The return throw from 2nd baseman Del Pratt nips Ty Cobb at home, for a rare double play on a double steal attempt. Unfortunately, the Tigers go on to win over the Browns anyway by a score of 4–0.



April 25, 1909: Great Scott! Browns Lose to White Sox Rookie!


Jim Scott

Chicago White Sox rookie pitcher Jim Scott debuts with a 1-0 win over the fabled St. Louis Browns. How shocking is this result?



April 25, 1904: Cy Young Loses to Future Brown, Begins Hitless Streak.


The One & Only Cy Young.

In Philadelphia today, Boston's Cy Young pitches eight innings and allows six hits in losing to future Brown Rube Waddell of the Philadelphia A's, 2-0. Even though he loses, Cy Young allows no-hits in the last six outs he pitches today. It is the start of a record 25 1/3 hitless innings pitched streak for the great 511 career win pitcher. - Moses will part the Red Sea again before any pitcher ever tops Young's career wins total.



April 25, 1901: 1st American League Home Run Is Hit Today!


"It's in the book!"

The St. Louis Browns never had a chance at this record. They won't even exist until 1902, but for the record, something big did happen today, although I doubt you will find anyone who knows the answer to this baseball trivia question, cold turkey. - Who hit the first American League home run? Well, the answer is on today's page of history. - Cleveland 2nd baseman Erve Beck hits the first HR in American League history today. He hits it off Chicago’s John Skopec. In spite of Beck's historical, but popularly forgotten heroics, the White Sox prevail over Cleveland in this game by a score of 7-2.



Births on April 25



Fred Calvin "Hack" Spencer is born on April 25, 1885 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The BR/TR "Hack" of mention here appears in only one game for the Browns on April 18, 1912, and that is it for this Spencer. Here's the curious thing: Spencer pitches only 1.2 relief innings, giving up 2 unearned runs on 2 hits. So, he finishes his MLB career with no times at bat and a pitching ERA of 0.00. Unless Spencer was injured, broke the law, joined the army, or went nuts shortly after his debut, we are left to presume that second chances are simply very hard to come by back in 1912. - Hack Spencer - Hack doesn't hack it for long, but he makes it to "The Bigs." - Hack Spencer will pass away on February 5, 1969 in St. Anthony, Minnesota at the age of 83.

BCT/GB, Hack Spencer!



Roberto (Ventoza) "Bobby" Estalella is born in Cardenas, Cuba on April 25, 1911. Estalella's career as a BR/TR OF/IF (1935-1949) included a .241 BA for the 1941 Browns as a guy off the bench. Bobby finished with an MLB career BA of .282 in 680 games. - Bobby Estalella passed away on January 6, 1991 in Hialeah, Florida at the age of 79.



Alvis Newman "Tex" Shirley is born on April 25, 1918 in Birthright, Texas. The BB/TR pitcher enjoys a 5-year MLB career with the Athletics (1941-42) and Browns (1944-1946). Tex is a member of the Browns' only AL championship club in 1944 and he finsihes his total MLB career with a record of 19 wins, 30 losses, and an ERA of 4.25. Except for the 2 losses he took coming up with the A's, everything else is achieved as a Brown. - Tex Shirley will pass away on November 7, 1993 in DeSoto, Texas at the age of 75.



Deaths on April 25



James Oscar "Jim" Murray dies at age 67 in Galveston, Texas on April 25, 1945. The rare BR/TL (batting/throwing combo) outfielder got into 31 games for the 1911 Browns. His 19 for 102 (.186 BA) performance proved anything but rare for Brownie short-timers. In fact, averages below Mendoza were usually what made for short-time MLB-life by regular position players. Murray also had brief trials with other clubs in 1902 and 1914, ending with a career BA of .202. - Jim Murray was born on January 16, 1878 in Galveston, Texas.



Michael Andreas "Mike" Kreevich passes away on April 25, 1994 in Pana, Illinois at the age of 85. The BR/TR outfielder was an important .301 hitter for the 1944 American League champion Browns. He also played 3 seasons for the Browns from 1943 to 1945. Over the course of his total MLB career (1931, 1935-1945), Kreevich batted .283 with 45 HR's. - Mike Kreevich was born on June 10, 1908 in Mount Olive, Illinois.

General Reference Links ... http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseb...logy/today.stm

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

Have a nice work week, everybody!

[Bill_McCurdy]

On This Date in History!




April 26, 1922: Tigers Halt Hot-Hitting Browns, 2-0.

... Day for Browns!

Ray Kolp of the Detroit Tigers had the answer for the torrid bats of Sisler & Williams, Inc. today as he used sparse help from his teammates to blank the St. Louis Browns, 2-0.



April 26, 1902: Addie Joss Debuts with 1-Hit Shutout Win Over New Browns.

... Addie Joss: Future HOF Pitcher Gets Win in 1st Start Against SL Browns.

Making his major league debut today, Cleveland's Addie Joss hurls a one-hitter against the brand new St. Louis Browns, winning 3-0. The only hit off Joss is a scratch single by another future Hall of Famer, Jesse Burkett, the fellow they often called "The Human Crab" because of his less than sunny disposition. (OK, maybe it was because of his great lateral movement. That's what I thought was the real meaning of his nickname when I first read about Burkett as a kid.)



Births on April 26



Virgil Oliver "Virgil" or "Fire" Trucks


Virgil Trucks

Virgil Trucks is born on April 26, 1917 in Birmingham, Alabama. The hard-throwing BR/TR pitcher (1941-1943, 1945-1958) built a 17-year MLB career record of 177 wins, 135 losses, and an ERA of 3.39. Remembered mostly for his years with the Detroit Tigers, Trucks also pitched for the St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, and New York Yankees. - During hs brief early season tour with the Browns, Trucks won 5, lost 4 and registered a 3.07 ERA in 16 games before he was dealt away to the White Sox. - He must have njoyed his stay in St. Louis to some degree because he came to the 1997 Browns Reunion Banquet and, from all appearances, seemed to have enjoyed himself immensely. Fire Trucks now lives in Florida and is waking up to another glorious anniversary this morning.

Happy 88th Birthday, Virgil Trucks!



Deaths on April 26



Nathaniel Milton "Milt" Gaston


Milt Gaston

Milt Gaston dies on April 26, 1996 in Hyanis. Massachusetts at the age of 100 years, 3 months. At the time of his death, Gaston was the oldest living former major leaguer and a man with ties to the birth of power baseball in the 1920's. Gaston posted a pitching record of 38 wins against 49 losses for the 1925-1927 Browns. The BR/TR hurler registered a career (1924-1934) big league record of 97 wins, 164 losses, and an ERA of 4.55. - Milt Gaston will always be a special Brown to me because of a personal contact I had with him around the time of his 100th birthday. I wrote to Gaston around the time of his birthday, asking him to sign a ball for me. A long time passed and I heard nothing. Then, when I read the news of his death in April 1996, I simply assumed that my request had been out of line. I sort of felt guilty that I had even placed the request to him in what turned out to be the final days of his life. Man, was I in for the surprise of my life. - A few days following the death of Milt Gaston, I got a small package in the mail. It was the baseball I had sent to Milt, simply mailed back to me in the the little cardboard box that balls come in - and wrapped in brown paper and secured with wads of tape. When I opened the box, there was the ball - with "Milt Gaston" scrolled in a shaky, but large and legible handwriting. To my added surprise, the box also contained a signed 5x7 photo of Milt Gaston as a Brown that he had folded twice and jammed into the box with the ball. I will be forever grateful to Milt Gaston for signing and sending those two items to me as one of his last acts upon this earth. For as long as I'm around, these Brownie artifacts will remain in placement around me in my study as reminders of the old Brownie righthander. - A very, very special Brownie Cap Tip to you, Milt Gaston, and may God bless your wonderful old-school soul! - You came through for this old fan at the very end of everything else you had done with your 100 years on this planet. It warms my heart to think that I may possess (for now) the last autograph you ever signed. Thanks for taking the time and effort - for those are the two things that all caring requires. - Milt Gaston was born on January 27, 1896 in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

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

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