The Living Former Browns - To This Date.

[Bill_McCurdy]

The death of Cuddles Marshall on Friday, Dec. 14, 2007 now reduces the list of surviving former Browns to 46.

The Surviving Former Browns, confirmed on 12/26/2007:

1. Don Gutteridge 06/19/12 - 95
2. George Binks 07/11/14 - 93
3. Virgil Trucks 04/26/17 - 90
4. Marty Marion 12/01/17 - 90
5. Chuck Stevens 07/10/18 - 89

6. Ken Holcombe 08/23/18 - 89
7. Bob Dillinger 09/17/18 - 89
8. Fred Sanford 08/09/19 - 88
9. Tom Jordan 09/05/19 - 88
10. Babe Martin 03/28/20 - 87

11. Dick Starr 03/02/21 - 86
12. George Elder 03/10/21 - 86
13. Al LaMacchia 07/22/21 - 86
14. Matt Batts 10/16/21 - 86
15. Bob Savage 12/01/21 - 86

16. Neil Berry 01/11/22 - 85
17. Johnny Hetki 05/12/22 - 85
18. Ray Coleman 06/04/22 - 85
19. Jim Rivera 07/22/22 - 85
20. Duane Pillette 07/24/22 - 85

21. Don Lenhardt 10/04/22 - 85
22. Don Lund 05/18/23 - 84
23. Tom Wright 09/22/23 - 844
24. Joe Lutz 02/18/25 - 85
25. Les Moss 05/14/25 - 82

26. Billy DeMars 08/26/25 - 82
27. Bill Jennings 09/28/25 - 82
28. Ned Garver 12/25/25 - 82
29. Frank Saucier 05/28/26 - 81
30. Johnny Groth 07/23/26 - 81

31. Lou Sleater 09/08/26 - 81
32. Ed Mickelson 09/09/26 - 81
33. Don Johnson 11/12/26 - 81
34. Roy Sievers 11/18/26 - 81
35. Tom Upton 12/29/26 - 81

36. Hal Hudson 05/04/27 - 80
37. Jim McDonald 05/17/27 - 80
38. Al Naples 08/29/27 - 80
39. Jake Crawford 03/20/28 - 79
40. Billy Hunter 06/04/28 - 79

41. Perry Currin 09/27/28 - 79
42. Joe DeMaestri 12/09/28 - 79
43. Bud Thomas 03/10/29 - 78
44. Don Larsen 08/07/29 - 78
45. Bob Turley 09/19/30 - 77

46. J.W. Porter 01/17/33 - 74

[corb000]

cuddles marshall passed away dec 14 2007

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bu...ddles_Marshall

[LeoD]

cuddles marshall passed away dec 14 2007

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bu...ddles_Marshall

Read my post
Clarence westly " Cuddles" Marshall- 82

[corb000]

sorry didn't realize it had been posted didn''t notice it was on a second page.

[riredsox]

I'm also pleasantly surprised that no Browns have died since Tommy Bryne. Given that the avg. lifespan for a man is only around 77, this is extremly good fortune. Hopefully, we won't have to add to this list for a long time. By checking the list, I found that of the '44 Browns, only Don Gutteridge and Babe Martin are still alive. Please correct me if I'm wrong (hopefully I am).

[Bill_McCurdy]

Don't be alarmed by this new post. No one else has died, that we know of. I just wanted to houseclean the information so that it now shows the ages of each man on his 2008 birthday:

The Surviving 46 Former Browns, ages in 2008 on birthday, updated:

1. Don Gutteridge 06/19/12 - 96
2. George Binks 07/11/14 - 94
3. Virgil Trucks 04/26/17 - 91
4. Marty Marion 12/01/17 - 91
5. Chuck Stevens 07/10/18 - 90

6. Ken Holcombe 08/23/18 - 90
7. Bob Dillinger 09/17/18 - 90
8. Fred Sanford 08/09/19 - 89
9. Tom Jordan 09/05/19 - 89
10. Babe Martin 03/28/20 - 88

11. Dick Starr 03/02/21 - 87
12. George Elder 03/10/21 - 87
13. Al LaMacchia 07/22/21 - 87
14. Matt Batts 10/16/21 - 87
15. Bob Savage 12/01/21 - 87

16. Neil Berry 01/11/22 - 86
17. Johnny Hetki 05/12/22 - 86
18. Ray Coleman 06/04/22 - 86
19. Jim Rivera 07/22/22 - 86
20. Duane Pillette 07/24/22 - 86

21. Don Lenhardt 10/04/22 - 86
22. Don Lund 05/18/23 - 85
23. Tom Wright 09/22/23 - 85
24. Joe Lutz 02/18/25 - 83
25. Les Moss 05/14/25 - 83

26. Billy DeMars 08/26/25 - 83
27. Bill Jennings 09/28/25 - 83
28. Ned Garver 12/25/25 - 83
29. Frank Saucier 05/28/26 - 82
30. Johnny Groth 07/23/26 - 82

31. Lou Sleater 09/08/26 - 82
32. Ed Mickelson 09/09/26 - 82
33. Don Johnson 11/12/26 - 82
34. Roy Sievers 11/18/26 - 82
35. Tom Upton 12/29/26 - 82

36. Hal Hudson 05/04/27 - 81
37. Jim McDonald 05/17/27 - 81
38. Al Naples 08/29/27 - 81
39. Jake Crawford 03/20/28 - 80
40. Billy Hunter 06/04/28 - 80

41. Perry Currin 09/27/28 - 80
42. Joe DeMaestri 12/09/28 - 80
43. Bud Thomas 03/10/29 - 79
44. Don Larsen 08/07/29 - 79
45. Bob Turley 09/19/30 - 78

46. J.W. Porter 01/17/33 - 75

[JGrump9998]

When I was a kid in KC and the A's moved there in 1955, Joe Demaestri lived in a garden apartment down the street from us. He was a remarkable young man who took time to play catch with us neighborhood kids. It was thrilling for us to have this man be part of our lives and it's a memory I will always cherish. I collect cards and momentos that I find of his.
I wish that I could contact him just to let him know how much he meant to us.
Jim McCurdy

[dave_heller]

When I was a kid in KC and the A's moved there in 1955, Joe Demaestri lived in a garden apartment down the street from us. He was a remarkable young man who took time to play catch with us neighborhood kids. It was thrilling for us to have this man be part of our lives and it's a memory I will always cherish. I collect cards and momentos that I find of his.
I wish that I could contact him just to let him know how much he meant to us.
Jim McCurdy

Joe Demaestri
50 Fairway Dr
Novato, CA 94949-5904

[Brownieand45sfan]

When Chuck Stevens, Ken Holcombe and Bob Dillinger turn 90 this summer, the Browns will have seven 90-year olds (assuming no one dies). Any idea which team has the most nonagenarians currently?

I'm a little surprised that there are no surviving Browns who played for the team in the '30s. (and Thank You, 'kokosforever' for that quick reply). I'm guessing that there are currently 35 to 40 living former MLB players who played at least part of their career before 1940.
I'm deducting that estimate from a couple of sources. The "Wikipedia" and the "Who's alive And Who's Dead" websites each list an entry for the category "oldest living major league baseball players".
There are currently 60 living former major leaguers who have reached the age of 90, and 28 of them played in the majors before1940. (source: Wikipedia). (The oldest is Bill Werber from the Yankees and Philadelphia Athletics is age 99. Werber also played earlier in the majors than any other player, having appeared in a few MLB games in the 1930 season.). That total of 28 players covers those born in 1917 and earlier. That leaves just a few players who got to the major leagues before 1940, who are not yet 90 years old. The prime example of players in this category would be Hall Of Famer, Bobby Doerr.
Players in this category would have gotten to the majors at a very young age, likely between the ages of 18 and 21. Some may have played in the majors very briefly. So I'm guessing there are 7 to 12 players in this category and that overall there my be about 35 to 40 living MLB players who played before 1940.

One oddity that I noticed on the "Who's Alive And Who's Dead" list (they also list recent player deaths) is that the last of these nonegenarians who passed away was former Brown, Ox Miller, who died on August 13. If you check the lists of other recent deaths among these 90+ year olds you'll see that usually someone passes away at least once a month, and multiple deaths in a month is not uncommon. Happily we are now in an extremely lucky period where there have been no deaths for over 130 days (4+ months). A period of that length where you have no deaths among a group of sixty, 90-year-olds is statistically and actuarily speaking, extremely fotunate and well beyond the odds, or laws of chance.

-philliesfiend55-
.

[Brownieand45sfan]

45. Bob Turley 09/19/30 - 77

46. J.W. Porter 01/17/33 - 74

It's interesting to note the three-year gap between our youngest and second-youngest player. I smell Bill Veeck in this, though I am not polished enough on my Browns history to say why exactly. J.W. Porter, the "baby Brown" who came up as a 19-year old was promoted in '52 not '53.

It looks like during Veeck's three years of ownership (the last three) he was not signing or promoting young talent. Maybe because the farm system was depleted. (Even J.W. Porter was not from the Browns organization). Maybe Veeck was focused on signing ex-Cardinals to win the hearts of fans. Maybe Veeck was trying to dress the team up with name veterans to increase the sale price tag. Any one have any ideas?

[Brownieand45sfan]

Although I cannot confirm it on the Web, Browns board member Bill Borst says that Tom Upton passed away [s]two weeks ago[/s] 3/24/2008. The lull has broken, unfortunately.

[dave_heller]

It looks like during Veeck's three years of ownership (the last three) he was not signing or promoting young talent. Maybe because the farm system was depleted. (Even J.W. Porter was not from the Browns organization). Maybe Veeck was focused on signing ex-Cardinals to win the hearts of fans. Maybe Veeck was trying to dress the team up with name veterans to increase the sale price tag. Any one have any ideas?

Well, this is a list of *living* ex-Brownies, don't forget. The '52 Browns included 25-year-old Clint Courtney and 23-year-old Joe DeMaestri (via trades), 24-year-old Bob Nieman (farm product), the aforementioned Porter (trade; would miss the last two Brownie years due to a military commitment); 23-year-old Darrell Johnson (farm; dealt in the trade which got the Browns Jay Porter), 24-year-old Jake Crawford (farm); 25-year-old Lou Sleater (drafted by the Braves in '46; eventually claimed off waivers by Browns) and 25-year-old Hal Hudson (farm; dealt in the trade which got the Browns Jay Porter).

Now, the '53 team was a little older, but did have five players 25 or younger: Billy Hunter (trade), Dick Kokos (trade, but always a Brown), Mike Blyzka (came from White Sox in '48, only pitched for Browns-O's) and two young pitchers you might have heard of: Don Larsen (farm) and Bob Turley (farm).

[Brownieand45sfan]

Well, this is a list of *living* ex-Brownies, don't forget. (snip).

Yeah, but statistically it doesn't make sense to have 6 living guys who are 86, three who are 90 and none 75 or 76. I think you hinted at the answer: it was the Korean War. Although I am not totally discounting my Veeck theory yet.

[riredsox]

My guess is Veeck didn't have the money/scouting for young talent. In The Spirit of St. Louis, it mentions that Veeck turned down the chance to buy the contract of Ernie Banks for a negro league team, which was around $31,500.

[Bill_McCurdy]

At 94, George Binks Now
Oldest Surviving Brown.

The sad news of Don Gutteridge's death from pneumonia on Sunday night, leaves George Binks as the oldest of 45 surviving former Browns. Unless someone else has passed recently that we don't yet know about, the loss of this real national treasure we knew as Don Gutteridge is the first Brownie death since the death of Tom Upton earlier this year.

God rest your soul, Don Gutteridge. You shall be sorely missed. Don's death also now leaves Babe Martin as the only surviving member of the 1944 Browns American League championship team.

Death, where is thy sting? Browns fans found it again today.

The new list reads as follows (Name & Birthdate, Plus Age in 2008):

1. George Binks 07/11/14 - 94
2. Virgil Trucks 04/26/17 - 91
3. Marty Marion 12/01/17 - 91
4. Chuck Stevens 07/10/18 - 90
5. Ken Holcombe 08/23/18 - 90

6. Bob Dillinger 09/17/18 - 90
7. Fred Sanford 08/09/19 - 89.
8. Tom Jordan 09/05/19 - 89
9. Babe Martin 03/28/20 - 88
10. Dick Starr 03/02/21 - 87

11. George Elder 03/10/21 - 87
12. Al LaMacchia 07/22/21 - 87
13. Matt Batts 10/16/21 - 87
14. Bob Savage 12/01/21 - 87
15. Neil Berry 01/11/22 - 86

16. Johnny Hetki 05/12/22 - 86
17. Ray Coleman 06/04/22 - 86
18. Jim Rivera 07/22/22 - 86
19. Duane Pillette 07/24/22 - 86
20. Don Lenhardt 10/04/22 - 86

21. Don Lund 05/18/23 - 85
22. Tom Wright 09/22/23 - 85
23. Joe Lutz 02/18/25 - 83
24. Les Moss 05/14/25 - 83
25. Billy DeMars 08/26/25 - 83

26. Bill Jennings 09/28/25 - 83
27. Ned Garver 12/25/25 - 83
28. Frank Saucier 05/28/26 - 82
29. Johnny Groth 07/23/26 - 82
30. Lou Sleater 09/08/26 - 82

31. Ed Mickelson 09/09/26 - 82
32. Don Johnson 11/12/26 - 82
33. Roy Sievers 11/18/26 - 82
34. Hal Hudson 05/04/27 - 81
35. Jim McDonald 05/17/27 - 81

36. Al Naples 08/29/27 - 81
37. Jake Crawford 03/20/28 - 80
38. Billy Hunter 06/04/28 - 80
39. Perry Currin 09/27/28 - 80
40. Joe DeMaestri 12/09/28 - 80

41. Bud Thomas 03/10/29 - 79
42. Don Larsen 08/07/29 - 79
43. Bob Turley 09/19/30 - 78
44. J.W. Porter 01/17/33 - 75

LONG LIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE ST. LOUIS BROWNS!

[dave_heller]

Bill -

You have Cuddles Marshall still on the list - he passed away earlier in the year as noted in a previous post - but you have 46 on a list after Marshall's death. So someone is missing from the new list, I imagine. Too tired right now to do a double check.

[Bill_McCurdy]

Bill -

You have Cuddles Marshall still on the list - he passed away earlier in the year as noted in a previous post - but you have 46 on a list after Marshall's death. So someone is missing from the new list, I imagine. Too tired right now to do a double check.

Dave -

Thanks for checking.

Yes. I had mistakenly retained Cuddles Marshall as among the living.

With the deaths of Don Gutteridge this month and Tom Upton back in March, there are now only 44 surviving former Browns.

I've edited/removed Marshall's name from the above list posted yesterday.

Thanks again for the eagle eye help.

[philliesfiend55]

Don Gutteridge was also a member of another exclusive club that is dwindling in number: Living Players Who Played In the major leagues In the 1930s. The number of these Pre-1940 MLB players must be very small indeed.
Does anyone have any information on that topic?

[Tim Brent]

Another reason for the gap (between youngest and 2nd youngest) may be a number of Minor Leaguers in the early 50's did get called up for sevice in Korea.

[philliesfiend55]

RE: Tim Brent's post (#44 in this thread) about Browns' minor leaguers being called into military service during the Korean War.

For the major leagues in general, most players whose careers were interrupted by military service during the Korean War, were still in the minors and hadn't yet reached the big leagues, though there were notable exceptions. An example of a future star in this category would be Ken Boyer, who while still ascending the Cardinals minor league system was drafted and served in the military while missing the 1952 and '53 seasons. He would later reach the majors by 1955, become a star and enjoy a long career (1955-1970). That type of situation was more common but there were a few players who were already in the majors before they began military service during the Korean War Era (June 25,1950-July 27,1953). Bob Buhl would be another example of a player who left the minor leagues to enter the military and completed military service during this period before debuting in the majors.
The bigest names who went into the military during the Korean Conflict who were already big leaguers were Willie Mays, Curt Simmons, Dick Groat, Billy Martin. and Bob Turley. Let's not forget specialized cases of World War Two veterans Ted Williams and Jerry Coleman being recalled to the air force because of their piloting skills.
Frank House, and Tom Poholsky headed a short list of lesser known major leaguers that already had reached the majors before being called into military service during this era.
Mickey Mantle had a couple of apperances before his draft board's physicians , but was rejected each time for medical reasons.
Ernie Banks was on the Negro Leagues' Kansas City Monarchs team when he was drafted early in the 1951 season. He served two years and returned to the Monarchs after the 1953 season was underway. His play after rejoining the Monarchs earned the attention of major league scouts as well as an appearence in the final Negro Leagues East-West All-Star game in August of that year. (That showcase of black talent existed 21 seasons, 1933 -1953, but interest faded in keeping that contest alive beyond 1953, after major league teams siphoned off a considerable amount of black stars.) Banks would finish the '53 season in the big leagues. A month after his appearence in the Negro Leagues all-star game, Banks debuted with the Chicago Cubs on September 17, after they bought his contract from the Monarchs.

In closing I'll re-emphasize that plenty more minor leaguers' and Negro Leaguers' careers were interrupted by military service in the Korean War years than those who had already reached the big leagues.

-philliesfiend55-

[metrotheme]

Has Tom Upton's death been confirmed? Also, does anyone have contact information for Jim McDonald? I've heard from collectors on another board that he is difficult to reach. If anyone can lead me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.

[icee82]

I don't think that Ken Holcombe signs anymore. I sent something to him several months ago and did not get anything back.

[Ralph Zig Tyko]

RE: Tim Brent's post (#44 in this thread) about Browns' minor leaguers being called into military service during the Korean War.

For the major leagues in general, most players whose careers were interrupted by military service during the Korean War, were still in the minors and hadn't yet reached the big leagues, though there were notable exceptions. An example of a future star in this category would be Ken Boyer, who while still ascending the Cardinals minor league system was drafted and served in the military while missing the 1952 and '53 seasons. He would later reach the majors by 1955, become a star and enjoy a long career (1955-1970). That type of situation was more common but there were a few players who were already in the majors before they began military service during the Korean War Era (June 25,1950-July 27,1953). Bob
Buhl would be another example of a player who left the minor leagues to enter the military before debuting in the majors.
The bigest names who went into the military during the Korean Conflict who were already big leaguers were Willie Mays, Curt Simmons, Dick Groat, Billy Martin. and Bob Turley. Let's not forget specialized cases of World War Two veterans Ted Williams and Jerry Coleman being recalled to the air force because of their piloting skills.
Frank House and Tom Poholsky headed a short list of lesser known major leaguers already had reached the majors before being called into military service during this era.
Mickey Mantle had a couple of apperances before his draft board's physicians , but was rejected each time for medical reasons.
Ernie Banks was on the Negro Leagues' Kansas City Monarchs team when he was drafted early in the 1951 season. He served two years and returned to the Monarchs after the 1953 season was underway. His play after rejoining the Monarchs earned the attention of major league scouts as well as an appearence in the final Negro Leagues East-West All-Star game in August of that year. (That showcase of black talent existed 21 seasons, 1933 -1953, but interest faded in keeping that contest alive beyond 1953, after major league teams siphoned off a considerable amount of black stars.) Banks would finish the '53 season in the big leagues. A month after his appearence in the Negro Leagues all-star game, Banks debuted with the Chicago Cubs on September 17, after they bought his contract from the Monarchs.

In closing I'll re-emphasize that plenty more minor leaguers' and Negro Leaguers' careers were interrupted by military service in the Korean War years than those who had already reached the big leagues.

-philliesfiend55-

GREAT POST!! One small correction:Both Williams and Coleman were recalled into the Marines, not the Air Force.

[philliesfiend55]

Thanks for your comment on my Korean War post, and for your correction, Ralph.
I did check out your website and it's great. Commentary is short and to the point (Not long-winded as my posts sometimes are). The posting is a bit sporadic,and I mean that as a compliment. I'm sure your readers would appreciate more frequent entries.
Excellent quality Photos also!

Good Luck
with the Blog and with everything,

-philliesfiend55-

[bbxpert]

Has Tom Upton's death been confirmed? Also, does anyone have contact information for Jim McDonald? I've heard from collectors on another board that he is difficult to reach. If anyone can lead me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.

Tom Upton did die earlier this year. I have sent for a death certificate, so hopefully, I'll have further information soon.